v2.0.0 to v2.0.0

---

name: skill-copilot-provider

version: 2.0.0

aliases: [copilot-provider, github-copilot, copilot]

description: GitHub Copilot CLI as optional zero-cost provider via copilot -p programmatic mode

trigger: |

"copilot provider" or "add copilot" or "github copilot" or "use copilot"

DO NOT activate for general copilot IDE usage or copilot chat in editor.

paths:

- "**/.github/copilot*"

- "**/.copilot*"

---

# GitHub Copilot Provider Skill

## Overview

GitHub Copilot CLI (GA since Feb 2026) serves as an optional provider in the Claude Octopus

multi-LLM ecosystem. Integration uses the official `copilot -p` programmatic mode, not

reverse-engineered API endpoints.

**Core principle:** Copilot supplements existing providers for research and exploration at

zero additional cost (uses existing GitHub Copilot subscription). Each prompt counts as one

premium request against your subscription quota.

**Agent types:** `copilot` (general), `copilot-research` (research-focused)

---

## Detection

```bash

# Check copilot CLI is available

if ! command -v copilot &>/dev/null; then

# Copilot CLI not installed — silently skip

return 0

fi

```

**Graceful degradation:** When Copilot CLI is unavailable or unauthenticated, silently skip.

Other providers continue to operate normally.

---

## Authentication

Copilot CLI checks credentials in this precedence order:

1. `COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN` env var (highest priority — fine-grained PAT with "Copilot Requests" permission)

2. `GH_TOKEN` env var

3. `GITHUB_TOKEN` env var

4. OAuth token from system keychain (via `copilot login`)

5. GitHub CLI (`gh`) authentication fallback

### Setup

**Option 1: Interactive login (recommended for local dev)**

```bash

copilot login

```

**Option 2: Fine-grained PAT (recommended for CI/automation)**

1. Create a fine-grained PAT at https://github.com/settings/personal-access-tokens/new

2. Enable the "Copilot Requests" permission

3. Set the env var:

```bash

export COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN="github_pat_..."

```

**Option 3: Reuse existing `gh` auth**

If `gh auth login` is already configured, Copilot CLI will use it automatically.

**Note:** Classic PATs (`ghp_*`) are NOT supported. Use fine-grained PATs (`github_pat_*`).

---

## Available Roles

| Role | Agent Type | Use Case |

|------|-----------|----------|

| **General** | `copilot` | Broad research, code explanation, exploration |

| **Research** | `copilot-research` | Research-focused exploration and analysis |

### Dispatch

```bash

# Programmatic mode (non-interactive)

copilot -p "<prompt>" --no-ask-user

```

---

## Provider Indicators

When Copilot is active in a multi-provider workflow:

```

Providers:

🔴 Codex CLI - Implementation

🟡 Antigravity CLI - Security review

🟢 Copilot CLI - Research perspective

🔵 Claude - Synthesis

```

Indicator legend:

- 🔴 = Codex CLI

- 🟡 = Antigravity CLI

- 🟢 = Copilot CLI

- 🟣 = Perplexity

- 🔵 = Claude

---

## Doctor Integration

The `/octo:doctor` providers check reports Copilot availability and auth method:

```

Providers:

✓ Copilot CLI installed (auth: keychain)

```

When unauthenticated: `⚠ Copilot CLI installed but not authenticated`

When missing: `ℹ Copilot CLI not installed (optional)`

---

## Integration Notes

1. **Zero additional cost** — Uses existing GitHub Copilot subscription (Pro, Pro+, Business, Enterprise)

2. **Premium request quota** — Each `copilot -p` prompt = 1 premium request from your monthly allowance

3. **Graceful degradation** — When unavailable, silently skip with no errors or warnings

4. **No provider cascade** — If unavailable, the role is reassigned to another provider

5. **Model selection** — Octopus uses Copilot's `auto` selector by default; pin `OCTOPUS_COPILOT_MODEL` to pass an explicit `--model` value

6. **Multi-model access** — Copilot subscription includes access to Claude, GPT, and Gemini models

---

## Example Workflows

### Research with Copilot

```

🐙 **CLAUDE OCTOPUS ACTIVATED** - Multi-provider research mode

🔍 Discover Phase: Researching WebSocket authentication patterns

Providers:

🔴 Codex CLI - Technical implementation analysis

🟡 Antigravity CLI - Ecosystem research

🟢 Copilot CLI - Research perspective

🔵 Claude - Strategic synthesis

```

### Copilot Unavailable (Graceful Degradation)

```

🐙 **CLAUDE OCTOPUS ACTIVATED** - Multi-provider research mode

🔍 Discover Phase: Researching WebSocket authentication patterns

Providers:

🔴 Codex CLI - Technical implementation analysis

🟡 Antigravity CLI - Ecosystem research

🔵 Claude - Strategic synthesis

```

When Copilot is not detected, it is silently omitted from the provider list.