**GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners** is an official, hands-on learning course by [[GitHub]] that teaches developers how to use [[GitHub Copilot]] directly from the terminal. The course takes learners from zero to productive with GitHub Copilot CLI through a structured, progressive curriculum built around a single Python book collection app. ## Links - [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners) - [GitHub Copilot CLI Documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli) - [GitHub Copilot CLI Command Reference](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/cli-command-reference) ## Key Highlights - **No AI experience required** — if you can use a terminal, you can learn this - **Hands-on approach** — every code example is runnable in the terminal - **Progressive learning** — builds on a single project across all chapters - **MIT licensed** — open-source and freely available ## Course Structure The course is organized into 8 chapters: | Chapter | Title | Focus | |---------|-------|-------| | 00 | Quick Start | Installation and verification | | 01 | First Steps | Live demos and three interaction modes | | 02 | Context and Conversations | Multi-file project analysis | | 03 | Development Workflows | Code review, debugging, test generation | | 04 | Create Specialized AI Assistants | Custom agents and instructions | | 05 | Automate Repetitive Tasks | Skills that load automatically | | 06 | Connect to GitHub, Databases & APIs | [[Model Context Protocol (MCP)]] server integration | | 07 | Putting It All Together | Complete feature workflows | ## Target Audience - **Software Developers** who want AI assistance from the command line - **Terminal users** who prefer keyboard-driven workflows over IDE integrations - **Teams** looking to standardize AI-assisted code review and development practices ## GitHub Copilot Family Context GitHub Copilot CLI is one part of the broader GitHub Copilot ecosystem: - **GitHub Copilot CLI** — terminal-native AI coding assistant (this course) - **GitHub Copilot** — IDE integration (VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains) - **Copilot on GitHub.com** — immersive chat about repos - **GitHub Copilot Coding Agent** — assign issues to agents, get PRs back ## Prerequisites - A GitHub account - GitHub Copilot access (free tier available, or student/teacher access) - Basic terminal knowledge (`cd`, `ls`, running commands) ## Each Chapter Pattern Every chapter follows a consistent learning pattern: 1. **Real-World Analogy** — understand the concept through familiar comparisons 2. **Core Concepts** — learn the essential knowledge 3. **Hands-On Examples** — run actual commands and see results 4. **Assignment** — practice what was learned 5. **What's Next** — preview of the following chapter