Copilot
GitHub Copilot agent for AI-assisted coding
GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant, deeply integrated with the GitHub ecosystem. It excels at understanding repository context and GitHub workflows.
Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | GitHub (Microsoft) |
| CLI Tool | copilot |
| Auth Methods | Copilot subscription only |
Sesame automatically downloads and caches the Copilot CLI binary when a session starts. You do not need to install it manually.
Authentication
Copilot requires a GitHub Copilot subscription and a Personal Access Token. API keys are not available — there is no separate API key tab for Copilot.
Subscription Setup
-
Ensure you have an active Copilot subscription:
- Individual ($10/mo)
- Business ($19/mo per user)
- Enterprise (contact sales)
-
Create a fine-grained Personal Access Token:
- Go to GitHub PAT Settings
- Name: "Sesame Copilot"
- Expiration: Your preference (90 days recommended)
- Permissions: Select Copilot
-
In Sesame: Settings → Agent Credentials → Copilot → Paste token → Save
This token is separate from the GitHub PAT used for repository access. The Copilot token specifically needs the "Copilot" permission.
Environment Variables
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
COPILOT_GITHUB_TOKEN | GitHub token with Copilot permission |
GH_TOKEN | Fallback: General GitHub token |
GITHUB_TOKEN | Fallback: General GitHub token |
The token is checked in the order above.
Troubleshooting
"Copilot access denied"
- Verify your Copilot subscription is active
- Check the token has the "Copilot" permission
- For organization repos, ensure Copilot is enabled for the org
Token not working
- Verify the token at GitHub Token Settings
- Ensure the token hasn't expired
- Create a new token with Copilot permission
- Update in Sesame's Agent Credentials
Organization restrictions
Some organizations restrict Copilot usage:
- Check with your organization admin
- Organization may need to enable Copilot for members
- Some orgs require Business or Enterprise plans
"Rate limited"
- Copilot has usage limits based on your plan
- Individual plan has lower limits than Business/Enterprise
- Wait and retry if rate limited
Bootstrap failed
If the agent binary fails to download:
- Check that the sandbox has internet access
- Verify network/firewall rules allow HTTPS to
github.com - Check the session logs for specific download errors
Pricing
For details, see GitHub Copilot Pricing.