github / github/copilot-cli

Add a `/pause` or `/stop` slash command to gently interrupt an agent

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#3,265 0 comments 4 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
area:agents
Dominant language
Shell
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Description

### Describe the feature or problem you'd like to solve

I want a way to gently interrupt an agent the next time it finishes reasoning. I hate canceling it mid-reasoning, but sometimes I need it to pause so we can talk.

### Proposed solution

There are times when Copilot is doing lots of reasoning and moving really quick. I want it to just pause, so I can get some context of what's going on or take a moment to think through what's going on. I don't need it to cancel and just be stopped and cut off mid-reasoning token. I also don't always need to just give it a nudge. And it feels a little bit weird to send a response of "stop" that the LLM then has to reason about to stop. If we added a `/stop` or `/pause` it could just stop copilot at the next time it tries to take an action. It can complete it's thought so it's in the context of the conversation, but I can then resume control. By me responding, it can go back to work. Not sure if you need any other command to resume (probably not?).

### Example prompts or workflows

_No response_

### Additional context

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

No files, tests, or entry points are identified in the issue, so first locate the CLI's command handling and agent interruption flow. Clarify whether `/pause` or `/stop` is preferred, when interruption occurs, and how work resumes; done should match the agreed command behavior without cutting off the current reasoning.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
shell
Domain
cli
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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