GitHub Copilot

Set up GitHub Copilot in your editor, or use Copilot CLI. The integration key is copilot; a CLI is not required for IDE setup.

Multi-Install Safety

This integration is not declared multi-install safe. See the shared multi-install rules.

Setup

specify init my-project --integration copilot

For an existing Spec Kit project, use specify integration install copilot. See integration management for activation, upgrades, and removal.

Default Skills Layout

Skills are installed as .github/skills/speckit-<command>/SKILL.md. Invoke them in the agent's chat as /speckit-specify or /speckit-bug-assess for the installed bug extension. These are agent skills, not terminal commands.

Commands Layout

To opt into the supported commands layout:

specify init my-project --integration copilot --integration-options="--commands"

This installs .agent.md files under .github/agents/, companion .prompt.md files under .github/prompts/, and merges .vscode/settings.json. In this layout, Copilot CLI can select an agent through /agents or address it directly in a prompt.

Use --integration-options="--skills" to explicitly select the default skills layout when migrating an existing commands installation with specify integration upgrade copilot. See the shared upgrade rules, including the restriction on changing layouts while preset artifacts are registered.

--skills and --commands are mutually exclusive. Without an explicit layout flag, existing managed command installations retain their layout on upgrade or activation; a fresh installation defaults to skills.

The commands layout adds only missing VS Code settings and subkeys. Existing values remain unchanged. If an existing settings file is JSONC or otherwise cannot be parsed as a JSON object, the merge is skipped with a warning and manual instructions. An existing merged settings file is retained on uninstall; a newly created settings file is manifest-tracked.

Runtime Events and Workflow Permissions

Native events use .github/hooks/speckit.json. --integration-options="--events false" disables Spec Kit event handlers. See runtime events.

Workflow steps require Copilot CLI separately from the IDE setup. In skills mode, command steps pass /speckit-<command> in the prompt. In commands mode, they select --agent speckit.<command> and pass the user's arguments as the prompt rather than treating agent files as slash commands.

Headless dispatch adds --yolo by default, allowing tools, paths, and URLs without interactive approval. Set SPECKIT_COPILOT_ALLOW_ALL_TOOLS=0 to stop Spec Kit from adding this flag. The deprecated SPECKIT_ALLOW_ALL_TOOLS is accepted only as a fallback. A configured --model and requested --output-format json are forwarded.