GitHub Announces Canvases in GitHub Copilot App

GitHub has introduced canvases in the GitHub Copilot app, enabling users to build custom workflows and interfaces. According to the announcement, a canvas is a customizable interface shared between the user and the agent, which can take the form of a kanban board, issue triage board, release checklist, dashboard, form, or even a spreadsheet. The interface is bidirectional, allowing both the agent and the user to update it in real-time.

To create a canvas, users need to open an agent session and use the /create-canvas skill, describing the workflow, interface functionality, and agent capabilities in plain English. For example, a user could request the creation of a release notes canvas for tracking new feature work across GitHub Copilot app sessions, including controls for reviewing and organizing entries and allowing the agent to add and update them.

Once created, the canvas is saved as an extension and can be refined further by the user. Users can also install pre-existing canvases and customize them for their specific workflows. GitHub encourages users to start small by creating simple boards or checklists for their current projects.

Source: github