github / github/copilot-cli

Windows: Ctrl+G cannot launch code-insiders --wait

Open
#3,733 1 comment 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub
area:configuration area:platform-windows
Dominant language
Shell
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Description

### Bug

On Windows, `Ctrl+G` cannot launch VS Code Insiders when `$EDITOR` is set to the standard wait command:

```powershell
$env:EDITOR = 'code-insiders --wait'
```

The same command works directly from PowerShell.

### Repro

```powershell
$env:EDITOR = 'code-insiders --wait'
code-insiders --wait # works
copilot
# Press Ctrl+G
```

### Expected

Copilot CLI opens VS Code Insiders and waits for the prompt file to close.

### Actual

```text
✗ Error: Editor 'code-insiders --wait' not found. Check your $COPILOT_EDITOR, $VISUAL, or $EDITOR environment variable.
```

Using a `.cmd` wrapper also fails with `spawn EINVAL`.

### Notes

`code-insiders` resolves to a Windows `.cmd` shim, so this appears related to #1882. The fix is likely to handle Windows `.cmd` / `.bat` editor commands through `cmd /c` or `shell: true`, and to support editor commands with arguments such as `--wait`.

### Environment

- Windows
- PowerShell
- Copilot CLI 1.0.60
- VS Code Insiders

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Read the related #1882 issue and trace how the CLI resolves and spawns editor commands on Windows. Reproduce the PowerShell case with `code-insiders --wait` and the `.cmd` wrapper, then verify that the editor opens and waits for the prompt file to close without the reported errors.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
powershell, shell
Domain
cli, operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
56/100

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