[2025-12-18] Skills support in VS Code agent mode, Copilot coding agent and Copilot CLI (#58947)
Co-authored-by: Copilot Autofix powered by AI <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: hubwriter <hubwriter@github.com> Co-authored-by: Claire W <78226508+crwaters16@users.noreply.github.com>
This commit is contained in:
Tim Rogers
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content/copilot/concepts/agents/about-agent-skills.md
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content/copilot/concepts/agents/about-agent-skills.md
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---
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title: About Agent Skills
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shortTitle: Agent Skills
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intro: 'Agent Skills enhance the ability of {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %}, the {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli %} and {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} Insiders to perform specialized tasks.'
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product: '{% data reusables.gated-features.copilot-coding-agent %}<br><br>{% data reusables.gated-features.copilot-cli %}<br><a href="https://github.com/features/copilot/plans?ref_product=copilot&ref_type=purchase&ref_style=button" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary mt-3 mr-3 no-underline"><span>Sign up for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}</span> {% octicon "link-external" height:16 %}</a>'
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versions:
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feature: copilot
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topics:
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- Copilot
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---
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## About Agent Skills
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Agent Skills are folders of instructions, scripts, and resources that {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can load when relevant to improve its performance in specialized tasks. Agent Skills is an [open standard](https://github.com/agentskills/agentskills), used by a range of different agents.
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Agent Skills work with {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %}, the {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli %} and agent mode in {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} Insiders. Support in the stable version of {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode_shortname %} is coming soon.
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You can create your own skills to teach {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to perform tasks in a specific, repeatable way—or use skills shared online, for example in the [`anthropics/skills`](https://github.com/anthropics/skills) repository or {% data variables.product.company_short %}'s community created [`github/awesome-copilot`](https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot) collection.
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Currently, skills can only be created at the repository level. Support for organization-level and enterprise-level skills is coming soon.
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You can use both skills and custom instructions to teach {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} how to work in your repository and how to perform specific tasks. We recommend using custom instructions for simple instructions relevant to almost every task (for example information about your repository's coding standards), and skills for more detailed instructions that {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} should access when relevant. To learn more about repository custom instructions, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/configure-custom-instructions/add-repository-instructions).
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> [!NOTE]
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> {% data reusables.cli.preview-note-cli-body %}
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## Adding skills to your repository
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1. Create a `.github/skills` directory to store your skills.
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> [!NOTE]
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> Skills stored in the `.claude/skills` directory are also supported.
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1. Create a subdirectory for your new skill. Each skill should have its own directory (for example, `.github/skills/webapp-testing`). Skill directory names should be lowercase, use hyphens for spaces, and typically match the `name` in the `SKILL.md` frontmatter.
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1. Create a `SKILL.md` file with your skill's instructions.
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> [!NOTE]
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> Skill files must be named `SKILL.md`.
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`SKILL.md` files are Markdown files with YAML frontmatter. In their simplest form, they include:
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* YAML frontmatter
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* **name** (required): A unique identifier for the skill. This must be lowercase, using hyphens for spaces.
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* **description** (required): A description of what the skill does, and when {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} should use it.
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* **license** (optional): A description of the license that applies to this skill.
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* A Markdown body, with the instructions, examples and guidelines for {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to follow.
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1. Optionally, add scripts, examples or other resources to your skill's directory. For example, if you were writing a skill for converting images between different formats, you might include a script for converting SVG images to PNG.
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### Example `SKILL.md` file
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This file would be located in the `.github/skills/github-actions-failure-debugging` directory.
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```markdown copy
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---
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name: github-actions-failure-debugging
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description: Guide for debugging failing GitHub Actions workflows. Use this when asked to debug failing GitHub Actions workflows.
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---
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To debug failing GitHub Actions workflows in a pull request, follow this process, using tools provided from the GitHub MCP Server:
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1. Use the `list_workflow_runs` tool to look up recent workflow runs for the pull request and their status
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2. Use the `summarize_job_log_failures` tool to get an AI summary of the logs for failed jobs, to understand what went wrong without filling your context windows with thousands of lines of logs
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3. If you still need more information, use the `get_job_logs` or `get_workflow_run_logs` tool to get the full, detailed failure logs
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4. Try to reproduce the failure yourself in your own environment.
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5. Fix the failing build. If you were able to reproduce the failure yourself, make sure it is fixed before committing your changes.
