Genesis Docs

Models / Providers

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant. It provides access to Copilot models for your GitHub account and plan. Genesis can use Copilot as a model provider in two different ways.

Two ways to use Copilot in Genesis

Built-in provider (github-copilot)

Use the native device-login flow to obtain a GitHub token, then exchange it for Copilot API tokens when Genesis runs. This is the default and simplest path because it does not require VS Code.

Run the login command

genesis models auth login-github-copilot

You will be prompted to visit a URL and enter a one-time code. Keep the terminal open until it completes.

Set a default model

genesis models set github-copilot/claude-opus-4.7

Or in config:

{
  agents: {
    defaults: { model: { primary: "github-copilot/claude-opus-4.7" } },
  },
}

Copilot Proxy plugin (copilot-proxy)

Use the Copilot Proxy VS Code extension as a local bridge. Genesis talks to the proxy's /v1 endpoint and uses the model list you configure there.

Choose this when you already run Copilot Proxy in VS Code or need to route through it. You must enable the plugin and keep the VS Code extension running.

Optional flags

Flag Description
--yes Skip the confirmation prompt
--set-default Also apply the provider's recommended default model 
# Skip confirmation
genesis models auth login-github-copilot --yes

# Login and set the default model in one step
genesis models auth login --provider github-copilot --method device --set-default

Interactive TTY required

The device-login flow requires an interactive TTY. Run it directly in a terminal, not in a non-interactive script or CI pipeline.

Model availability depends on your plan

Copilot model availability depends on your GitHub plan. If a model is rejected, try another ID (for example github-copilot/gpt-4.1).

Transport selection

Claude model IDs use the Anthropic Messages transport automatically. GPT, o-series, and Gemini models keep the OpenAI Responses transport. Genesis selects the correct transport based on the model ref.

Request compatibility

Genesis sends Copilot IDE-style request headers on Copilot transports, including built-in compaction, tool-result, and image follow-up turns. It does not enable provider-level Responses continuation for Copilot unless that behavior has been verified against Copilot's API.

Environment variable resolution order

Genesis resolves Copilot auth from environment variables in the following priority order:

Priority Variable Notes
1 COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN Highest priority, Copilot-specific
2 GH_TOKEN GitHub CLI token (fallback)
3 GITHUB_TOKEN Standard GitHub token (lowest)

When multiple variables are set, Genesis uses the highest-priority one. The device-login flow (genesis models auth login-github-copilot) stores its token in the auth profile store and takes precedence over all environment variables.

Token storage

The login stores a GitHub token in the auth profile store and exchanges it for a Copilot API token when Genesis runs. You do not need to manage the token manually.

Requires an interactive TTY. Run the login command directly in a terminal, not inside a headless script or CI job.

Memory search embeddings

GitHub Copilot can also serve as an embedding provider for memory search. If you have a Copilot subscription and have logged in, Genesis can use it for embeddings without a separate API key.

Auto-detection

When memorySearch.provider is "auto" (the default), GitHub Copilot is tried at priority 15 -- after local embeddings but before OpenAI and other paid providers. If a GitHub token is available, Genesis discovers available embedding models from the Copilot API and picks the best one automatically.

Explicit config

{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      memorySearch: {
        provider: "github-copilot",
        // Optional: override the auto-discovered model
        model: "text-embedding-3-small",
      },
    },
  },
}

How it works

  1. Genesis resolves your GitHub token (from env vars or auth profile).
  2. Exchanges it for a short-lived Copilot API token.
  3. Queries the Copilot /models endpoint to discover available embedding models.
  4. Picks the best model (prefers text-embedding-3-small).
  5. Sends embedding requests to the Copilot /embeddings endpoint.

Model availability depends on your GitHub plan. If no embedding models are available, Genesis skips Copilot and tries the next provider.