Most software forces you to adapt your process to a fixed set of screens. GitHub Copilot lets you define the workflow first and builds the interface around it.
This feature is called a canvas. It is a shared workspace between you and the AI agent. You can configure it as a kanban board, an issue triage list, a release checklist, a dashboard, a form, or a spreadsheet. The layout matches how you actually work.
The connection is bidirectional. The agent updates the board as tasks progress. You can click buttons, move cards, or apply filters. It functions like a live shared whiteboard.
Creating a canvas with /create-canvas
You do not need to code or design the layout by hand. Open an agent session and type the /create-canvas command. Describe your requirements in plain English.
Your prompt must cover three elements:
- The workflow the canvas should support.
- Actions available to you in the interface.
- Actions the agent can perform.
For example, you could enter:
/create-canvas Create a release notes canvas for tracking new feature work completed across GitHub Copilot app sessions. Include controls for reviewing and organizing entries and allow the agent to add and update them.
The agent builds the interface and opens it in the right-side panel. You do not write files or adjust the layout. One description becomes a custom tool ready for use.
Shaping the canvas around your workflow
The interface is generated from your description. Your first version is a starting point. You can keep refining it until it is correct.
You can ask the agent to add a column or filter. You can pull in open pull requests or turn the canvas into a daily checklist. The agent revises the board to match. There is no fixed menu of layouts. If you can describe a workflow, you can turn it into a canvas.
Once created, the canvas saves as an extension. You can keep it with the project for your team to share or save it as a personal extension for individual use.
Instant collaboration, not command and wait
The main benefit is that you and the agent work simultaneously.
When you click a button or move a card, the shared state changes immediately. The agent sees the update without a separate sync step.
The reverse is also true. You can ask the agent to use the canvas capabilities to add a release note or move a card. You watch the change appear in the interface. Instead of sending a command and waiting, you steer the work together.
Take this with you
Creating a useful canvas starts with three questions:
- What information do I want to see?
- What do I want to change directly?
- What should the agent be able to update or do?
Not sure where to begin? The community has shared ready-made canvas extensions through Awesome Copilot. These include release notes tools, kanban boards, and issue triage workflows. Install one that fits your needs, then ask the agent to customise it for your workflow.
Start small: open a session, run /create-canvas, and describe a simple board or checklist for a current task.
