GitHub Copilot CLI

Add SpecStream to GitHub Copilot CLI with two commands, and Copilot can search the live web, read whole pages and build lists of records from your terminal, with the price shown before any list runs. The plugin brings SpecStream's MCP server and seven skills.

SpecStream for GitHub Copilot CLICoding agents

What you need

GitHub Copilot CLI, installed and signed in with copilot login.
A SpecStream account. New accounts get $10 of credit, no card. Create one.

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1. Add the SpecStream marketplace
Run this in a terminal. Copilot CLI reads the marketplace file in the specstream/specstream-tools (opens in a new tab) repository and registers it under its own name, specstream. The terminal prints Marketplace "specstream" added successfully.
In a Copilot session, /plugin marketplace add specstream/specstream-tools does the same.
Terminal
copilot plugin marketplace add specstream/specstream-tools
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2. Install the plugin
Install the specstream plugin from the specstream marketplace. The terminal prints Plugin "specstream" installed successfully. Installed 7 skills. In a session, the command is /plugin install specstream@specstream.
Terminal
copilot plugin install specstream@specstream

3. Check the server

Run copilot mcp get specstream. It shows Type: http, URL: https://api.specstream.ai/mcp, Tools: * (all) and Source: Plugin. copilot mcp list lists it under Plugin servers.

Terminal

copilot mcp get specstream

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4. Sign in to SpecStream
Start a session with copilot and enter the command below. Copilot opens your browser at SpecStream's sign in. Sign in, or create an account, and approve the access Copilot asks for. Copilot registers itself with SpecStream, so there is no client ID and no key to paste.
Enter /mcp to see SpecStream with its status. If it ever shows needs-auth, run the same command again.
In a Copilot session
/mcp auth specstream

5. Ask Copilot

Ask for something current and name SpecStream. Copilot calls search_web for a quick answer and read_pages for the full text of the pages it found, and asks your permission before each tool runs unless you allowed it:

In a Copilot session

Use SpecStream to find the current stable release of Node.js and read its release notes.

What Copilot gets

The plugin adds SpecStream's server at https://api.specstream.ai/mcp and these tools:

search_web answers a question from the live web, with up to 10 results for $5 per 1,000 searches. A search that returns nothing costs nothing.
read_pages returns the main text of up to 20 pages or documents (PDF, Word, Excel) in one call, at $0.80 per 1,000 pages. A page that gives no text is not charged.
Deep Search builds a list from a request in plain words. compile reads the request, quote_capacity_work prices it for free, and authorize_capacity_work starts it only after you approve the maximum. get_find and list_find_rows read the rows. Source URL and read time on every value.

The seven skills

The plugin also installs skills that tell Copilot when to use each tool. copilot skill list shows them under the plugin: search-web, extract-pages, compile, review-work, approve-work, continue-work and schedules. schedules keeps a list up to date, hourly to yearly, within a limit per run and per month.

Approvals in Copilot CLI

Copilot asks before it runs a tool. --allow-tool and --deny-tool take a server's tools as specstream(TOOL), and a deny rule always wins over an allow rule. To let the free calls run without a prompt and keep paid Deep Search work off in a session, start Copilot like this:

SpecStream adds its own gate: nothing paid in Deep Search starts until you approve the price it quotes. Searches and page reads are charged per call, with no quote.

Or use an API key

Use a key on a machine with no browser, in CI, or wherever a key with its own spending limit fits better. In the SpecStream workspace, open API keys, click New key, choose Call the APIs and set a Total spending limit.

Add the server with the key in place of the plugin, not beside it: a plugin's server takes precedence over a server of the same name in ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json. Run copilot plugin uninstall specstream first if you installed it, then:

If something doesn't work

What you see	What to do
`copilot: command not found`	Install Copilot CLI and sign in with `copilot login`, then run the marketplace command again.
SpecStream shows `needs-auth` in `/mcp`	Run `/mcp auth specstream` and sign in again in the browser.
The install says the plugin is not found	Run `copilot plugin marketplace list` and check that `specstream` is there. If not, add the marketplace again.
A Deep Search call returns `402`	The balance is too low for the approved maximum. Add balance in your SpecStream workspace.
Your API key setup has no effect	The plugin is still installed and its server wins. Run `copilot plugin uninstall specstream`.

Update and remove

copilot plugin update specstream brings the plugin to its newest version. copilot plugin uninstall specstream removes the plugin with its skills and server, and copilot plugin marketplace remove specstream removes the marketplace. Rows already delivered stay in your account. Every tool on the server is described in the MCP guide, and [email protected] answers if a step here doesn't match what you see.

SpecStream for GitHub Copilot CLI covers what it does in GitHub Copilot CLI on one page. Every other tool has its guide in Connect your tools. You see the most a request can cost before it starts, and the matches are paid from your balance. Billing has the details. For help, email [email protected].