GLM Models for GitHub Copilot Chat
Bring Z.AI's GLM models into GitHub Copilot Chat with your own API key (BYOK) — GLM-5.2, the 1M-context flagship built for long-horizon coding, plus a curated lineup (GLM-5.1, GLM-5, GLM-4.7, GLM-4.5 Air). No new sidebar or chat UI: the models appear in the picker you already use, with agent mode, tool calling, and thinking through Copilot's native provider path.
Unofficial, community-built extension. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Zhipu AI, Z.AI, GitHub, or Microsoft. "GLM", "Copilot", and "Visual Studio Code" are trademarks of their respective owners. You bring your own GLM API key and pay your own usage.
Features
GLM-5.2 flagship, right in the picker. A 1M-token context window, step-by-step thinking that streams live into Copilot's native thinking UI, and a per-model Thinking Effort control (None / High / Max) — pick None for faster simple edits. Switch models mid-chat without losing history.
Powers Copilot up, doesn't replace it. GLM models appear alongside GPT and Claude. Because the extension uses Copilot's native Language Model Provider API, agent mode and tool calling keep working as usual.
Dual API. Use your GLM Coding Plan subscription or the pay-as-you-go Standard API — each available International (z.ai) or Mainland China (bigmodel.cn). See Coding Plan vs Standard API.
Live usage & balance tracking. A status-bar readout plus a full GLM: Show Usage Details panel. Coding Plan shows session (5-hour) and weekly (7-day) token limits, monthly web searches, and reset countdowns. Standard API shows cash balance and token resource packages. The status bar turns red when quota hits 100% or balance reaches 0. Works on both International (z.ai) and Mainland China (bigmodel.cn) endpoints for both API modes; no baseUrl override.
- Keys stay in your OS keychain by default. GLM: Set API Key stores your key via VS Code
SecretStorage (macOS, Windows, Linux). The extension also honors a settings fallback for CI or automation, so do not put real keys in workspace settings.
- Zero runtime dependencies. Pure VS Code API and Node.js built-ins. No Python, Docker, or local server.
- Add any model. Newly released, fine-tuned, or proxy-hosted GLM models via
glm-copilot.customModels.
Getting Started
Prerequisites
- VS Code 1.116 or later
- An active GitHub Copilot subscription (Free, Pro, or Enterprise)
- A GLM API key from z.ai or bigmodel.cn, or a GLM Coding Plan subscription
Installation
Install from the VS Code Marketplace, or search "GLM Models for GitHub Copilot Chat" in the Extensions panel (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + X):
code --install-extension yijiazhen-qi.glm-for-github-copilot-chat
Upgrading from an older Marketplace listing? Uninstall it first — the old and new IDs can both register the same glm-copilot.* commands and settings:
code --uninstall-extension YijiazhenQi.glm-for-copilot-chat
code --install-extension yijiazhen-qi.glm-for-github-copilot-chat
Usage
- GLM: Set API Key (Command Palette,
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P) → paste your key. GLM key format is {id}.{secret}.
- (Optional) GLM: Open Settings to choose your API mode and region.
- Open Copilot Chat, pick a GLM model (e.g. GLM-5.2, the flagship), and start chatting.
Use GLM: Set API Key or GLM: Clear API Key to update or remove the key later.
Models
| Model |
Tier |
Context |
Max Output |
Available on |
Tools |
Thinking |
| GLM-5.2 |
Flagship |
1M |
128K |
Coding Plan + Standard |
Yes |
Yes (effort) |
| GLM-5.1 |
Prior flagship |
200K |
128K |
Standard only |
Yes |
Yes |
| GLM-5 |
Prior flagship |
200K |
128K |
Standard only |
Yes |
Yes |
| GLM-4.7 |
Fast coding |
200K |
128K |
Coding Plan + Standard |
Yes |
Yes |
| GLM-4.5 Air |
Lightweight |
128K |
96K |
Coding Plan + Standard |
Yes |
Yes |
The picker shows only the models your selected API Mode can serve, so you never pick one your plan can't use. GLM-5.2, GLM-4.7, and GLM-4.5 Air work on both; GLM-5 and GLM-5.1 are Standard-only. Need a model not listed — newer (GLM-5-Turbo), older (GLM-4.6), or proxy-hosted? Add it with glm-copilot.customModels.
