GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Slash Commands in 2026

# GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Slash Commands in 2026 Imagine you're deep in a terminal session, debugging a cryptic Docker error, trying to remember the exact `sed` syntax to replace a string across hundreds of files, or wondering how to recursively grep through compressed logs. Instead of alt-tabbing to a browser, searching Stack Overflow, or spending ten minutes on a man page, you type a simple slash command and get an immediate, context-aware answer right in your shell. This is the reality of GitHub Copilot CLI in mid-2026, and for beginners, mastering its slash commands is the single fastest way to boost terminal productivity. In this guide, we'll walk through every major slash command available in GitHub Copilot CLI as of June 2026, with concrete examples, practical tips, and a clear explanation of how each command fits into your daily workflow. By the end, you'll not only know the commands but also understand when to use them — and when to avoid them. ## What is GitHub Copilot CLI? GitHub Copilot CLI (command-line interface) is a natural-language-powered assistant that runs directly inside your terminal. Unlike the IDE-based Copilot that suggests code as you type, Copilot CLI interprets plain English questions and requests, then executes or explains commands on your behalf. It was first introduced in late 2023 and has since evolved into a mature tool that supports multiple shells (bash, zsh, fish, PowerShell) and integrates deeply with Git, Docker, kubectl, and dozens of other common CLI tools. The core interaction model is simple: you type a forward slash followed by a command keyword, then your question or instruction. The AI then generates a response — which might be a command to run, an explanation, or a multi-step procedure. Let's dive into the most useful slash commands for beginners. ## 1. `/explain` — Understand Any Command or Script **Syntax:** `/explain ` **Purpose:** When you encounter a cryptic command or a complex script, `/explain` breaks it down line by line, explaining flags, pipes, redirections, and arguments in plain English. **Example:** ```bash $ /explain find . -type f -name "*.log" -mtime +30 -exec rm {} \; ``` **Response:** ``` This command finds all regular files (-type f) with a .log extension (-name "*.log") in the current directory (.) and its subdirectories, that were last modified more than 30 days ago (-mtime +30). For each such file, it executes the rm command (-exec rm {} \;) to delete it. ``` **Beginner tip:** Use `/explain` on any command you're about to run but don't fully understand. It's especially valuable for `find`, `xargs`, `sed`, and `awk` commands, which often have non-intuitive syntax. ## 2. `/fix` — Debug and Correct a Command **Syntax:** `/fix ` **Purpose:** You typed a command that failed with an error. Instead of manually combing through the man page, let Copilot CLI analyze the error and suggest the corrected command. **Example:** ```bash $ git push origin main # error: failed to push some refs to 'https://github.com/user/repo.git' $ /fix git push origin main ``` **Response:** ``` The push was rejected because your local branch is behind the remote. You need to pull the latest changes first: git pull origin main --rebase git push origin main ``` **Practical advice:** `/fix` works best when you provide both the command and the error output. The AI can infer the context — for example, recognizing a merge conflict from a `git merge` failure or a missing dependency from a Python import error. ## 3. `/git` — Natural Language Git Operations **Syntax:** `/git ` **Purpose:** Perform Git operations without memorizing the exact flags. This is arguably the most popular slash command for beginners. **Example:** ```bash $ /git create a new branch called "feature/user-auth" based on develop ``` **Response:** ``` git checkout develop git pull origin develop git checkout -b feature/user-auth ``` **Advanced example — interactive rebase:** ```bash $ /git squash the last 3 commits into one with message "fix login bug" ``` **Response:** ``` git reset --soft HEAD~3 git commit -m "fix login bug" ``` > **Warning:** The AI may suggest `git reset --hard` or `git push --force`. Always review the proposed command before executing, especially on shared branches. ## 4. `/docker` — Docker Commands Made Simple **Syntax:** `/docker ` **Purpose:** Generate Docker commands for building, running, managing containers, images, volumes, and networks. **Example:** ```bash $ /docker run a PostgreSQL container with port 5432 mapped and a persistent volume ``` **Response:** ``` docker run -d \ --name postgres-dev \ -e POSTGRES_PASSWORD=mysecretpassword \ -p 5432:5432 \ -v pgdata:/var/lib/postgresql/data \ postgres:16 ``` **Practical tip:** Use `/docker` to quickly generate Docker Compose snippets as well. For instance: ```bash $ /docker create a docker-compose.yml with nginx and a node.js app ``` ## 5. `/kubectl` — Kubernetes Commands **Syntax:** `/kubectl ` **Purpose:** Generate kubectl commands for managing pods, deployments, services, configmaps, and more. **Example:** ```bash $ /kubectl get all pods in namespace staging with their CPU and memory usage ``` **Response:** ``` kubectl top pods -n staging ``` **Beginner warning:** Kubernetes commands can be destructive — always use `--dry-run=client` or append `-o yaml` to preview before applying. ## 6. `/search` — Find Files and Content **Syntax:** `/search ` **Purpose:** Locate files, directories, or text patterns without remembering the nuances of `find`, `grep`, or `locate`. **Example:** ```bash $ /search find all Python files that contain the string "API_KEY" ``` **Response:** ``` grep -rl "API_KEY" --include="*.py" . ``` **Advanced use:** Combine with `xargs` for bulk operations: ```bash $ /search find all .tmp files older than 7 days and delete them # Output: find . -name "*.tmp" -mtime +7 -delete ``` ## 7. `/convert` — Transform Text and Data **Syntax:** `/convert to ` **Purpose:** Convert between data formats (JSON, YAML, CSV, XML) or text encodings. **Example:** ```bash $ cat data.json | /convert json to yaml ``` **Response:** ``` This command pipes the JSON file into the AI, which returns the YAML equivalent. You can also request base64 encoding, URL encoding, or markdown table conversion. ``` ## 8. `/learn` — Interactive Tutorials **Syntax:** `/learn ` **Purpose:** Get a short, interactive lesson on a CLI tool or concept directly in the terminal. Unlike a static man page, `/learn` adapts to your knowledge level. **Example:** ```bash $ /learn jq ``` **Response:** ``` A 5-step tutorial on jq: filtering, mapping, selecting, transforming JSON, and chaining operations. Each step includes a command to try and an explanation of the output. ``` **Note:** `/learn` is not a replacement for deep study, but it's excellent for quick refreshers or getting started with a new tool. ## 9. `/alias` — Create Shortcuts **Syntax:** `/alias ` **Purpose:** Generate shell aliases from natural language descriptions. **Example:** ```bash $ /alias create a shortcut to show disk usage in human-readable format sorted by size ``` **Response:** ``` alias dus='du -sh * | sort -rh' ``` **Practical advice:** Copilot CLI can also suggest aliases for complex `git` or `docker` commands, and even add them to your `.bashrc` or `.zshrc` automatically. ## 10. `/history` — Analyze and Reuse Past Commands **Syntax:** `/history ` **Purpose:** Search your shell history using natural language, not regex. **Example:** ```bash $ /history show me all the docker run commands I used in the last week ``` **Response:** ``` Lists matching commands from history, optionally with timestamps and working directories. ``` ## When Not to Use Copilot CLI While Copilot CLI is powerful, it's not infallible. Avoid using it for: - **Security-sensitive operations:** Never pipe passwords, API keys, or secrets into Copilot CLI. The AI may log or store the input. - **Critical production changes:** Always double-check commands that modify infrastructure, especially `kubectl apply`, `terraform apply`, or `rm -rf`. - **Very long or multi-line scripts:** Copilot CLI works best for single commands or short pipelines. For complex scripts, use the IDE-based Copilot or write them manually. ## Getting Started To install GitHub Copilot CLI, you need a GitHub Copilot subscription (Individual, Business, or Enterprise) and Node.js 18 or later. The installation is straightforward: ```bash npm install -g @githubnext/github-copilot-cli ``` Then authenticate with your GitHub account: ```bash github-copilot-cli auth ``` Finally, add the shell integration (example for zsh): ```bash eval "$(github-copilot-cli shell zsh)" ``` Once set up, you can start typing `/` in your terminal and see a list of available commands. ## Conclusion GitHub Copilot CLI has transformed the terminal from a daunting black box into a conversational interface. For beginners, the ten slash commands covered here — `/explain`, `/fix`, `/git`, `/docker`, `/kubectl`, `/search`, `/convert`, `/learn`, `/alias`, and `/history` — provide an immediate productivity boost. You no longer need to memorize obscure flags or endlessly scroll through man pages. Instead, you can focus on what matters: solving problems efficiently. As with any AI tool, the key is to use it as a collaborator, not a crutch. Experiment with the commands, review the suggestions critically, and gradually build your own mental model of the CLI. By mid-2026, Copilot CLI has become an indispensable tool for developers of all skill levels, and this beginner's guide is just the starting point. *This article is based on the official GitHub blog post: [GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners: Overview of common slash commands](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/github-copilot-cli-for-beginners-overview-of-common-slash-commands/).*

GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Slash Commands in 2026

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