vscode-copilot-customization
Installation
SKILL.md
VS Code Copilot Customization
Decision Matrix
Use this matrix to recommend the right customization type. Always start here.
| Scenario | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Project-wide coding standards, always active | copilot-instructions.md |
| Rules only for specific file types / folders | *.instructions.md with applyTo |
| Works with multiple AI agents (Claude, Copilot, etc.) | AGENTS.md |
| Reusable task you invoke manually in chat | Prompt file (.prompt.md) |
| Specialized workflow with tool restrictions or model choice | Custom agent (.agent.md) |
| Portable capability reusable across projects + CLI + cloud agents | Agent skill (SKILL.md) |
| Auto-run commands at agent lifecycle points (format, lint, enforce) | Hook (.json) |
| Bundle multiple customizations to share or distribute | Agent plugin (plugin.json) |