suggest-awesome-github-copilot-instructions

SKILL.md

Suggest Awesome GitHub Copilot Instructions

Analyze current repository context and suggest relevant copilot-instruction files from the GitHub awesome-copilot repository that are not already available in this repository.

Process

Fetch Available Instructions: Extract instruction list and descriptions from awesome-copilot README.instructions.md. Must use #fetch tool.

Scan Local Instructions: Discover existing instruction files in .github/instructions/ folder

Extract Descriptions: Read front matter from local instruction files to get descriptions and applyTo patterns

Fetch Remote Versions: For each local instruction, fetch the corresponding version from awesome-copilot repository using raw GitHub URLs (e.g., https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/awesome-copilot/main/instructions/<filename>)

Compare Versions: Compare local instruction content with remote versions to identify:

Instructions that are up-to-date (exact match)

Instructions that are outdated (content differs)

Key differences in outdated instructions (description, applyTo patterns, content)

Analyze Context: Review chat history, repository files, and current project needs

Compare Existing: Check against instructions already available in this repository

Match Relevance: Compare available instructions against identified patterns and requirements

Present Options: Display relevant instructions with descriptions, rationale, and availability status including outdated instructions

Validate: Ensure suggested instructions would add value not already covered by existing instructions

Output: Provide structured table with suggestions, descriptions, and links to both awesome-copilot instructions and similar local instructions
AWAIT user request to proceed with installation or updates of specific instructions. DO NOT INSTALL OR UPDATE UNLESS DIRECTED TO DO SO.

Download/Update Assets: For requested instructions, automatically:

Download new instructions to .github/instructions/ folder

Update outdated instructions by replacing with latest version from awesome-copilot

Do NOT adjust content of the files

Use #fetch tool to download assets, but may use curl using #runInTerminal tool to ensure all content is retrieved

Use #todos tool to track progress

Context Analysis Criteria

🔍 Repository Patterns:

Programming languages used (.cs, .js, .py, .ts, etc.)

Framework indicators (ASP.NET, React, Azure, Next.js, etc.)

Project types (web apps, APIs, libraries, tools)

Development workflow requirements (testing, CI/CD, deployment)

🗨️ Chat History Context:

Recent discussions and pain points

Technology-specific questions

Coding standards discussions

Development workflow requirements

Output Format

Display analysis results in structured table comparing awesome-copilot instructions with existing repository instructions:

Awesome-Copilot Instruction
Description
Already Installed
Similar Local Instruction
Suggestion Rationale

blazor.instructions.md
Blazor development guidelines
✅ Yes
blazor.instructions.md
Already covered by existing Blazor instructions

reactjs.instructions.md
ReactJS development standards
❌ No
None
Would enhance React development with established patterns

java.instructions.md
Java development best practices
⚠️ Outdated
java.instructions.md
applyTo pattern differs: remote uses '**/*.java' vs local '*.java' - Update recommended

Local Instructions Discovery Process

List all *.instructions.md files in the instructions/ directory

For each discovered file, read front matter to extract description and applyTo patterns

Build comprehensive inventory of existing instructions with their applicable file patterns

Use this inventory to avoid suggesting duplicates

Version Comparison Process

For each local instruction file, construct the raw GitHub URL to fetch the remote version:

Pattern: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/awesome-copilot/main/instructions/<filename>

Fetch the remote version using the #fetch tool

Compare entire file content (including front matter and body)

Identify specific differences:

Front matter changes (description, applyTo patterns)

Content updates (guidelines, examples, best practices)

Document key differences for outdated instructions

Calculate similarity to determine if update is needed

File Structure Requirements

Based on GitHub documentation, copilot-instructions files should be:

Repository-wide instructions: .github/copilot-instructions.md (applies to entire repository)

Path-specific instructions: .github/instructions/NAME.instructions.md (applies to specific file patterns via applyTo frontmatter)

Community instructions: instructions/NAME.instructions.md (for sharing and distribution)

Front Matter Structure

Instructions files in awesome-copilot use this front matter format:

---
description: 'Brief description of what this instruction provides'
applyTo: '**/*.js,**/*.ts' # Optional: glob patterns for file matching
---

Requirements

Use githubRepo tool to get content from awesome-copilot repository instructions folder

Scan local file system for existing instructions in .github/instructions/ directory

Read YAML front matter from local instruction files to extract descriptions and applyTo patterns

Compare local instructions with remote versions to detect outdated instructions

Compare against existing instructions in this repository to avoid duplicates

Focus on gaps in current instruction library coverage

Validate that suggested instructions align with repository's purpose and standards

Provide clear rationale for each suggestion

Include links to both awesome-copilot instructions and similar local instructions

Clearly identify outdated instructions with specific differences noted

Consider technology stack compatibility and project-specific needs

Don't provide any additional information or context beyond the table and the analysis

Icons Reference

✅ Already installed and up-to-date

⚠️ Installed but outdated (update available)

❌ Not installed in repo

Update Handling

When outdated instructions are identified:

Include them in the output table with ⚠️ status

Document specific differences in the "Suggestion Rationale" column

Provide recommendation to update with key changes noted

When user requests update, replace entire local file with remote version

Preserve file location in .github/instructions/ directory