Copilot CLI

What This Demonstrates

GitHub Copilot CLI brings AI assistance directly into the terminal — answering questions about the codebase, generating commands, and proposing changes without leaving the command line.

Prerequisites

• Terminal open in the repository root
• GitHub Copilot CLI installed and authenticated

Prompts

Prompt A — Repository Tour

Explain this monorepo structure and list the top 5 places I should inspect
before implementing a new backend service.

Why this works

Copilot CLI scans the directory tree, package.json workspaces, and configuration files to generate a prioritized exploration guide — perfect for onboarding or pre-implementation research.

What to look for:

• Accurate description of the monorepo structure
• Key files identified (tsconfig.base.json, shared types, Docker configs)
• Actionable guidance (not just a file listing)

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Prompt B — Safe Automation

Generate commands to run lint + unit tests only for `services/product-service`,
then explain likely failure categories and how to triage quickly.

Why this works

Demonstrates Copilot CLI’s ability to generate precise npm workspace commands and anticipate common failure modes — saving time on debugging.

What to look for:

• Correct --workspace syntax for npm
• Failure categories (type errors, missing mocks, database connection)
• Triage steps for each category

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Prompt C — Change Proposal

Propose and apply a minimal change that improves developer experience in this
repo (for example scripts, docs, or local workflow). Show the diff and
rationale.

Why this works

Shows Copilot CLI’s ability to not just suggest changes but actually apply them — creating a real diff that can be reviewed and committed.

What to look for:

• A practical, non-breaking improvement
• Clear rationale for the change
• Actual file modifications (not just suggestions)

Follow-Up Prompts

• “Run the tests and explain any failures.”
• “What would you change to make this repo easier for a new contributor?”
• “Generate a git commit message for the changes you just made.”