The GitHub Copilot app is a desktop app for agent-driven development. You run several agent sessions at once, each isolated on its own branch, and take work from an issue to a merged pull request without switching tools. You can also use it with no repository at all, for documents, data and research.
1. Learn the core ideas (5 minutes)
| Concept | What it means |
|---|---|
| Project | A repository or folder you work in. Use a local folder, pick one from GitHub, or clone from a Git URL. |
| Session | One agent working on one task. Each session gets an isolated workspace, so sessions can run in parallel without conflicts. |
| Location | Where a session runs: a new working tree, your local repository, or a cloud sandbox hosted by GitHub. |
| Mode | How much autonomy the agent has. Interactive works with you step by step. Plan proposes a plan for your approval first. Autopilot works on its own. |
| Chats | Conversations with no branch or working tree. Good for brainstorming and questions. |
| My work | Your issues and pull requests in one place. Start a session from any of them. |
| Automations | Saved prompts that run on a schedule, on an event or on demand, locally or in the cloud. |
| Canvases | Shared, agent-driven artifacts and interfaces that you and the agent work on together. |
2. Install and sign in (10 minutes)
Follow the Copilot app documentation to install the app, then sign in with the GitHub account that has your Copilot seat.
| Where your account lives | How to sign in |
|---|---|
| GitHub.com | Sign in with your GitHub.com account. If your organization uses SAML single sign-on, authorize the session when prompted. |
| GitHub Enterprise Cloud with data residency (GHE.com) | Choose Use GitHub Enterprise and enter your *.ghe.com hostname. |
| GitHub Enterprise Server | Not supported today, per the quickstart. Check with your account team before you plan a rollout. |
3. Add a project (5 minutes)
In the sidebar, click + next to Projects and choose a repository you know well. A repository with tests works best for a first try.
No repository? Start a chat instead, attach a CSV or your notes and ask for a result:
Open the attached CSV in an Excel canvas. Add a summary row, a pivot by category and a chart of the top five values. Explain each formula you add.
The business and operations role page has more workflows like this.
4. Run a Plan mode session (30 minutes)
Pick a small, real issue. Open My work, select the issue and click New session. Choose Plan mode and use this prompt:
Read the linked issue and the code it touches. Propose a plan that lists the files you will change, the approach, and the tests you will add or update. Wait for my approval before writing code. After approval, implement the change and run the relevant tests.
Read the plan carefully. Ask for changes if anything is off, then approve it. Watch the agent work, and steer it in the conversation when needed.
5. Review and open the pull request (15 minutes)
Review the diff in the session. Before you open the pull request, run a quick security check:
/security-review
Then ask the agent to open the pull request. It follows your repository’s pull request template. The verify the agent’s work guide has a fuller review checklist.
Before the next module
You finished a real task. Next, spend 20 minutes on Copilot app fluency, four habits that make every later session go better.