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Quickstart: Use GitHub Copilot Agent Mode

GitHub Copilot Agent Mode brings a contextual, action-driven chat experience into the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code. With Agent Mode, GitHub Copilot can go beyond suggesting code—it can securely execute real database tasks using natural language prompts or built-in tools. You can list all your connections, connect to specific server/databases, and explore schemas without leaving your editor.

Tip

You don't need to mention a participant like @mssql to use SQL tools in Agent Mode. Once the MSSQL extension is active, its tools are automatically available in the Agent Mode interface. For more information, see Agent Mode Tools.

These actions are powered by tools contributed by the MSSQL extension and surfaced directly within GitHub Copilot's Agent Mode. For more information on how Agent Mode works, see the Visual Studio Code documentation on Agent Mode.

What is Agent Mode?

Agent Mode enables GitHub Copilot to go beyond suggesting code. It can now perform secure, confirmed actions inside your SQL development environment, using either chat variables like #mssql_connect, or natural phrases like:

Connect to my Library database using my LocalDev profile

Screenshot of GitHub Copilot Agent Mode chat interface.

MSSQL Agent Mode tool reference

This section provides a detailed reference for the SQL-specific tools available in GitHub Copilot Agent Mode. The MSSQL extension contributes these tools, enabling GitHub Copilot to execute actions through chat variables or natural language prompts. All tools require user confirmation before execution.

Screenshot of list of SQL-specific tools contributed by the MSSQL extension in Copilot Agent Mode.

Tip

You can also use chat variables like #mssql_connect to invoke these tools directly, or write prompts in natural language such as:

Connect to my development database

GitHub Copilot handles tool selection automatically.

Connection management

Tool name Description
connect Establishes a database connection using a saved connection profile or a specified server/database pair.
disconnect Terminates the current active connection session.
change_database Changes the database for an existing connection session.
get_connection_details Gets connection details for a specific MSSQL connection.
list_servers Lists all saved SQL Server connection profiles in your environment.
list_databases Lists all available databases for a connected MSSQL server.

Examples

The following phrases can be used to interact with GitHub Copilot.

- Connect to my LocalDev environment
- Disconnect from my current database
- List my available connection profiles
- List all databases in the localhost server
- Set the active connection to localhost
- Set AdventureWorks as the active database
- Get the connection string for AdventureWorks on localhost

Screenshot of example using an agent tool to connect to a database in the GitHub Copilot chat.

How connection logic works

GitHub Copilot Agent Mode supports flexible ways to connect to your SQL database, either by referencing saved profiles or by specifying a server and database directly. Here's how the connection logic works:

When you connect via saved profile:

  1. A user can connect by referencing the name of a saved connection profile.
  2. GitHub Copilot uses the mssql_list_servers tool to verify the profile exists.
  3. The mssql_connect tool then uses the saved profileId and its parameters to establish the connection.

When you connect via server/database specification:

  • If a saved profile matches both the specified server and database:

    1. GitHub Copilot uses mssql_list_servers to find the match.
    2. It then calls mssql_connect using the full profile.

  • If a saved profile matches only the server:

    1. GitHub Copilot finds the matching server profile.
    2. It attempts to connect by substituting the user-requested database into that profile.
    3. If the connection fails, an error is shown.

  • If no profile matches the specified server:

    • GitHub Copilot reports an error.

This flexible matching system allows GitHub Copilot to handle a range of connection scenarios, minimizing user effort while ensuring secure, confirmable actions.

Schema exploration

Tool name Description
show_schema Displays a high-level diagram of your connected database schema, including tables and relationships.
list_schemas Lists all schemas in a database for a connected MSSQL server.
list_tables Lists all tables in a database for a connected MSSQL server.
list_views Lists all views in a database for a connected MSSQL server.
list_functions Lists all functions in a database for a connected MSSQL server.

Examples

The following phrases can be used to interact with GitHub Copilot.

- Show me the schema for this database
- Show me all tables in the current database
- List all views from this MSSQL database
- Give me a list of all the functions available in this schema
- What schemas are available in this database?

Screenshot of animation showing the database schema visualizer tool in Copilot Agent Mode.

Query execution

Tool name Description
run_query Executes a SQL query against the connected database.

Examples

The following phrases can be used to interact with GitHub Copilot.

- Give me the top five posts published this week
- Execute the current file to find how many comments each post has
- Get all categories along with the number of posts in each

Screenshot of example using an agent tool to connect to a database and retrieve data.

Screenshot of another example using an agent tool to connect to a database and retrieve data.

How tools are managed in Agent Mode

GitHub Copilot can invoke MSSQL-specific tools and other extension-contributed tools while processing your request. These tools are visible in the Agent Mode interface under the Tools menu, where you can enable or disable specific tools.

When a tool is invoked—especially if it interacts with your machine or database—GitHub Copilot prompts for confirmation to ensure secure execution. You can allow the tool for just the current session, the workspace, or approve it permanently.

For more on tool visibility and approvals, visit Manage tool approvals.

Agent Mode confirmation workflow

When GitHub Copilot selects a tool, it prompts you with a confirmation dialog showing details about the requested action. You must explicitly approve the request before it can execute any commands that interact with your machine or database:

  • Allow in this session
  • Allow in this workspace
  • Always allow

This confirmation step helps ensure secure, intentional interactions with your development environment.

Note

For more information on how confirmation works across all tools in Agent Mode, see the Visual Studio Code documentation on tool approvals.

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