Suggest Copilot Extensions Instructions

Suggest Awesome GitHub Copilot Instructions

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

Process

1. Fetch Available Instructions: Extract instruction list and descriptions from copilot-extensions README.instructions.md. Must use #fetch tool.
2. Scan Local Instructions: Discover existing instruction files in .github/instructions/ folder
3. Extract Descriptions: Read front matter from local instruction files to get descriptions and applyTo patterns
4. Fetch Remote Versions: For each local instruction, fetch the corresponding version from copilot-extensions repository using raw GitHub URLs (e.g., https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/copilot-extensions/main/instructions/<filename>)
5. 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   • Instructions that are outdated (content differs)
   • Key differences in outdated instructions (description, applyTo patterns, content)
6. Analyze Context: Review chat history, repository files, and current project needs
7. Compare Existing: Check against instructions already available in this repository
8. Match Relevance: Compare available instructions against identified patterns and requirements
9. Present Options: Display relevant instructions with descriptions, rationale, and availability status including outdated instructions
10. Validate: Ensure suggested instructions would add value not already covered by existing instructions
11. Output: Provide structured table with suggestions, descriptions, and links to both copilot-extensions 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.
12. Download/Update Assets: For requested instructions, automatically:
    • Download new instructions to .github/instructions/ folder
    • Update outdated instructions by replacing with latest version from copilot-extensions
    • 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 copilot-extensions instructions with existing repository instructions:

Local Instructions Discovery Process

1. List all *.instructions.md files in the instructions/ directory
2. For each discovered file, read front matter to extract description and applyTo patterns
3. Build comprehensive inventory of existing instructions with their applicable file patterns
4. Use this inventory to avoid suggesting duplicates

Version Comparison Process

1. For each local instruction file, construct the raw GitHub URL to fetch the remote version:
   • Pattern: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/copilot-extensions/main/instructions/<filename>
2. Fetch the remote version using the #fetch tool
3. Compare entire file content (including front matter and body)
4. Identify specific differences:
   • Front matter changes (description, applyTo patterns)
   • Content updates (guidelines, examples, best practices)
5. Document key differences for outdated instructions
6. 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 copilot-extensions 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 copilot-extensions 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 copilot-extensions 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:

1. Include them in the output table with ⚠️ status
2. Document specific differences in the "Suggestion Rationale" column
3. Provide recommendation to update with key changes noted
4. When user requests update, replace entire local file with remote version
5. Preserve file location in .github/instructions/ directory

Source: thijs-philips/vscode — distributed by TomeVault.