Unofficial Python wrapper for GitHub Copilot

Unofficial Python wrapper for GitHub Copilot | Generated by AI

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The GitHub repository ericc-ch/copilot-api is an unofficial Python wrapper for interacting with GitHub Copilot’s API (the AI-powered code completion tool). It allows developers to programmatically generate code suggestions, completions, and explanations using Copilot’s backend without relying on the official VS Code extension or other IDE integrations.

What is it used for?

This API wrapper can be used to:

Generate code completions (like in VS Code but programmatically).
Get explanations for code snippets.
Integrate Copilot into custom applications (e.g., CLI tools, web apps, or automated workflows).
Experiment with Copilot’s responses without an IDE.
Bypass rate limits (if used carefully, though this may violate GitHub’s ToS).

⚠️ Warning:

This is an unofficial API, meaning GitHub could change or block access at any time.
Using this may violate GitHub Copilot’s Terms of Service if used for automation or commercial purposes without permission.
Rate limits apply (GitHub may ban accounts for excessive requests).

How to Use It?

1. Installation

Clone the repository and install dependencies:

git clone https://github.com/ericc-ch/copilot-api.git
cd copilot-api
pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Authentication

You need a GitHub Copilot token (not the same as a GitHub personal access token).

How to Get a Copilot Token?

Using Browser DevTools (Recommended)
- Open VS Code with Copilot enabled.
- Open Developer Tools (F12 or Ctrl+Shift+I).
- Go to the Network tab.
- Filter for copilot requests.
- Look for a request to https://api.github.com/copilot_internal/v2/token.
- Copy the authorization token from the response.
Using the Script (if available) Some forks of this repo include a token extractor script.

Set the Token in Python

from copilot import Copilot

copilot = Copilot(
    auth_token="YOUR_COPILOT_TOKEN",  # From DevTools
    proxy="http://your-proxy:port"    # Optional (if behind a proxy)
)

3. Basic Usage Examples

Get Code Completions

response = copilot.get_completion(
    prompt="def calculate_factorial(n):",
    language="python",
    n=3  # Number of suggestions
)
print(response)

Output Example:

[
    "def calculate_factorial(n):\n    if n == 0:\n        return 1\n    else:\n        return n * calculate_factorial(n-1)",
    "def calculate_factorial(n):\n    result = 1\n    for i in range(1, n+1):\n        result *= i\n    return result",
    "def calculate_factorial(n):\n    return 1 if n <= 1 else n * calculate_factorial(n - 1)"
]

Get Code Explanation

explanation = copilot.explain_code(
    code="def factorial(n): return 1 if n <= 1 else n * factorial(n - 1)",
    language="python"
)
print(explanation)

Output Example:

This is a recursive function to calculate the factorial of a number `n`.
- If `n` is 0 or 1, it returns 1 (base case).
- Otherwise, it returns `n * factorial(n-1)`, breaking the problem into smaller subproblems.

Chat with Copilot (if supported)

Some versions allow conversational interactions:

response = copilot.chat(
    message="How do I sort a list in Python?",
    context="python"
)
print(response)

4. Advanced Usage

Using in a Custom CLI Tool

import argparse
from copilot import Copilot

parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
parser.add_argument("--prompt", type=str, required=True)
parser.add_argument("--language", type=str, default="python")
args = parser.parse_args()

copilot = Copilot(auth_token="YOUR_TOKEN")
completions = copilot.get_completion(args.prompt, args.language, n=3)

for i, code in enumerate(completions, 1):
    print(f"--- Suggestion {i} ---")
    print(code)
    print()

Integrating with FastAPI (Web App)

from fastapi import FastAPI
from copilot import Copilot

app = FastAPI()
copilot = Copilot(auth_token="YOUR_TOKEN")

@app.get("/complete")
def complete_code(prompt: str, language: str = "python"):
    return copilot.get_completion(prompt, language, n=1)

Limitations & Risks

✅ Pros:

Works without VS Code.
Can be integrated into custom workflows.
Useful for automation (if allowed).

❌ Cons:

Unofficial API (may break anytime).
Rate limits (GitHub may block your account).
Ethical concerns (check GitHub’s ToS before using).
No official support.

Alternatives

If you want a legal way to use Copilot programmatically:

Official GitHub Copilot CLI (if released in the future).
GitHub Copilot Labs (experimental extensions).
Other AI code assistants (e.g., Amazon CodeWhisperer, TabNine, Sourcegraph Cody).

Final Thoughts

This repository is useful for experimentation and learning how Copilot works under the hood, but use it responsibly. If you’re building a production tool, consider waiting for an official API or using approved alternatives.

Would you like help with a specific use case? 🚀

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