Create VS Code custom instructions files (.instructions.md) and prompt files (.prompt.md) for GitHub Copilot. Use when creating agent rules, coding standards, module-specific instructions, or reusable prompts for VS Code projects. Includes YAML frontmatter format, markdown formatting standards, and file organization patterns.
Create professional custom instructions and prompt files for GitHub Copilot in VS Code following official specifications and best practices.
This skill teaches how to create two types of VS Code customization files:
.instructions.md) - Auto-applied coding standards and module-specific guidelines.prompt.md) - On-demand reusable prompts for development tasksBoth use YAML frontmatter + Markdown, but differ in purpose, name format, and triggering mechanism.
Quick comparison:
| Aspect | Custom Instructions | Prompt Files |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Automatic via applyTo glob | Manual via /prompt-name |
| Name format | (underscores) |
Module_Namemodule-name (hyphens) |
| Purpose | Standards, guidelines | Specific tasks |
| Variables | Not supported | ${input:var} supported |
Create: .github/instructions/Module_Name.instructions.md
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