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
glm-copilot.apiMode |
coding-plan |
Which GLM API to use: coding-plan or standard. See below. |
glm-copilot.region |
international |
Server region for both API modes: international (z.ai) or china (bigmodel.cn). Ignored only when baseUrl is set. |
glm-copilot.baseUrl |
(empty) |
Override the API base URL. Overrides apiMode and region. Use for proxies or compatible APIs. |
glm-copilot.maxTokens |
0 |
Maximum output tokens per request. 0 means no explicit limit (uses API default). |
glm-copilot.maxRetries |
3 |
Automatic retries for transient chat failures (HTTP 429/5xx), not counting the first attempt. 0 disables retries (fail fast). Range 0–10. Backoff honors the server's Retry-After. |
glm-copilot.thinking |
enabled |
Step-by-step reasoning: enabled (higher quality) or disabled (faster). Applies to thinking-capable models without a per-model Thinking Effort picker; GLM-5.2 uses None / High / Max in the model picker. |
glm-copilot.customModels |
[] |
Add your own models. Array of model id strings or objects: { id, name?, maxInputTokens?, maxOutputTokens?, toolCalling?, vision?, thinking? }. |
glm-copilot.modelIdOverrides |
{} |
Remap a built-in model's API id (keys = picker id, values = id sent to the API). Use for regional endpoints or proxies with different names. |
glm-copilot.debugLogging |
false |
Write verbose debug logs to the GLM output channel. View with GLM: Show Logs. |
glm-copilot.usageRefreshIntervalMinutes |
5 |
How often (in minutes) to refresh the GLM usage status bar. Minimum 1. Shows Coding Plan quota or Standard API balance for both z.ai and bigmodel.cn regions. Only when no baseUrl override. |
glm-copilot.showUsageStatusBar |
true |
Show the GLM usage status-bar item. Coding Plan quota or Standard API balance, both z.ai and bigmodel.cn regions. Only when no baseUrl override. |
Coding Plan vs Standard API
Coding Plan requires a GLM Coding Plan subscription — best for teams or high-volume coding. Standard API is pay-as-you-go via the GLM Open Platform. The endpoint follows your region either way.
Full API documentation: docs.z.ai.
Usage details rely on regional usage endpoints (api.z.ai for International, open.bigmodel.cn for Mainland China) that are not part of the public chat-completions API. If those endpoints are unavailable or change, the extension degrades to a status message instead of blocking chat.
Commands
| Command |
Description |
| GLM: Set API Key |
Set or update your GLM API key |
| GLM: Get API Key |
Open the key management page for your selected API mode |
| GLM: Clear API Key |
Remove your stored API key |
| GLM: Open Settings |
Open the extension settings |
| GLM: Show Logs |
Open the GLM output channel |
| GLM: Refresh Usage |
Refresh GLM usage/balance now (Coding Plan quota or Standard API balance; both z.ai and bigmodel.cn) |
| GLM: Show Usage Details |
Open the GLM usage panel (Coding Plan quota or Standard API balance; both z.ai and bigmodel.cn) |
Frequently asked questions
Is this an official GLM or GitHub extension?
No. Unofficial, community-built, open source — not affiliated with Zhipu AI, Z.AI, GitHub, or Microsoft. It just lets you use your own GLM API key inside Copilot Chat.
Do I still need a GitHub Copilot subscription?
Yes. This adds GLM models to Copilot Chat; it doesn't replace Copilot. You need an active Copilot subscription (Free, Pro, or Enterprise) and your own GLM API key.
Where does my API key go?
GLM: Set API Key stores it in VS Code SecretStorage (the OS keychain on macOS, Windows, Linux), and requests send it only to your configured GLM endpoint over HTTPS. A settings fallback exists for CI or automation, but avoid putting real keys in settings.json, especially workspace settings that could be committed.
Can I use a proxy or self-hosted endpoint?
Yes. Set glm-copilot.baseUrl to any OpenAI-compatible endpoint; it overrides apiMode and region.
Is GLM-4.6 still supported?
GLM-4.6 was superseded by GLM-4.7 and the GLM-5 series in v0.2.0. Add it with glm-copilot.customModels if your account still serves it.
Contributing
Contributions welcome — see the contributing guide and Code of Conduct. All PRs require code-owner review and are never auto-merged.
Changelog
See CHANGELOG.md.
License
MIT © GLM Models for GitHub Copilot Chat contributors
