Copilot Skins

# Copilot Skins

<p align="center">
  <img src="build/icon.png" alt="Copilot Skins Logo" width="128" height="128">
</p>

A native desktop GUI for GitHub Copilot, wrapping the [Copilot SDK](https://github.blog/changelog/2026-01-14-copilot-sdk-in-technical-preview/) and the Copilot agentic logic.

Watch Copilot Skins building itself in action!

![Copilot Skins Demo](https://github.com/idofrizler/copilot-ui/releases/download/assets/Copilot.Skins.2-4.gif)

## Features

### 🗂️ Multiple Sessions, Multiple Contexts

CLI gives you one session at a time. Copilot Skins gives you tabs—each with its own working directory, model, and conversation history.

Each session maintains its own working directory, model, allowed commands, and file changes. Switch tabs instantly. No re-explaining context. No restarting sessions.

### 🌳 Git Worktree Sessions

Instead of just a new tab, create a worktree session—a completely isolated git worktree tied to a branch.

Paste a GitHub issue URL. Copilot Skins fetches the issue (title, body, comments), creates a git worktree in `~/.copilot-sessions/` and opens a new session in that worktree.

Work on multiple issues simultaneously without stashing, switching branches, or losing your place. Each worktree is a real directory—run builds, tests, whatever you need.

### 🔁 Ralph Wiggum: Iterative Agent Mode

Named after [Claude Code's ralph-wiggum plugin](https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/tree/main/plugins/ralph-wiggum), this feature lets the agent run in a loop until a task is actually done.

You prompt with completion criteria → agent works → checks its work → continues if not done → repeats up to N times. Perfect for tasks that need multiple passes to get right.

### 💻 Embedded Terminal

Every session has a terminal panel that runs in the session's working directory. It's a real PTY (xterm.js), not a fake console.

Click "Add to Message" and the terminal's output buffer gets attached to your next prompt. See a build error? One click to show it to the agent. No copy-paste, no explaining—just "fix this" with full context.

### More Features

- 🔐 **Allowed Commands** — Per-session and global command allowlisting with visual management
- 🔌 **MCP Servers** — Configure Model Context Protocol servers for extended tool capabilities
- 🎯 **Agent Skills** — Personal and project skills via `SKILL.md` files (compatible with Claude format)
- 📦 **Context Compaction** — Automatic conversation summarization when approaching token limits
- 🎨 **Themes** — Custom themes via JSON, including some nostalgic ones (ICQ, Night Owl)
- 🤖 **Multi-Model** — Switch between GPT-4.1, GPT-5, Claude Opus-4, Sonnet, Haiku, Gemini, and more

## Prerequisites

- Node.js 22+ (required for Copilot SDK)
- GitHub Copilot subscription
- GitHub CLI authenticated (`gh auth login`)

### Windows Additional Requirements

Windows requires additional build tools for native modules:
- **Python 3.x** (for node-gyp)
- **Visual Studio Build Tools 2022** with C++ workload and Spectre libraries
- **PowerShell 7+** (for running scripts)

**Quick Setup:** Run our automated setup script (requires [winget](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/package-manager/winget/)):

```powershell
# In PowerShell (run as Administrator recommended)
cd copilot-ui
.\scripts\setup-windows.ps1
```

This will install all Windows prerequisites automatically. After running, **restart your terminal** and proceed with `npm install`.

<details>
<summary><b>Manual Windows Setup (if automated script fails)</b></summary>

1. **Install PowerShell 7+:**
   ```powershell
   winget install Microsoft.PowerShell
   ```

2. **Install Python:**
   ```powershell
   winget install Python.Python.3.12
   ```

3. **Install Visual Studio Build Tools:**
   ```powershell
   winget install Microsoft.VisualStudio.2022.BuildTools --silent --override "--wait --quiet --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Workload.VCTools --add Microsoft.VisualStudio.Component.VC.Runtimes.x86.x64.Spectre --includeRecommended"
   ```

4. **Set PowerShell execution policy:**
   ```powershell
   Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope CurrentUser
   ```

5. **Restart your terminal** for PATH changes to take effect

</details>

## Installation

### Build the App (macOS)

Building locally avoids macOS Gatekeeper issues with unsigned apps:

```bash
# Clone and install
git clone https://github.com/idofrizler/copilot-ui.git
cd copilot-ui

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build the DMG
npm run dist

# Install
open release/Copilot-Skins-*-arm64.dmg
```

Drag "Copilot Skins" to your Applications folder and you're ready to go!

### Build the App (Windows)

```powershell
# Clone and install
git clone https://github.com/idofrizler/copilot-ui.git
cd copilot-ui

# Run Windows setup script (first time only)
.\scripts\setup-windows.ps1

# Restart terminal, then install dependencies
npm install

# Build the installer
npm run dist:win

# The installer will be in release/
```

## Development

```bash

... (truncated)