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Connect dbt to GitHub Copilot CLI

Give GitHub Copilot CLI governed access to dbt’s 42 tools through Runlayer, with identity, policy, scanning, and audit on every call.

Set up

Add dbt to GitHub Copilot CLI in four steps

Admins approve the server once. Everyone in GitHub Copilot CLI then gets it through the same governed connection.

  1. 1

    Approve dbt in Runlayer

    Add dbt from the catalog and choose who can use it and which of its tools are allowed.

  2. 2

    Connect GitHub Copilot CLI to Runlayer

    Users add the Runlayer Plugin to GitHub Copilot CLI by following Runlayer’s setup guide. GitHub Copilot CLI reaches dbt’s 42 tools through the Runlayer Plugin’s search and execute tools instead of listing each one.

    GitHub Copilot CLI setup guide
  3. 3

    Sign in to dbt

    Sign in the way dbt requires. Runlayer holds the credentials so they stay out of the client’s configuration.

  4. 4

    Use dbt from GitHub Copilot CLI

    dbt’s approved tools appear in GitHub Copilot CLI. Every call is checked against policy and recorded.

Tools

42 dbt tools in GitHub Copilot CLI

Runlayer policy decides which of these GitHub Copilot CLI users can call.

  • Cancel job run

    Cancel a currently running or queued dbt run.

  • Get all macros

    Get the name, description, and package name of all dbt macros in the environment.

  • Get all models

    Get the name and description of all dbt models in the environment.

  • Get all sources

    Get the name, description, and metadata of all dbt sources in the environment.

  • Get dimension values

    Get the distinct values for a given dimension, optionally scoped to specific metrics.

  • Get dimensions

    Get the dimensions for specified metrics

  • Get entities

    Get the entities for specified metrics

  • Get exposure details

    DEPRECATED — use get_node_details instead.

See all 42 dbt tools

Control

What Runlayer can see and stop in GitHub Copilot CLI

Some controls apply to every client at the gateway. Others depend on what GitHub Copilot CLI exposes to Runlayer.

  • Gateway policy (available)

    Every dbt call from GitHub Copilot CLI passes through Runlayer, where your policies can allow, alert, mask, or block it.

  • Audit trail (available)

    Each call is recorded with the user, GitHub Copilot CLI as the client, the tool, and the policy and scanner decisions.

  • Client hooks (available)

    Capture supported prompts, reasoning, local and MCP tool calls, responses, and scanner decisions in real time.

  • Stop a call before it runs (available)

    Runlayer can deny a tool call or permission request before GitHub Copilot CLI runs it.

  • Block output after it runs (available)

    Runlayer can block a tool’s output before GitHub Copilot CLI’s model sees it.

  • Redact output in place (available)

    Runlayer can mask sensitive parts of a successful tool’s output in GitHub Copilot CLI and pass the rest through.

In GitHub Copilot CLI

  • When a tool fails, Runlayer records the error but cannot replace it.

Frequently asked questions

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