---
title: GitHub Copilot
description: Run Smithers from GitHub Copilot. Register the MCP server in VS Code and in the Copilot coding agent, then add custom instructions.
---

[GitHub Copilot](https://docs.github.com/copilot) extends through **MCP
servers**, **custom instructions**, and **prompt files**. Copilot has two
surfaces with *different* MCP schemas, the in-editor agent (VS Code) and the
autonomous coding agent (cloud), so they're covered separately below.

## MCP in VS Code

Create `.vscode/mcp.json` in the workspace. VS Code uses the `servers` key and
requires a `type`:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "smithers": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "bunx",
      "args": ["smithers-orchestrator", "--mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

Reload the window and the Smithers tools appear in Copilot Chat's agent mode.

## MCP in the Copilot coding agent

The autonomous coding agent is configured in **repo Settings → Copilot → Coding
agent → MCP configuration**. It uses a different schema: `mcpServers`, a
`type` of `"local"`, and a `tools` array:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "smithers": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": "bunx",
      "args": ["smithers-orchestrator", "--mcp"],
      "tools": ["*"]
    }
  }
}
```

Secrets are Actions/Agents secrets prefixed `COPILOT_MCP_` and referenced as
`$VAR` in the `env` block. The semantic tool surface is the same on both
surfaces; see the [MCP Server reference](/integrations/mcp-server).

## Custom instructions

Copilot reads `.github/copilot-instructions.md` (repo-wide) and, for the coding
agent, `AGENTS.md`. Add a section pointing at Smithers:

```md
## Orchestration
Use Smithers for durable, multi-step, or human-in-the-loop agent work.
`bunx smithers-orchestrator starters` lists ready-made workflows.
```

For a slash command, drop a prompt file at `.github/prompts/smithers.prompt.md`.

## See also

- [MCP Server](/integrations/mcp-server): the full tool reference
- [Agent Support](/agents/overview): the cross-agent commands
