Adoption of command-line AI coding agents at Microsoft

A field study analyses how Microsoft engineers adopted and used Claude Code and GitHub Copilot CLI when they were rolled out in early 2026.

This study documents the early deployment of two command-line coding agents, Claude Code and GitHub Copilot CLI, within Microsoft's engineering teams in early 2026, analyzing actual adoption patterns rather than statements of intent.

The authors are particularly interested in how these tools concretely change the work habits of developers, beyond the overall adoption figures often highlighted in market research.