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[bot] Add /model --session, /model plan, and copilot plugins install --skill documentation - #195

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update/cli-july-2026-41405ec4f78a1889
Jul 29, 2026
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[bot] Add /model --session, /model plan, and copilot plugins install --skill documentation#195
DanWahlin merged 4 commits into
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update/cli-july-2026-41405ec4f78a1889

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What's New in the CLI (July 20–24, 2026)

The following beginner-relevant features were released in Copilot CLI v1.0.72–v1.0.75 and are not yet documented in the course:

New Features Found

Release Feature
v1.0.72 (2026-07-20) copilot plugins install --skill — install skills directly from the CLI
v1.0.72 (2026-07-20) /model --session (-s) — change model for current session only
v1.0.74 (2026-07-23) /model plan / /model --plan — pick a dedicated model for plan mode

Course Sections Updated

Chapter 01 — First Steps (01-setup-and-first-steps/README.md)

  • Added a tip about /model --session (-s) in the Switching Models section, explaining how to change models for a single session without affecting the global default.

Chapter 04 — Agents & Custom Instructions (04-agents-custom-instructions/README.md)

  • Added a new "Choosing a Model for Plan Mode" subsection under the Built-in Agents section, documenting /model plan with an example and a tip on saving premium quota by using lighter models for planning.

Chapter 05 — Skills (05-skills/README.md)

  • Added copilot plugins install --skill as a new installation option in the "Finding and Using Community Skills" section, positioned before the existing gh skill install coverage. Includes --scope project for team-shared installs.

Source Announcements

Generated by Course Updater · ● 1.8M ·

…--skill

Document three beginner-relevant features added in recent CLI releases:

- Chapter 01: Add tip about /model --session (-s) for session-only model changes
- Chapter 04: Add /model plan section showing how to set a dedicated model for
  plan mode (useful for saving premium quota on lightweight planning tasks)
- Chapter 05: Add copilot plugins install --skill as a CLI-native skill
  installation option alongside the existing gh skill install and
  copilot skill add commands

Sources:
- v1.0.75 release (2026-07-24): Claude Opus 5 support
- v1.0.74 release (2026-07-23): /model plan command
- v1.0.72 release (2026-07-20): /model --session, copilot plugins install --skill

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
@DanWahlin

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@copilot I like the following and want that included in the PR. However, the other items should be removed from the PR.

Include this only:

Chapter 04 — Agents & Custom Instructions (04-agents-custom-instructions/README.md)

Added a new "Choosing a Model for Plan Mode" subsection under the Built-in Agents section, documenting /model plan with an example and a tip on saving premium quota by using lighter models for planning.

Copilot AI commented Jul 29, 2026

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@copilot I like the following and want that included in the PR. However, the other items should be removed from the PR.

Include this only:
...

Done. Reverted the Chapter 01 (/model --session tip) and Chapter 05 (copilot plugins install --skill section) changes. Only the Chapter 04 "Choosing a Model for Plan Mode" subsection remains.

@DanWahlin

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@copilot I don't agree with using a lower model for plan mode. In fact, a frontier model used upfront to create a solid plan which can actually save on tokens and time down the road. Let's update this section to reflect that:

💡 Why set a plan-mode model? Planning prompts tend to be lighter tasks — outlining steps, identifying files to change, or scoping work. A faster, cheaper model (like haiku) is often plenty for this. Saving your premium-quota model for the actual implementation step is a smart habit.

Copilot AI commented Jul 29, 2026

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@copilot I don't agree with using a lower model for plan mode. In fact, a frontier model used upfront to create a solid plan which can actually save on tokens and time down the road. Let's update this...

Updated the tip to reflect that using a frontier model for planning can save tokens and time overall by producing a precise, well-scoped plan upfront.

@DanWahlin
DanWahlin marked this pull request as ready for review July 29, 2026 20:22
Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings July 29, 2026 20:22
@DanWahlin
DanWahlin merged commit f22d71f into main Jul 29, 2026
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Pull request overview

Documents dedicated model selection for Copilot CLI plan mode. The broader Chapter 01 and Chapter 05 updates described in the PR are missing.

Changes:

  • Adds /model plan usage and model-selection examples.
  • Explains plan-mode model behavior and benefits.
Show a summary per file
File Description
04-agents-custom-instructions/README.md Adds plan-mode model guidance.

Review details

  • Files reviewed: 1/1 changed files
  • Comments generated: 2
  • Review effort level: Medium


> 💡 **Why set a plan-mode model?** A high-quality plan created by a frontier model upfront can actually save tokens and time overall. A precise, well-scoped plan means fewer back-and-forth corrections during implementation.

> 📚 **Official Documentation**: [GitHub Copilot CLI Agents](https://docs.github.com/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/use-copilot-cli/invoke-custom-agents)
> 💡 **Multi-turn subagents**: Subagents (background tasks launched by agents) support follow-up messages. While an agent is running in the background, you can open `/tasks` to view it and send follow-up instructions. You don't have to wait for it to finish before guiding it further. Think of it like being able to tap your assistant on the shoulder mid-task to give extra direction.

> 📚 **Official Documentation**: [GitHub Copilot CLI Agents](https://docs.github.com/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/use-copilot-cli#use-custom-agents)
### Choosing a Model for Plan Mode
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3 participants