github / github/copilot-cli

Azure MCP learn=true calls time out after 180s in Copilot CLI 1.0.83-5

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area:mcp
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Description

Describe the bug

Azure MCP hierarchical tool discovery calls using learn=true consistently time out after 180 seconds in Copilot CLI 1.0.83-5. The same calls complete in about 0.2 seconds under CLI 1.0.80.

Direct Azure MCP child-command calls without learn=true still succeed, which isolates the regression to hierarchical tool discovery rather than MCP startup, authentication, or general Azure connectivity.

Affected version

GitHub Copilot CLI 1.0.83-5
Windows executable file/product version: 1.0.83-5

Steps to reproduce the behavior
  1. Configure the Microsoft Azure MCP server and confirm it connects.
  2. Start Copilot CLI 1.0.83-5.
  3. Ask the agent to make exactly one Azure Kusto MCP call with: {"intent":"Discover the Kusto command contract","learn":true}
  4. Observe that the call remains pending for 180 seconds and fails with: MCP server 'azure': McpError: MCP error -32001: Request timed out
  5. Repeat with Azure get_azure_bestpractices and learn=true; it fails the same way.
  6. Run the same probes with CLI 1.0.80; both discovery calls succeed immediately.

Controlled A/B results:

CLI Azure MCP tool Mode Result Duration
1.0.80 kusto learn=true success 0.175s
1.0.80 kusto learn=true success 0.197s
1.0.80 get_azure_bestpractices learn=true success 0.212s
1.0.83-5 kusto learn=true timeout 180.050s
1.0.83-5 kusto learn=true timeout 180.079s
1.0.83-5 get_azure_bestpractices learn=true timeout 180.060s
1.0.83-5 kusto direct kusto_query success 7.103s

The fresh Kusto and Best Practices A/B probes were launched simultaneously under both CLI versions with the same model, workspace, MCP configuration, and machine. All probe stderr logs were empty.

Expected behavior

learn=true should return the hierarchical tool command schema promptly, as it does under CLI 1.0.80, instead of reaching the client's 180-second timeout.

Additional context
  • OS: Windows 11 Enterprise 23H2, build 22631
  • Architecture: AMD64
  • Shell: PowerShell 7.6.5
  • Terminal: VS Code integrated terminal
  • Azure MCP reached connected before each probe
  • Reproduced 3/3 times on 1.0.83-5
  • Control succeeded 3/3 times on 1.0.80
  • No exact duplicate found in the open or closed github/copilot-cli issues

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start in Copilot CLI's MCP hierarchical tool-discovery path and reproduce the reported Azure calls with learn=true on versions 1.0.83-5 and 1.0.80. Compare the discovery behavior while confirming direct child-command calls still succeed; done means both hierarchical probes return their schemas promptly instead of timing out after 180 seconds.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
azure
Domain
cli, cloud
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
45/100

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