GitHub Copilot app adds slash commands for faster workflows

GitHub has introduced slash commands in the GitHub Copilot app, a set of text shortcuts designed to streamline common developer workflows. Users access these commands by typing / into the chat composer, which triggers an autocomplete menu showing the available commands for their current context.

The key difference between app and CLI slash commands stems from their respective environments. CLI slash commands are designed around a terminal-first workflow, handling tasks like adding directories, setting the working directory, and managing terminal access. The app, by contrast, provides a visual interface that automatically manages project context, so its slash commands focus on workflows instead. Some commands like /clear and /model work in both places, but app-specific commands are tailored to the multi-session, desktop-based workflow.

The slash command set supports a progression through development activities. /plan helps developers break down a task before writing code, think through their approach, identify potential challenges, and decide what happens next—it also switches the session into Plan mode. Examples include planning a new feature by identifying files and dependencies, mapping out a complex refactor before touching the code, or triaging a bug to explore possible causes. /spar acts as a pressure-testing tool, using Copilot to question assumptions and point out potential risks or tradeoffs, such as challenging a caching strategy, debating REST versus GraphQL, or identifying edge cases in a migration plan. /autopilot takes the wheel once a plan exists, handling multi-step implementation tasks and allowing developers to give Copilot a goal rather than managing each individual step—examples include implementing a new feature or updating dependencies. /rubber-duck provides an independent review using a different model, surfacing blind spots and catching issues the primary model may have missed; it is positioned for reviewing complex plans, large refactors, or migration strategies before moving forward.

/create-canvas transforms conversations into interactive experiences by creating visualizations, dashboards, or custom workflows that developers can interact with directly, rather than working through information in a chat window. /orchestrate coordinates work across multiple repositories when a feature touches multiple codebases or when several related tasks must move forward in parallel. The article notes that users do not need to memorize commands—the autocomplete menu provides guidance, and additional examples and documentation are available in GitHub's blog and official docs.