GitHub Copilot CLI — Deep-Dive Workshop

Warning

This repository is no longer maintained. All content has been migrated to the new home: ➡️ copilot-dev-days/copilot-cli-deep-dive-workshop

Please use the new repository for the latest updates, issues, and contributions.

A half-day, instructor-led workshop that takes teams from first install to advanced automation with GitHub Copilot CLI. Covers operating modes, custom instructions, MCP servers, agent skills, plugins, custom agents, hooks, context management, and more — all through hands-on exercises tested against Copilot CLI v1.0.16.

What's Inside

Component	Path	Description
Workshop modules	docs/workshop/	13 progressive modules (~4.5 h total) from installation to fleet command
Presentation slides	docs/slides/	Marp-powered slide decks, one per module — ready for live delivery
Tryout sandbox	tryout/	Scratch space for hands-on exercises (.gitignored — your work stays local)
Dev Container	.devcontainer/	One-click reproducible environment with all prerequisites pre-installed
Responsible AI guide	docs/responsible-ai.md	Detailed guidance on applying Microsoft's Responsible AI principles

Related Workshops

This repo is part of a family of Copilot CLI learning resources. Pick the format that fits your audience:

Workshop	Format	Audience	Link
Tailspin Toys Workshop	90-min event kickstart	First exposure — uses a real app to show Copilot CLI in action	copilot-dev-days/tailspin-toys-workshop
Copilot CLI for Beginners	Self-paced solo course	Absolute beginners learning at their own pace	github/copilot-cli-for-beginners
Deep-Dive Workshop (this repo)	Half-day instructor-led	Teams wanting to go beyond the basics	copilot-dev-days/copilot-cli-deep-dive-workshop

Suggested learning path: Start with Tailspin Toys or Beginners for a quick intro, then move to this Deep-Dive workshop for the full treatment.

Viewing the Slides

Slide decks for each module are in docs/slides/ (powered by Marp):

• VS Code — Install the Marp for VS Code extension (pre-installed in Dev Container), open any slide .md file, and click the preview icon (or Marp: Open Preview to the Side).
• Browser (direct preview) — npx @marp-team/marp-cli docs/slides/02-modes.md --preview
• Browser (server-client) — npx @marp-team/marp-cli docs/slides/ --server then visit http://localhost:8080
• Export to PDF/PPTX — npx @marp-team/marp-cli docs/slides/02-modes.md -o slides.pdf

Getting Started

Recommended: Open in Dev Container

This repo includes a .devcontainer configuration for a fully isolated workshop environment:

1. Open this repo in VS Code
2. Click "Reopen in Container" when prompted (or run Dev Containers: Reopen in Container from the command palette)
3. All prerequisites (Node.js, npm, git, gh) are pre-installed

This is the recommended approach — it avoids polluting your host machine and ensures a consistent environment for all participants.

Alternative: Run Directly on Host

If you prefer not to use the Dev Container, you can follow the workshop directly on your machine (requires Node.js 22+).

Alternative: Run in Docker

To try out the workshop without affecting your local environment, use Docker:

1. Create the tryout folder (if it doesn't exist):

   mkdir -p tryout

2. Start the container:

   # Set HOST_PROJECT_PATH to your project location (required if running inside a devcontainer)
   # export HOST_PROJECT_PATH=/path/to/101-copilot-cli-sdd
   
   docker run -it \
     --name copilot-workshop \
     -v "${HOST_PROJECT_PATH:-$(pwd)}/tryout":/workspace \
     -w /workspace \
     ubuntu:24.04 \
     bash

3. Inside the container, install prerequisites:

   # Basic tools
   apt-get update && apt-get install -y curl git jq gh
   
   # Install uv (Python package manager)
   curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
   source $HOME/.local/bin/env
   
   # Install nvm and Node.js LTS
   curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh | bash
   source ~/.bashrc
   nvm install --lts

Useful Docker commands:

Action	Command
Reconnect to stopped container	docker start -ai copilot-workshop
Open parallel shell	docker exec -it copilot-workshop bash
Remove container when done	docker rm copilot-workshop

Responsible AI

This workshop uses AI-assisted development tools. We follow Microsoft's Responsible AI principles, which are grounded in six core values:

1. Fairness — AI systems should treat all people fairly
2. Reliability & Safety — AI systems should perform reliably and safely
3. Privacy & Security — AI systems should be secure and respect privacy
4. Inclusiveness — AI systems should empower everyone and engage people
5. Transparency — AI systems should be understandable
6. Accountability — People should be accountable for AI systems

Remember: AI is a tool, not an authority. Always review, test, and validate AI-generated code before committing. You are responsible for every line in your codebase.

For detailed guidance on applying these principles in practice, see docs/responsible-ai.md.