How to Build an AI-Powered Emoji List Generator with GitHub Copilot CLI

Introduction

Have you ever wanted to add emojis to your bullet lists but found it too slow to pick the perfect one? In this guide, you'll learn how to build a terminal-based emoji list generator that uses the GitHub Copilot CLI and the Copilot SDK to automatically replace plain bullet points with relevant emojis. The final app runs in your terminal, lets you paste or type a list, saves it with Ctrl+S, and copies the emoji-enriched result to your clipboard. This project was originally built live on the Rubber Duck Thursdays stream and is now open source for you to replicate.

What You Need

• Node.js (version 16 or later) installed on your system
• GitHub Copilot CLI set up and authenticated (get started with the tips section below)
• A code editor or terminal
• Familiarity with basic command-line operations
• Optional: GitHub Copilot subscription for the AI features

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Step 1: Open the GitHub Copilot CLI in Plan Mode

   Launch your terminal and activate the GitHub Copilot CLI. Use the plan command to start a planning session. For this project, we recommend using Claude Sonnet 4.6 (available in the CLI) to generate the initial plan. Type the following prompt:

   "I want to create an AI-powered markdown emoji list generator. In this CLI app, if I paste in or write some bullet points, it will replace those bullet points with relevant emojis and copy the result to my clipboard. I'd like it to use GitHub Copilot SDK for the AI."

   The CLI will ask clarifying questions about your tech stack and preferred libraries. Answer them—for instance, mention using @opentui/core for the terminal UI and clipboardy for clipboard access. Copilot will produce a plan.md file outlining the entire project.

2. Step 2: Review and Approve the Plan

   Once the plan is generated, review it carefully. The plan will include dependencies, folder structure, and the core logic. If you're satisfied, approve the plan to proceed. This is a crucial step to ensure the AI builds exactly what you need.

3. Step 3: Implement the Plan Using Autopilot Mode

   Switch to Autopilot mode in the GitHub Copilot CLI. Use a capable model like Claude Opus 4.7 (recently released) to execute the plan. The CLI will create all necessary files, including:

   • A main application file (e.g., index.js)
   • Configuration for the terminal UI using OpenTUI
   • Integration with the GitHub Copilot SDK to convert bullet points to emojis
   • Clipboard functionality using clipboardy

   Allow the autopilot to complete the implementation. The CLI will write the code and install dependencies automatically.

4. Step 4: Test the Emoji List Generator

   Run the application using node index.js (or the appropriate command). You should see a terminal UI where you can type or paste a bullet list. Press Ctrl+S to trigger the AI conversion. The app will:

   

   1. Send your bullet points to the Copilot SDK.
   2. Receive a list with emojis prepended to each point.
   3. Automatically copy the enriched list to your clipboard.

   Try it with different bullet points to verify the emoji suggestions are relevant. For example, "Fix login bug" should become "🐛 Fix login bug".

5. Step 5: Customize and Extend (Optional)

   Now that the base app works, you can tailor it to your preferences. For instance:

   • Change the key binding from Ctrl+S to something else.
   • Add support for numbered lists.
   • Integrate with the GitHub MCP server using the --allow-alltools flag to fetch emoji suggestions from a broader context.
   • Modify the UI theme via OpenTUI components.

   These customizations are easy to implement because the code is modular and open source.

Tips for Success

• Get comfortable with Copilot CLI modes. Use plan mode for architecture and autopilot mode for implementation. Switching between models (e.g., Claude Sonnet for planning, Opus for coding) can yield better results.
• Answer clarifying questions thoroughly. The more specific you are about your tech stack (like choosing OpenTUI over other UI libraries), the more precise the generated code will be.
• Use the --allow-alltools flag to give Copilot access to the GitHub MCP server and other tools. This expands the AI's capabilities beyond simple code generation.
• Test with diverse inputs. Try bullet points related to technology, travel, food, or daily tasks to see how well the emoji mapping works. Adjust the prompts if needed.
• Contribute back. The emoji list generator is open source—feel free to submit pull requests or share your own fork.
• Refer to the official docs for the GitHub Copilot CLI and the GitHub Copilot SDK for more advanced usage.