GitHub Copilot in Teams: Turn Issue Notifications into Pull Requests with the New GitHub App
GitHub CopilotGitHub introduced a new GitHub app in Microsoft Teams that combines notifications with GitHub Copilot, so teams can go from an issue notification to a merged fix without leaving the conversation. Users can be notified in channels, group chats or private chats, then @mention GitHub to have Copilot investigate the issue, fix the bug and open a pull request. The app consolidates the former GitHub notifications app, and the legacy GitHub app will be retired on November 16.
Key Takeaways
- The new GitHub app in Teams merges notifications and Copilot into one app, replacing the earlier GitHub notifications app.
- Teams can @mention GitHub on an issue notification so Copilot investigates, fixes the bug and opens a pull request.
- The flow keeps the review, test and merge steps with the team, so humans still approve the change.
- Existing GitHub notifications users only need to update the app, and their current notification features continue to work.
- The legacy GitHub app will be renamed "GitHub (deprecated)" and retired on November 16.
- Setup is lightweight: mention
@GitHub, connect a GitHub account and select a repository when prompted.
Sources & Mentions
2 external resources covering this update
A Single GitHub App for Notifications and Copilot in Teams
GitHub released a new GitHub app for Microsoft Teams that brings notifications and GitHub Copilot together in one place. The app was previously called GitHub notifications. Teams can now receive updates in channels, group chats or private chats, and then act on those updates directly by mentioning GitHub in the same conversation. The aim is to help teams turn issues into fixes and ship code faster without leaving the place where the discussion is already happening.
From Issue Notification to Pull Request
The workflow GitHub describes has three steps. First, a bug report arrives in Teams as a notification. Next, a team member mentions @github, and Copilot investigates the issue, fixes the bug and creates a pull request. Finally, the team reviews, tests and merges the fix as it would with any other pull request. Because the notification and the action live in the same thread, the context of the original report travels with the request instead of being copied into a separate tool.
Getting Started and the Legacy App Retirement
Teams that already have GitHub notifications installed only need to update the app to the latest version, and their existing notification capabilities keep working. Teams that use the legacy GitHub app should note that it will be renamed GitHub (deprecated) and retired on November 16. To keep using Copilot in Teams, they need to install the consolidated GitHub app. After installing it, a user mentions @GitHub, follows the prompts to connect a GitHub account and selects a repository.