Copilot CLI: platforms, install methods and session commands
Verdict: Copilot CLI runs on Linux, macOS and Windows (PowerShell and WSL), installed via npm, WinGet or Homebrew. The /after and /every scheduling commands are experimental-only, and the CLI auto-compacts context near the token limit.
| Criterion | Linux | macOS | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copilot CLI runs here | Yes | Yes | Yes, via PowerShell and WSL |
| Documented install | npm global; Homebrew | npm global; Homebrew cask | npm global; WinGet |
Rules
- Copilot CLI runs on Linux, macOS and Windows, with Windows covering both PowerShell and WSL.
- Documented install methods are npm (global), WinGet on Windows and Homebrew on macOS or Linux.
- The /after and /every scheduling commands are experimental-only: /after runs a prompt once later, /every runs one recurring.
- Copilot CLI auto-compacts context near the token limit and offers a manual compact command.
Traps
- Windows is not WSL-only; native PowerShell is a supported environment.
- The Microsoft Store and a bundled Docker Compose file are not documented install methods.
- Scheduling commands are not part of the default command set and do not persist across sessions.