How do I install the Copilot Ask skill?

Run npx skillmds add majiayu000/copilot-ask in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Copilot Ask safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Copilot Ask?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Copilot Ask free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Copilot Ask?

majiayu000 (@majiayu000) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Copilot Ask by majiayu000 — Agent Skill

Name: Copilot Ask
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: majiayu000

Copilot Ask

Ask GitHub Copilot CLI questions about code to understand implementations, architecture, patterns, and debugging. Use when the user asks how code works, where something is implemented, what patterns are used, or needs read-only understanding. Requires Copilot CLI installed.

majiayu000 3b7b3a2 2 files · 3.3 KB Updated Sep 9, 2026 567 repo stars

File contents

Copilot Ask Skill

Use GitHub Copilot CLI to answer questions about code without making modifications. This is a read-only analysis skill.

When to Use

User asks "how does X work?"
User wants to find where something is implemented
User needs to understand architecture or patterns
User is debugging and needs to understand code flow
User asks "what does this code do?"

Prerequisites

Verify GitHub Copilot CLI is available:

copilot --version

Note: Copilot will ask you to trust the files in the current folder before it can read them.

Basic Usage

Step 1: Parse the Question

Extract what the user wants to know and the scope (files, feature, component).

Step 2: Launch Copilot CLI

cd /path/to/project
copilot

Step 3: Ask the Question

Provide a clear prompt:

Explain how [FEATURE/COMPONENT] works in this codebase.

Please provide:
1. Direct answer to the question
2. Specific file paths and line numbers
3. Code examples from the actual codebase
4. Related concepts or dependencies

Do NOT make any changes - this is read-only analysis.

Step 4: Present the Answer

Format with:

Summary (1-2 sentences)
Details (explanation)
File references (paths + line numbers)
Code examples
Related info (dependencies, gotchas)

Tips

Use @path/to/file to include a specific file in the prompt.
Use /usage to view session usage details.
Use /model to pick another model if needed.
Use ? or copilot help to see available commands.

Use Custom Instructions

Copilot CLI automatically loads repository instructions if present:

.github/copilot-instructions.md
.github/copilot-instructions/**/*.instructions.md
AGENTS.md (agent instructions)

Error Handling

If Copilot is not found, ensure it is installed per the prerequisites in README.md and available in PATH.
If authentication fails, run /login and follow prompts.
If the answer is unclear, narrow the question and include file paths.

Related Skills

copilot-exec for code modifications
copilot-review for code reviews

Limitations

Read-only analysis
Interactive mode only
Limited by current codebase context

---name: copilot-askdescription: Ask GitHub Copilot CLI questions about code to understand implementations, architecture, patterns, and debugging. Use when the user asks how code works, where something is implemented, what patterns are used, or needs read-only understanding. Requires Copilot CLI installed.--- # Copilot Ask Skill Use GitHub Copilot CLI to answer questions about code without making modifications. This is a read-only analysis skill. ## When to Use - User asks "how does X work?" - User wants to find where something is implemented - User needs to understand architecture or patterns - User is debugging and needs to understand code flow - User asks "what does this code do?" ## Prerequisites Verify GitHub Copilot CLI is available: ```bash copilot --version ``` Note: Copilot will ask you to trust the files in the current folder before it can read them. ## Basic Usage ### Step 1: Parse the Question Extract what the user wants to know and the scope (files, feature, component). ### Step 2: Launch Copilot CLI ```bash cd /path/to/project copilot ``` ### Step 3: Ask the Question Provide a clear prompt: ``` Explain how [FEATURE/COMPONENT] works in this codebase. Please provide: 1. Direct answer to the question 2. Specific file paths and line numbers 3. Code examples from the actual codebase 4. Related concepts or dependencies Do NOT make any changes - this is read-only analysis. ``` ### Step 4: Present the Answer Format with: - Summary (1-2 sentences) - Details (explanation) - File references (paths + line numbers) - Code examples - Related info (dependencies, gotchas) ## Tips - Use `@path/to/file` to include a specific file in the prompt. - Use `/usage` to view session usage details. - Use `/model` to pick another model if needed. - Use `?` or `copilot help` to see available commands. ## Use Custom Instructions Copilot CLI automatically loads repository instructions if present: - `.github/copilot-instructions.md` - `.github/copilot-instructions/**/*.instructions.md` - `AGENTS.md` (agent instructions) ## Error Handling - If Copilot is not found, ensure it is installed per the prerequisites in README.md and available in PATH. - If authentication fails, run `/login` and follow prompts. - If the answer is unclear, narrow the question and include file paths. ## Related Skills - `copilot-exec` for code modifications - `copilot-review` for code reviews ## Limitations - Read-only analysis - Interactive mode only - Limited by current codebase context

Frequently asked questions