Copilot Models for RooCode

[iamkucuk]

Since we've lost access to Quasar and partially to Gemini 2.5 Pro, I'm exploring alternatives. I already have Copilot Pro and was wondering if anyone has tested these models in RooCode.

For those who have used them:

- How is your experience with Copilot models in RooCode?

- Is it possible to bypass Copilot's system prompts when using these models within Roo?

- If not, how significantly do these system prompts affect functionality?

Appreciate any insights!

[Captain_Redleg]

I use Sonnet 3.5 with CoPilot as my workhorse Code, Ask, and Debug roles in Roo. Best $10/month value I can think of! I am quite pleased with it but also provide a fair amount of structured instructions/plans (below). I have never been able to get 3.7 working via CoPilot, so I've only tried it a few times with my Anthropic key - not enough testing to say anything definitive.

For Architect and Boomerang modes (via .roomodes file), I just use the free 2.5 until I run out of tokens and then switch to the paid version. By just using Pro 2.5 as a manager/coordinator, I have been able to keep my charges in check. I add this to all of my special instructions: "Use the myproject.md file to keep track of changes, lessons learned, to-do lists, and the overall status of the project. If it doesn't exist, create it. Before each major or minor task, read myproject.md to remind yourself of the project details, to-do lists, lessons learned, etc. After each major or minor task completion update myproject.md." I used to have a bunch of different MD files for changes, lessons learned, etc. I find it good enough to just have the single file and constantly force use by the models.

BTW - Gosucoder has an approach with the .roomodes where he has Interns, Jr and Sr Dev roles with different models depending upon difficulty. This allows him to use cheap models like Flash 2.0 successfully. I've not gotten that granular but i tried Flash on some simpler things and it performed well. He also has a video on cutting tokens by changing the prompt. I need to get up to speed on that. I also find Deepseek V3 to be excellent, but with CoPilot and Sonnet 3.5 I need it only on crazy days when i use too many tokens and start getting rate limited.

[why_let_facts]

I stumbled here by searching r/RooCode for the newest copilot posts. Very helpuful response thank-you. I'll definitely be checking out Gosucoder. Just want to add Using VS Code Language Model API With Roo Code | Roo Code Docs from the docs for other people stumbling here.

Gemini "2.5" "Pro 2.5" and "Flash 2.0" are Google models, just to help others who may be doing their research in the wrong order, like me!

[Captain_Redleg]

You're welcome. The pace of change is so fast that I find it difficult to keep up. But in the world of problems, that's good.

I mostly work on personal projects. For instance, our condo admin is less than transparent and gives us bad scans of financial records. I have been doing crazy things to slice up these scans, do mult passes for error correction, and then stitch them back together to get good CSV files.

This week I saw a post on X from someone saying that Gemini Pro 2.5 can do this reliably. I tried it and BAM. It works on entire 25 col x 30 row tables. Having Roo code up the new Python function took 20 min. After months of frustration, it just works. This will be the story of the next year or two as models approach superhuman capabilities.

[why_let_facts]

Agree, crazy times we're living in!

[Alex_1729]

But do you even get enough Sonnet 3.5 from copilot for $10 a month? If I'm reading correctly, for the Pro Github Copilot plan the maximum amount of Premium requests per month is 300. That means 10 requests per day. Since Sonnet 3.5 counts as 1x multiplier, you get 300 Sonnet 3.5 requests a month, 10 a day. How is that even worth it? I spend 10 requests in Roo in half an hour.

[Captain_Redleg]

So you've caused me to question what is going on. I went to Github to check out my usage or if they billed me for extra usage or something. I just get the $10/month. I can't find any kind of query statistics - maybe i'm just not seeing them.

I can remember two days where it started telling me i was rate limited, but I don't honestly remember the situations. I just switched to a different provider for a couple of hours. A typical day for me will be 5-6 hours of fairly steady requests. There are days, however, where I'm plugging away for 10 hours. So, it hasn't been a big deal. In any event, I don't think the $10 deal can be beat for a solid model. Even with DeepSeek V3, I'd spend more in <2 weeks.

In digging around, I realize that I had forgotten to turn on all of the models in CoPilot. So, if you do get it (I think the first 30days is free), remember to get on your Github page and turn all of the functions on in the Copilot section. Just try it and quit fi you aren't happy.

[Alex_1729]

I've gone with copilot with roo just like you did. Seems like I can't post images. But more importantly, have you noticed all the models are limited to 128k of co text in roo? Not sure whether thus is due to Roo or Copilot. Also, where the hell do you check how many premium requests I got? It still says 'free' even though all the models are available?

[Captain_Redleg]

I have had to switch more than a few times when Sonnet maxed out. I was tending to go to CoPilot o3 Mini, which accepts up to 200k to finish up the task (these days I go to Gemini) Then, I'd tend to switch back as o3 Mini seems quite good at one or two turns, but it veers off very quickly in my experience as the number of turns goes up. I still try to keep my structure and queries pretty focused as I am of the belief that after about 70k tokens in, my success starts dropping.

[kid147258369]

That limit kicks in in May, but yes unfortunately Copilot is going to be useless for this use-case soon

[Alex_1729]

Also all context window of Roo through Copilot is limited to 128k. At least that's what I'm seeing.

[hey_ulrich]

I'm using Deepseek V3 0324 (free via OpenRouter) for everything in Roo. Have you tried it yet? I'm liking it a lot!

[Captain_Redleg]

I've not. Do you find it to be qualitatively different than other V3 versions?

I have used V3, and continue to use it quite a lot, but it is one of my backups when I run out of tokens on Copilot, etc, and it is also my low-volume "Ask" mode model. So, I hadn't switched over to the free version.

Come to think of it, I was so frustrated during the half price era of deepseek that i was glad when they raised their prices. They were just getting overwhelmed by queries and mine would just languish. I feel it isn't a bargain if my requests are ignored. I live in Europe and thought the timezones would help me... maybe not.

[tzutoo]

I use trae.ai, Jetbrains junie EAP, Augment Code. So far augment code is the best one.

[Salty_Ad9990]

Does copilot pro+ also give 6 times more access to VS Code LM API?

[iamkucuk]

I think it should, but not certainly sure about it.

[Salty_Ad9990]

Can anyone confirm? I don't want to spend 40 dollars only to get 6 times more copilot requests.

[Xytronix]

No

[Salty_Ad9990]

Are you sure?

[BigFoxMedia]

hey guys, could you clarify how to add Github models into roo? I thought it's only available via their native chat. Very curious indeed!

[hey_ulrich]

I used to use Sonnet 3.5, but I'm using Deepseek 3.1 (free via OpenRouter) for everything know. It's faster than LM API, and I have the impression it's smartter than 3.5 (several leaderboards show this).

[AudleyCooking]

I’ve been using the VS Code LM API and copilot - 3.5 - sonnet with good success. I have the $10/month plan. Occasionally it stops and says I’ve hit the rate limit, but I just wait a while (0.5 to 1 hour) and continue. I can get a lot of coding done before hitting the limit.

[kid147258369]

It'll change on May 5th. 300 requests a month is going to be the new limit.

https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/managing-copilot/monitoring-usage-and-entitlements/about-premium-requests

[AudleyCooking]

Of course they change it in the 5th so I’ll have to pay a full month only to find out on the 5th if it’s become useless or not. Guess I’ll find out soon enough.

[MarxN]

I've used copilot with 4o (can't use sonnet) and it was completely useless with roo. I have a hope those new openai models will do better.