How to use the Copilot CLI Mastery agent skill

What is an agent skill and what does cli-mastery make the agent do?

An agent skill is a folder of instructions and reference files that an AI agent loads when your request matches the skill's purpose. The cli-mastery skill (MIT licensed) teaches the GitHub Copilot CLI in a structured way.

Once installed, the agent can run guided lessons, quizzes, scenario challenges and a final exam. The lessons cover slash commands, keyboard shortcuts, modes, agents, skills, MCP and configuration. For specific CLI questions it can answer directly from a built-in reference.

• Guided lessons, one concept at a time, with a quiz or review offered after each lesson
• Quizzes of at least five questions, asked through interactive choices
• Scenario challenges and a final exam
• Progress tracking: XP and a level, stored in a local SQLite table

How do you install the cli-mastery skill?

Download the ZIP for the skill from the directory page and unzip it. Place the resulting folder in one of two locations. For a personal install for all your projects, put it in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, put it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.

If you use the Claude apps, you can instead upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

• Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
• Project only: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
• Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload

What you need before you start

The skill teaches the GitHub Copilot CLI, so you need that tool installed. The skill also expects an agent runtime that provides the ask_user, sql and view tools, because quizzes use ask_user and progress tracking uses sql.

• GitHub Copilot CLI (the tool being taught)
• An agent runtime with the ask_user, sql and view tools available

How do you start a lesson with natural requests?

Say "cliexpert" to start. You can also use phrases from the skill's trigger list. The skill maps each kind of request to an action.

• "cliexpert" or "teach me the Copilot CLI": reads the next module and teaches it
• "quiz me on slash commands" or "test me": runs a quiz on the current module
• "scenario" or "challenge": starts a scenario challenge
• "reference": summarizes the relevant module
• "copilot CLI final exam": runs the final exam
• "CLI cheat sheet": produces a quick reference

What the lessons and quizzes look like

Each lesson covers one concept at a time, with examples and guidance on when to use each command. Correct answers earn XP: a lesson gives 20, a correct answer 15, a perfect quiz 50 and a scenario 30. The level names run from Newcomer up to Wizard.

The final exam has 10 questions with four choices each and requires 80% or more to pass. Ask a specific CLI question at any time, such as what a shortcut does, and the agent answers without loading the lessons.

• Lesson: +20 XP
• Correct answer: +15 XP
• Perfect quiz: +50 XP
• Scenario: +30 XP
• Final exam: pass at 80% or more

Safety notes: scripts and network

The skill does not run scripts and does not use the network, according to its listing. It does write progress data to a local SQLite table through the sql tool, so your XP and level are kept on your machine.

The skill is designed for CLI teaching only. It says it should not handle general coding help or IDE-only Copilot features. Its reference files may lag behind CLI changes, so check the official Copilot CLI documentation for anything that must be current.

• Runs scripts: no
• Uses network: no
• Stores progress locally in a SQLite table

Tips for getting the most out of it

Work through the modules in order, since each builds on the last. Use quizzes after lessons to check what you remember. When you finish the modules, the agent offers scenarios, the final exam, or a review of any module.

Use the cheat sheet trigger when you only need a reminder rather than a full lesson.

• Start with module 1 (slash commands) before shortcuts and agents
• Ask specific questions directly for quick answers
• Retake a module quiz to reinforce weak areas