Refine Copilot app quickstart (#62323)

Co-authored-by: Copilot App <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Copilot Autofix powered by AI <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Copilot-Session: 29ffa301-8099-4901-bf9f-05f51b1b7c66

Author: 3 people

content/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/agent-sessions.md

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ category:
 Each session in the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %} runs in its own isolated workspace, so you can run multiple sessions in parallel and make progress on several tasks without conflicts.
 
 1. In the sidebar next to **Sessions**, click **+** to start a new session.
-1. Choose a repository—you can use a local folder, choose from {% data variables.product.github %}, or clone from a URL.
+1. Choose a project—you can use a folder already on your machine, choose from {% data variables.product.github %}, or clone from a Git URL for repositories hosted outside {% data variables.product.github %} (for example, on Azure DevOps) or for private repositories without app access.
 1. From the dropdown under the prompt box, choose where the session should run: in a new working tree, in your local repository, or in a cloud sandbox. Cloud sandboxes for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} (public preview) are fully isolated environments hosted by {% data variables.product.github %}.
 1. Select a session mode, model, and reasoning effort from the dropdowns below the prompt field. If you choose **Auto** for the model, the app selects the optimal model for your task based on task complexity.
 1. Describe the task in the prompt field. You can reference issues with `#`, add files with `@`, or use `/` for commands.

content/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/getting-started.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 title: Getting started with the GitHub Copilot app
 shortTitle: Quickstart
 allowTitleToDifferFromFilename: true
-intro: 'Sign in to the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}, ask your first question in a quick chat, and then create a full agent session to make changes to your code.'
+intro: 'Sign in to the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}, connect a repository or local folder, and create your first agent session to make code changes.'
 product: '{% data reusables.gated-features.github-app %}<br><a href="https://github.com/features/ai/github-app" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary mt-3 mr-3 no-underline"><span>Download {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}</span> {% octicon "link-external" height:16 %}</a>'
 versions:
   feature: copilot
@@ -16,12 +16,21 @@ category:
 
 For a conceptual overview of the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/agents/github-copilot-app).
 
+In this quickstart, you will:
+
+1. Install and sign in to the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}.
+1. Connect a repository or local folder.
+1. Make code changes in an agent session.
+
 ## Prerequisites
 
-* [Git](https://github.com/git-guides/install-git) installed on your computer.
 * A {% data variables.product.github %} account.
-* A {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} plan. Alternatively, if using your own model provider, you will need required credentials such as an API key. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/use-byok-models).
-* If you use {% data variables.copilot.copilot_business_short %} or {% data variables.copilot.copilot_enterprise_short %}, your plan administrator must enable the **{% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %}** policy. See [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-organization/manage-policies) or [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-enterprise/manage-enterprise-policies).
+* Access to {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} or a configured model provider.
+  * If you use your own model provider, you will need provider credentials such as an API key. For setup steps, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/use-byok-models).
+* [Git](https://github.com/git-guides/install-git) installed on your computer.
+
+> [!NOTE]
+> If you use {% data variables.copilot.copilot_business_short %} or {% data variables.copilot.copilot_enterprise_short %}, your plan administrator will need to enable the **{% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %}** policy. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-organization/manage-policies) or [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-for-enterprise/manage-enterprise-policies).
 
 ## Installing the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}
 
@@ -34,56 +43,44 @@ For a conceptual overview of the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %}
 1. Click **Sign in to {% data variables.product.github %}** and follow the prompts to authenticate. If you use {% data variables.product.prodname_ghe_server %}, choose **Use GitHub Enterprise** and enter your server address when prompted.
 1. If you do not have a {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} plan, choose whether to sign up for a plan or continue with your own model provider.
     * If you choose to use your own model provider, select a provider, enter any required credentials, then click **Save and continue**.
-1. When prompted, select one or more repositories based on your recent {% data variables.product.github %} activity. You can also add a local repository, or skip this step and add repositories later.
+1. When prompted, select one or more repositories based on your recent {% data variables.product.github %} activity. You can also add a local folder or repository, or skip this step and add projects later.
 1. Choose a theme, then complete onboarding to open the app.
 
