Jessie A Ellis
Jan 21, 2026 17:36
GitHub releases complete cheat sheet for Copilot CLI slash instructions, masking session administration, listing entry, mannequin choice, and MCP configuration.
GitHub revealed an in depth reference information for slash instructions in Copilot CLI on January 21, giving builders a whole rundown of the terminal-based AI assistant’s command construction for the primary time.
The information arrives one week after GitHub made OpenCode official and expanded Copilot’s mannequin backyard entry for terminal-native builders. For the rising variety of coders preferring working within the command line over IDEs, this documentation fills a spot that is existed since Copilot CLI entered public preview final September.
What Slash Instructions Really Do
In contrast to pure language prompts that may produce variable outcomes, slash instructions set off predictable, repeatable actions. Sort /clear and also you wipe your session context—each time, identical end result. That consistency issues whenever you’re debugging at 2 AM and wish Copilot to cease referencing code from three duties in the past.
The command set breaks into 4 classes:
Session administration handles the fundamentals: /clear resets context, /session and /utilization present metrics like whole length and code adjustments, and /exit ends your session cleanly.
Listing and file entry controls what Copilot can see. /add-dir grants entry to particular directories whereas /list-dirs exhibits present permissions—helpful for groups with compliance necessities who want auditable trails of file entry.
Configuration instructions allow you to swap AI fashions on the fly with /mannequin, which presents choices together with Claude Sonnet 4.5, GPT-5.1, and Gemini 3 Professional. /theme adjusts terminal show, and /terminal-setup permits multiline inputs for complicated prompts.
Exterior companies is the place issues get attention-grabbing. /delegate creates AI-generated pull requests with out leaving your terminal. /mcp manages Mannequin Context Protocol server configurations for CI/CD integration. /share exports complete classes as markdown recordsdata or GitHub Gists for async handoffs.
The Three Instructions Value Memorizing
GitHub’s personal recommendation: begin with /clear, /cwd, and /mannequin. The primary prevents context bleed between tasks. The second confirms or adjustments your working listing—important when navigating giant codebases. The third permits you to experiment with completely different AI fashions when responses aren’t hitting the mark.
The /consumer command addresses an actual ache level for builders juggling private and enterprise accounts. /consumer swap rotates between GitHub accounts with out the standard dance of logging out and again in.
Who This Issues For
Copilot CLI requires an lively paid subscription, so this is not a free tier characteristic. However for subscribers who’ve been piecing collectively workflows from scattered documentation, having a single reference adjustments the calculus on terminal-based AI coding.
The timing aligns with GitHub’s January 14 announcement of enhanced brokers and improved context administration for Copilot CLI—suggesting the corporate sees terminal-native improvement as a critical progress vector quite than a distinct segment use case.
Full documentation is accessible on GitHub’s weblog, with the whole command reference desk masking 17 slash instructions and their use circumstances.
Picture supply: Shutterstock
