[bot] sync: cli-for-beginners ch01 — add /ask, /refine, fix shell quoting (upstream 2026-07-13)

website/src/content/docs/learning-hub/cli-for-beginners/01-setup-and-first-steps.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ title: '01 · First Steps'
 description: 'Experience your first GitHub Copilot CLI demos and learn the three main interaction modes.'
 authors:
   - GitHub Copilot Learning Hub Team
-lastUpdated: 2026-06-19
+lastUpdated: 2026-07-17
 ---
 
 ![Chapter 01: First Steps](/images/learning-hub/copilot-cli-for-beginners/01/chapter-header.png)
@@ -365,17 +365,23 @@ copilot --allow-all -p "Review @myfile.py for issues"
 
 ## Essential Slash Commands
 
-These commands work in interactive mode. **Start with just these six** - they cover 90% of daily use:
+These commands are great to learn initially as you're getting started with Copilot CLI:
 
 | Command | What It Does | When to Use |
 |---------|--------------|-------------|
-| `/help` | Show all available commands | When you forget a command |
+| `/ask` | Ask a quick question without it affecting your conversation history | When you want a quick answer without derailing your current task |
 | `/clear` | Clear conversation and start fresh | When switching topics |
+| `/help` | Show all available commands | When you forget a command |
+| `/model` | Show or switch AI model | When you want to change the AI model |
 | `/plan` | Plan your work out before coding | For more complex features |
+| `/refine` | Rewrite a rough, stream-of-consciousness prompt into a clear, focused one | When your prompt feels messy and you want better results |
 | `/research` | Deep research using GitHub and web sources | When you need to investigate a topic before coding |
-| `/model` | Show or switch AI model | When you want to change the AI model |
 | `/exit` | End the session | When you're done |
 
+> 💡 **`/ask` vs regular chat**: Normally every message you send becomes part of the ongoing conversation and affects future responses. `/ask` is an "off the record" shortcut — perfect for quick one-off questions like `/ask What does YAML mean?` without polluting your session context.
+
+> 💡 **`/refine` for better prompts**: Not sure if your prompt is clear enough? Type it out as it comes to mind, then run `/refine` to let Copilot rewrite it into a precise, well-structured prompt before sending. This is especially useful when you're new to AI tools and still learning how to write effective prompts.
+
 That's it for getting started! As you become comfortable, you can explore additional commands.
 
 > 📚 **Official Documentation**: [CLI command reference](https://docs.github.com/copilot/reference/cli-command-reference) for the complete list of commands and flags.
@@ -391,11 +397,13 @@ That's it for getting started! As you become comfortable, you can explore additi
 |---------|--------------|
 | `/init` | Initialize Copilot instructions for your repository |
 | `/agent` | Browse and select from available agents |
-| `/skills` | Manage skills for enhanced capabilities |
+| `/env` | Show loaded environment details — what instructions, MCP servers, skills, agents, and plugins are active |
+| `/init` | Initialize Copilot instructions for your repository |
 | `/mcp` | Manage MCP server configuration |
 | `/settings` | Open an interactive dialog to browse and edit all user settings in one place |
+| `/skills` | Manage skills for enhanced capabilities |
 
-> 💡 Skills are covered in detail in [Chapter 05](../05-skills/). MCP servers are covered in [Chapter 06](../06-mcp-servers/).
+> 💡 Agents are covered in [Chapter 04](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners/blob/main/04-agents-custom-instructions/README.md), skills are covered in [Chapter 05](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners/blob/main/05-skills/README.md), and MCP servers are covered in [Chapter 06](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli-for-beginners/blob/main/06-mcp-servers/README.md).
 
 ### Models and Subagents
 
@@ -610,7 +618,8 @@ The examples used `/plan` for a search feature and `-p` for batch reviews. Now t
 |---------|--------------|-----|
 | Typing `exit` instead of `/exit` | Copilot CLI treats "exit" as a prompt, not a command | Slash commands always start with `/` |
 | Using `-p` for multi-turn conversations | Each `-p` call is isolated with no memory of previous calls | Use interactive mode (`copilot`) for conversations that build on context |
-| Forgetting quotes around prompts with `$` or `!` | Shell interprets special characters before Copilot CLI sees them | Wrap prompts in quotes: `copilot -p "What does $HOME mean?"` |
+| Forgetting quotes around prompts with `$` or `!` | Shell interprets special characters before Copilot CLI sees them | Wrap prompts in single quotes: `copilot -p 'What does $HOME mean?'` |
+| Pressing Esc once to cancel a running task | A single Esc no longer cancels in-flight work (to prevent accidents) | Press **Esc twice** to cancel while Copilot CLI is processing |
 
 ### Troubleshooting
 
@@ -631,7 +640,7 @@ The examples used `/plan` for a search feature and `-p` for batch reviews. Now t
 1. **Interactive mode** is for exploration and iteration - context carries forward. It's like having a conversation with someone who remembers what you've said up to that point.
 2. **Plan mode** is normally for more involved tasks. Review before implementation.
 3. **Programmatic mode** is for automation. No interaction needed.
-4. **Four essential commands** (`/help`, `/clear`, `/plan`, `/exit`) cover most daily use.
+4. **Essential commands** (`/ask`, `/help`, `/clear`, `/plan`, `/research`, `/model`, `/exit`) cover most daily use.
 
 > 📋 **Quick Reference**: See the [GitHub Copilot CLI command reference](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/cli-command-reference) for a complete list of commands and shortcuts.