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12 changes: 6 additions & 6 deletions extensions/copilot/assets/prompts/skills/init/SKILL.md
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -9,14 +9,14 @@ The purpose of this command is to create or update chat customization files
- the agent instructions file (`.github/copilot-instructions.md` or `AGENTS.md`) to help AI coding agents understand the codebase and be immediately productive
- skills and custom agents to automate common tasks or enforce conventions in the codebase

The user can optionally call this command with an argument. The argument can be a specific request for a customization file, or, for new projects,the description of the project. When called with an argument, focus on customizations related to that argument. Only create or modify chat customization files. Never start working on a task in the argument.
The user can optionally call this command with an argument. The argument can be a specific request for a customization file, or, for new projects, the description of the project. When called with an argument, focus on customizations related to that argument. Only create or modify chat customization files. Never start working on a task in the argument.

When the command is invoked, immediatly tell the user that you are now exploring the code base and work on creating and improving the chat customization files. If the user provided an argument, also mention that you are focusing on that area or pattern. Keep the output short and actionable, and ask for feedback or additional input if needed.
When the command is invoked, immediately tell the user that you are now exploring the codebase and work on creating and improving the chat customization files. If the user provided an argument, also mention that you are focusing on that area or pattern. Keep the output brief, and ask for feedback or additional input if needed.

Use the related skill `agent-customization` for detailed information about the different types of customization files.
Explord the codebase to get a good understanding of the project and its conventions, and then create or update the relevant chat customization files to help AI coding agents be productive in this codebase.
Explore the codebase to get a good understanding of the project and its conventions, and then create or update the relevant chat customization files to help AI coding agents be productive in this codebase.

When complete, give the user table of the added or modified chat customization files, along with a short explanation why this file is useful for the AI coding agents.
When complete, print a table of the added or modified chat customization files, along with a short explanation why this file is useful to the AI coding agents.
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Copilot AI Apr 10, 2026

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Minor grammar: “a short explanation why this file is useful…” reads awkwardly; consider “a short explanation of why this file is useful…”.

Suggested change
When complete, print a table of the added or modified chat customization files, along with a short explanation why this file is useful to the AI coding agents.
When complete, print a table of the added or modified chat customization files, along with a short explanation of why this file is useful to the AI coding agents.

Copilot uses AI. Check for mistakes.

## Workflow

Expand All @@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ When complete, give the user table of the added or modified chat customization f
Also inventory existing documentation (`docs/**/*.md`, `CONTRIBUTING.md`, `ARCHITECTURE.md`, etc.) to identify topics that should be linked, not duplicated.

3. **Generate or merge**
- New file: Prefern AGENTS.md over `.github/copilot-instructions.md`. If the user already has one of these files, update it instead of creating a new one. If both exist, update both.
- New file: Prefer AGENTS.md over `.github/copilot-instructions.md`. If the user already has one of these files, update it instead of creating a new one.
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Copilot AI Apr 10, 2026

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Step 3 now omits guidance for the case where both AGENTS.md and .github/copilot-instructions.md are present. Without explicitly saying to update both (or explaining which one is authoritative), the /init workflow becomes ambiguous and may lead to only one file being updated, causing divergence.

Suggested change
- New file: Prefer AGENTS.md over `.github/copilot-instructions.md`. If the user already has one of these files, update it instead of creating a new one.
- Agent instructions file: If neither file exists, create `AGENTS.md` rather than `.github/copilot-instructions.md`. If exactly one of these files exists, update the existing file instead of creating a new one. If both `AGENTS.md` and `.github/copilot-instructions.md` exist, treat `AGENTS.md` as the authoritative file and update both files to keep them aligned.

Copilot uses AI. Check for mistakes.
- Existing file: Preserve valuable content, update outdated sections, remove duplication
- Follow the guidelines in **agent-customization.md**:
- Follow the guidelines in the `agent-customization` skill:
1. **Link, don't embed** principle. Do not copy existing documentation that exists in the workspace, link to them with a Markdown link instead.
2. **Minimal by default**: Only what's relevant and can not be easely discovered by an agent should be included. Link to other documentation for details.
3. **Concise and actionable**: Every line should guide behavior
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