-## Connecting a repository
+## Connecting a repository or folder
 
-To work on code, you need at least one repository connected to the app. If you skipped repository setup during onboarding, or want to add more repositories later:
+To work on code, you need at least one project connected to the app. A project can be a folder already on your machine, including a repository you've already cloned locally, or a repository you clone from {% data variables.product.github %} or another remote Git host such as Azure DevOps. Connecting a project unlocks the core app workflow: reading code, making edits, and opening pull requests from agent sessions. If you skipped project setup during onboarding, or want to add more projects later:
 
 1. Click the **+** button in the sidebar next to "Sessions".
 1. Under **Add project from**, choose one of the following:
-   * **Local folder or repository** — Select a folder already on your machine.
-   * **{% data variables.product.github %} repository** — Browse and clone a repository from {% data variables.product.github %}.
-   * **Repository URL** — Clone from any Git URL.
-
-## Orienting yourself
-
-The sidebar gives you access to the main areas of the app:
-
-* **[My work](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fmywork)** — Browse and filter issues and pull requests from your repositories, check CI status, and leave reviews.
-* **[Automations](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fautomations)** — Saved agent tasks that run on a schedule or on demand.
-* **Search** — Search across your repositories directly from the app.
-* **Sessions** — Active agent sessions, grouped by repository. This also includes **Quick chats**, which are general chat conversations.
-
-## Starting a quick chat
+  * **Local folder or repository** — Select a folder already on your machine, including one that contains a repository you've already cloned locally.
+  * **{% data variables.product.github %} repository** — Browse and clone a repository from {% data variables.product.github %}.
+  * **Repository URL** — Clone from a Git URL for repositories hosted outside {% data variables.product.github %} (for example, on Azure DevOps) or for private repositories without app access.
 
-The fastest way to try the {% data variables.copilot.github_copilot_app %} is with a quick chat. Quick chats let you ask questions and brainstorm without creating a branch or worktree.
+## Making your first code changes
 
-1. In the sidebar, click **+** next to "Quick chats" to open a new chat.
-1. Type a question or prompt—for example, "Give me an overview of the octocat repository."
-1. The agent responds in the conversation view. You can continue the conversation, ask follow-up questions, or start a new chat.
-
-## Creating your first session
+1. Click **+** next to **Sessions**, then choose a connected folder or repository under **Start session in**.
+1. Select a session mode from the dropdown below the prompt field—for example, **Interactive** to work collaboratively with the agent.
+1. In the prompt box, paste this prompt:
 
-When you are ready to make changes to code, create a session. You can start from an issue or describe a task directly.
+   ```copilot copy
+   Suggest a small low-risk code change in this repository, implement it, and explain the diff.
+   ```
 
-### Starting from an issue
+1. Respond to any requests for input from the agent. After the agent makes changes, click **Changes** above the prompt box to view the diff.
+1. Continue iterating in the same session until you are happy with the result.
+1. If you want to keep the change, click **Create PR** to open a pull request for review.
+1. If you create a pull request, click **PR** above the prompt box to view it directly in the app.
 
-1. Click **[My work](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fmywork)** in the sidebar.
-1. Browse or filter to find an issue, then click it to view its details.
-1. Click **New session**. The app creates a new session with the issue context already loaded.
-1. Select a session mode from the dropdown below the prompt field—for example, **Plan** to have the agent propose a plan first, or **Interactive** to work collaboratively with the agent.
-1. Prompt the agent with what you want it to do. If you chose **Plan** mode, the agent proposes a plan for you to review first; otherwise, the agent will start working on the issue and propose changes that you can iterate on. Follow along in the conversation view and provide feedback to steer the agent.
+**Optional:** If you already have tasks you want to complete in your repository, you can start a session from an issue in **[My work](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fmywork)**. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/github-copilot-app/managing-issues-and-pull-requests).
 
-### Starting from a task
+## Orienting yourself
 
-If you do not have an issue to work from, you can describe a task directly.
+The sidebar gives you access to the main areas of the app:
 
-1. In the sidebar, click **+** next to "Sessions" to start a new session, then select a repository.
-1. Select a session mode from the dropdown below the prompt field—for example, **Interactive** to work collaboratively with the agent.
-1. Describe a task—for example, "Fix the failing test in `utils.test.ts`" or "Add input validation to the signup form."
-1. The agent will make changes based on your direction. Follow along in the conversation view and provide feedback to steer the agent.
+* **[My work](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fmywork)** — Browse and filter issues and pull requests from your repositories, check CI status, and leave reviews.
+* **[Automations](https://github.com/copilot/app/launch?open=ghapp%3A%2F%2Fautomations)** — Saved agent tasks that run on a schedule or on demand.
+* **Search** — Search across your repositories directly from the app.
+* **Sessions** — Active agent sessions, grouped by project. This also includes **Quick chats**, which are general chat conversations.
 
 ## Next steps