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```
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## How {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} uses skills
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When performing tasks, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} will decide when to use your skills based on your prompt and the skill's description.
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When {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} chooses to use a skill, the `SKILL.md` file will be injected in the agent's context, giving the agent access to your instructions. It can then follow those instructions, and use any scripts or examples you may have included in the skill's directory.
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@@ -142,6 +142,15 @@ The following sections provide examples of tasks you can complete with {% data v
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`Branch off from main and create a {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %} workflow that will run on pull requests, or can be run manually. The workflow should run eslint to check for problems in the changes made in the PR. If warnings or errors are found these should be shown as messages in the diff view of the PR. I want to prevent code with errors from being merged into main so, if any errors are found, the workflow should cause the PR check to fail. Push the new branch and create a pull request.`
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## Customizing {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli %}
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You can customize {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli %} in a number of ways:
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* **Custom instructions**: Custom instructions allow you to give {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} additional context on your project and how to build, test and validate its changes. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/use-copilot-cli#use-custom-instructions).
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* **Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers**: MCP servers allow you to give {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} access to different data sources and tools. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/use-copilot-cli#add-an-mcp-server).
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* **{% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_caps_short %}**: {% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_caps_short %} allow you to create different specialized versions of {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} for different tasks. For example, you could customize {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to be an expert frontend engineer following your team's guidelines. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/use-copilot-cli#use-custom-agents).
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* **Skills**: Skills allow you to enhance the ability of {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to perform specialized tasks with instructions, scripts, and resources. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/agents/about-agent-skills).
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## Security considerations
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When you use {% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %}, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can perform tasks on your behalf, such as executing or modifying files, or running shell commands.
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@@ -43,9 +43,7 @@ To delegate tasks to {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %}, you can:
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While working on a coding task, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} has access to its own ephemeral development environment, powered by {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}, where it can explore your code, make changes, execute automated tests and linters and more.
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You can also create {% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_short %} to tailor {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}'s behavior for specific workflows, coding conventions, or specialized tasks. {% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_caps_short %} allow you to define multiple specialized versions of the coding agent—such as a frontend reviewer, test generator, or security auditor—each with their own prompts, tools, and capabilities. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/agents/coding-agent/about-custom-agents).
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## Benefits over traditional AI workflows
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### Benefits over traditional AI workflows
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When used effectively, {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} offers productivity benefits over traditional AI assistants in IDEs:
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@@ -101,6 +99,15 @@ Within your monthly usage allowance for {% data variables.product.prodname_actio
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For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/billing/managing-billing-for-your-products/managing-billing-for-github-copilot/about-billing-for-github-copilot#allowance-usage-for-copilot-coding-agent).
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## Customizing {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %}
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You can customize {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} in a number of ways:
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* **Custom instructions**: Custom instructions allow you to give {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} additional context on your project and how to build, test and validate its changes. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/configure-custom-instructions/add-repository-instructions).
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* **Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers**: MCP servers allow you to give {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} access to different data sources and tools. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/extend-coding-agent-with-mcp).
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* **{% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_caps_short %}**: {% data variables.copilot.custom_agents_caps_short %} allow you to create different specialized versions of {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} for different tasks. For example, you could customize {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to be an expert frontend engineer following your team's guidelines. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/agents/coding-agent/about-custom-agents).
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* **Skills**: Skills allow you to enhance the ability of {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to perform specialized tasks with instructions, scripts, and resources. For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/agents/about-agent-skills).
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## Built-in security protections
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Security is a fundamental consideration when you enable {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %}, as with any other AI agent. {% data variables.copilot.copilot_coding_agent %} has a strong base of built-in security protections that you can supplement by following best practice guidance.
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@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ children:
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- /code-review
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- /about-copilot-cli
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- /openai-codex
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- /about-agent-skills
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- /enterprise-management
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contentType: concepts
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---
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@@ -180,6 +180,12 @@ In the case of naming conflicts, a system-level agent overrides a repository-lev
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For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/create-custom-agents).
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### Use skills
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You can create skills to enhance the ability of {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to perform specialized tasks with instructions, scripts, and resources.
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For more information, see [AUTOTITLE](/copilot/concepts/agents/about-agent-skills).
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### Add an MCP server
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{% data variables.copilot.copilot_cli_short %} comes with the {% data variables.product.github %} MCP server already configured. This MCP server allows you to interact with resources on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom_the_website %}—for example, allowing you to merge pull requests from the CLI.
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