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Craft Agents supports GitHub Copilot’s LLM API, allowing you to use your existing Copilot subscription to access Claude, GPT, and other models.

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Why GitHub Copilot?

Use Existing Subscription

Already have Copilot? No need for separate API keys

Multiple Models

Access Claude Sonnet, GPT-5, o4-mini, and more

One-Click Authentication

OAuth device flow - no API keys to manage

Higher Rate Limits

Copilot subscriptions include generous usage limits

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Requirements

You need an active GitHub Copilot subscription:
  • GitHub Copilot Individual ($10/month)
  • GitHub Copilot Business (through your organization)
  • GitHub Copilot Enterprise (advanced features)
Students, teachers, and open source maintainers can get Copilot for free through GitHub Education.

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Setup with Device Code OAuth

GitHub Copilot uses the device code OAuth flow - a secure authentication method designed for devices without web browsers.
1

Start authentication

  1. Open Settings → AI Connections
  2. Click Add Connection
  3. Select GitHub Copilot (OAuth)
  4. Click Authenticate with GitHub
2

Get device code

Craft Agents will display a device code and verification URL:
User Code: ABCD-1234
URL: https://github.com/login/device
Click the link to open GitHub in your browser (or copy the code manually).
3

Enter code on GitHub

  1. Go to github.com/login/device
  2. Enter the user code shown in Craft Agents
  3. Click Continue
  4. Review the permissions:
    • Access to Copilot API
    • Model selection
    • Usage analytics
  5. Click Authorize
4

Wait for authentication

Craft Agents will automatically poll GitHub for authentication. Once you authorize, the connection will be saved automatically.
Device codes expire after 15 minutes. If you wait too long, you’ll need to restart the flow.

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Implementation Details

The device code flow is implemented using the Pi SDK’s native GitHub Copilot support: 
// apps/electron/src/main/ipc.ts:1946-2019

import { login } from '@mariozechner/pi-ai';

const result = await login({
  provider: 'github-copilot',
  onDeviceCode: ({ userCode, verificationUri }) => {
    // Display code to user
    event.sender.send(IPC_CHANNELS.COPILOT_DEVICE_CODE, {
      userCode,
      verificationUri,
    });
    // Open GitHub in browser
    shell.openExternal(verificationUri);
  },
  signal: abortController.signal,
});

// result.authToken contains the OAuth access token
Source: apps/electron/src/main/ipc.ts:1946-2019
OAuth tokens are stored encrypted using AES-256-GCM in ~/.craft-agent/credentials.enc. They are automatically refreshed when they expire.

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Available Models

GitHub Copilot provides access to multiple LLM providers: 
'claude-sonnet-4.6'  // Anthropic Claude (recommended for coding)
'claude-haiku-4.5'   // Fast model for simple tasks
Preferred defaults (in order of preference): 
['claude-sonnet-4.6', 'gpt-5', 'o4-mini', 'claude-haiku-4.5']
Source: packages/shared/src/config/llm-connections.ts:415
Model availability depends on your Copilot subscription tier and GitHub’s model rollout. Check the Copilot models documentation for the latest list.

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Pricing

GitHub Copilot uses a flat subscription fee - no per-token billing:
PlanPriceModels Included
Individual$10/monthAll supported models
Business$19/user/monthAll models + admin controls
EnterpriseCustomAll models + advanced features
Unlike direct API access to Claude or GPT, Copilot subscriptions include unlimited usage within fair use limits. This makes it cost-effective for heavy users.

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Using Pi Unified API

GitHub Copilot connections use the Pi unified LLM API with the github-copilot auth provider: 
{
  providerType: 'pi',
  piAuthProvider: 'github-copilot',
  authType: 'oauth',
  models: [...], // Auto-detected from Copilot API
}
The Pi SDK automatically:
  • Fetches available models from the Copilot API
  • Handles token refresh
  • Routes requests to the correct model endpoint
Source: packages/shared/src/agent/pi-agent.ts:351-533

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Troubleshooting

Error: Access denied. Check your API key permissions.Solutions:
  • Verify you have an active Copilot subscription at github.com/settings/copilot
  • If using Copilot through an organization, ensure your org admin has enabled Copilot for your account
  • Check that your GitHub account is in good standing (no payment issues)
Error: OAuth state expired (older than 10 minutes). Please try again.Device codes expire after 15 minutes. Click Cancel in Craft Agents and restart the authentication flow.
Error: Rate limited or quota exceeded. Try again later.GitHub Copilot enforces fair use limits:
  • Too many requests in a short time
  • Unusual usage patterns
Wait a few minutes and try again. If the issue persists, contact GitHub support.
Problem: Connection works initially but stops after a few hours.OAuth tokens expire and must be refreshed. If refresh fails:
  1. Go to Settings → AI Connections
  2. Click the ⋮ menu next to your Copilot connection
  3. Select Sign out
  4. Re-authenticate using the device code flow
Craft Agents automatically refreshes tokens when they expire. Manual re-authentication is rarely needed.
Error: Model not found. Check the connection configuration.Some models may not be available on all Copilot tiers:
  • Claude Sonnet 4.6 requires Copilot Individual or higher
  • GPT-5 may require special access
  • Try switching to claude-sonnet-4.6 or gpt-4o (most widely available)

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Signing Out

To revoke Craft Agents’ access to your GitHub account:
1

Sign out in Craft Agents

  1. Open Settings → AI Connections
  2. Click the ⋮ menu next to your Copilot connection
  3. Select Sign out
2

Revoke on GitHub (optional)

To fully revoke access:
  1. Go to github.com/settings/applications
  2. Find GitHub Copilot in the list
  3. Click Revoke

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Copilot CLI Integration

Craft Agents uses the native Copilot CLI (if installed) for improved model detection: 
// packages/shared/src/agent/backend/internal/runtime-resolver.ts:90-99

const binaryName = platform === 'win32' ? 'copilot.exe' : 'copilot';
const packaged = join(
  hostRuntime.appRootPath,
  'vendor', 'copilot',
  `${platform}-${arch}`,
  binaryName
);
Source: packages/shared/src/agent/backend/internal/runtime-resolver.ts:90-99 The CLI is bundled with Craft Agents for macOS and Windows. Linux users can install it separately: 
npm install -g @github/copilot-cli
The Copilot CLI is optional. Craft Agents works without it, but model detection may be slower.

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Comparing Copilot to Direct API Keys

FeatureGitHub CopilotAnthropic APIOpenAI API
Cost$10/month (flat)Pay-per-usePay-per-use
ModelsClaude + GPT + moreClaude onlyGPT only
SetupOAuth (easy)API keyAPI key
Rate limitsFair useTier-basedTier-based
BillingMonthly subscriptionPer-tokenPer-token
If you already have a Copilot subscription, it’s the most cost-effective way to access Claude and GPT models. For heavy usage, consider direct API keys for better rate limits.

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Next Steps

Add More Providers

Connect to OpenRouter, Ollama, or custom endpoints

Configure Permissions

Set up read-only or auto-approve modes

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