GitHub explains how to use Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers with GitHub Copilot CLI, showing how the /mcp command can connect an AI agent to tools like documentation sources and testing utilities such as Playwright and Svelte.

How to use MCP servers with GitHub Copilot CLI (Tutorial for beginners)

In episode 5 of the GitHub Copilot CLI for beginners series, GitHub introduces the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and demonstrates how to connect MCP servers so a Copilot CLI “agent” can access external tools.

What you’ll learn

• What MCP (Model Context Protocol) is in the context of Copilot CLI
• How MCP can give an AI agent access to external resources like:
  • Documentation
  • Databases
  • Testing tools
• How to configure MCP using the /mcp command
• How to set up both:
  • Local MCP servers
  • Remote MCP servers

Walkthrough scenario shown in the episode

GitHub demonstrates using MCP servers to test and improve a web application, including:

• Using the Playwright MCP server (testing)
• Using the Svelte MCP server (web app/framework context)

Links

• GitHub Copilot CLI for Beginners repo: https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners?utm_source=youtube-cli-beginners-series-episode5-repo-cta&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=copilot-cli-ga-phase-two-2026

Provided hashtags (from the source)

• #GitHubCopilot
• #CopilotCLI
• #MCP