# Quick start (/docs/getting-started/quickstart)



This is the simplest useful thing you can do: expose one agent over A2A and talk to it.

<img src="/media/copilot-quickstart.gif" alt="Recording: start a2a-copilot, discover it through its agent card, and ask it a question" width="900" />

## 1. Install and sign in [#1-install-and-sign-in]

You need Node 20+ and a GitHub account with Copilot access.

```bash
npm install -g a2a-copilot
gh auth login        # or: export GITHUB_TOKEN=...
```

## 2. Write a config file [#2-write-a-config-file]

Save this as `config.json`:

```json title="config.json"
{
  "agentCard": {
    "name": "Copilot Agent",
    "description": "GitHub Copilot as an A2A agent",
    "version": "1.0.0",
    "protocolVersion": "0.3.0",
    "streaming": true,
    "defaultInputModes": ["text"],
    "defaultOutputModes": ["text"],
    "skills": [
      { "id": "assistant", "name": "Coding Assistant", "description": "Answer coding questions", "tags": ["code"] }
    ]
  },
  "server": { "port": 3000, "hostname": "127.0.0.1" },
  "copilot": {
    "model": "auto",
    "systemPrompt": "You are a concise coding assistant.",
    "systemPromptMode": "replace"
  }
}
```

<Callout title="About model: auto">
  `"model": "auto"` lets Copilot choose a model your plan can use. If you pin a model and see `Model "..." is not available`, that model is not enabled for your account.
</Callout>

## 3. Start the server [#3-start-the-server]

```bash
a2a-copilot --config ./config.json
```

The server binds to `127.0.0.1`, so only your machine can reach it.

## 4. Discover the agent [#4-discover-the-agent]

Every A2A agent publishes an agent card. Any client starts here:

```bash
curl -s localhost:3000/.well-known/agent-card.json | jq '{name, protocolVersion, url, skills: [.skills[].id]}'
```

## 5. Talk to it [#5-talk-to-it]

```bash
curl -s -X POST localhost:3000/a2a/jsonrpc -H 'content-type: application/json' -d '{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0", "id": "1", "method": "message/send",
  "params": {
    "message": { "kind": "message", "messageId": "m1", "role": "user",
      "parts": [{ "kind": "text", "text": "What does Array.prototype.flatMap do?" }] },
    "configuration": { "blocking": true }
  }
}'
```

`"blocking": true` makes the call return when the task completes. The answer is in the task's `artifacts`. The repository also ships a tiny dependency-free client, [`ask.mjs`](https://github.com/shashikanth-gs/a2a-wrapper/tree/main/examples/copilot-quickstart), that does exactly this.

Because this is standard A2A, the same server works with the official A2A SDKs, inspectors and other orchestrators.

## Other backends [#other-backends]

Claude, Codex, OpenCode and Antigravity work the same way. Only the package name and the backend block in the config change. See [choosing a wrapper](/docs/guides/choosing-a-wrapper).

## Next [#next]

<Cards>
  <Card title="Multi-agent crew" href="/docs/getting-started/multi-agent-crew">
    Combine several agents: one implements, another tests.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Security guide" href="/docs/guides/security">
    Before you expose an agent beyond localhost.
  </Card>
</Cards>