AI / GitHub Copilot CLI Fundamentals Interview Questions
What are the operating modes in GitHub Copilot CLI and how do you switch between them?
Copilot CLI has three operating modes that control how autonomously the agent works. You cycle between them using Shift+Tab.
| Mode | Behaviour | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Chat (default) | Conversational mode - answers questions, explains code, discusses approaches without executing commands | General Q&A, planning, getting advice |
| Plan | Copilot outlines a step-by-step plan for a task before executing anything - you can review and adjust the plan | Complex tasks where you want to verify the approach before Copilot acts |
| Autopilot | Copilot works autonomously until the task is complete without asking for step-by-step approval - it continues on its own after each step | Delegated tasks where you trust Copilot to handle the full implementation |
# Keyboard shortcut: Shift+Tab to cycle through modes # Chat → Plan → Autopilot → Chat → ... # You can also trigger via command /delegate # switches to autopilot-style autonomous execution # Launch with experimental flag to access all modes copilot --experimental # Then use /experimental show to see available preview features
Autopilot mode is one of the most powerful features - it encourages the agent to continue working until a task is fully completed without requiring human approval at each step. It is recommended for well-defined tasks where you have high confidence in the AI's direction.
Note: Autopilot mode requires the experimental features flag to be enabled. Once activated, the setting persists in your config so you don't need --experimental on subsequent launches.
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