Enhance your GitHub Copilot experience with comprehensive instructions, prompts, chat modes, and configurations. Get consistent AI assistance that follows your team's coding standards and project requirements for development, architecture, planning, and documentation tasks.
There are many ways GitHub Copilot can be used to help you with not just your coding tasks, but also with ideation, problem solving, understanding, planning, research and so much more.
The biggest challenge is either creating or finding the right prompts and tools to get the most out of GitHub Copilot - and when to use them.
I've spent many hours building my own tools and prompts and chat modes to help me with my work, and I want to share them with you.
Note
I created this repository without knowing the GitHub team had plans to release a similar library https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot. However, I am planning to migrate all the resource from this repository over to the Github Awesome Copilot repository in the future. So, you will start seeing duplicated content in both repositories.
I am considering retaining this repository to enhance it with more detailed pages on each chat mode, prompt file showing usage examples. As what is possible with these modes often require more detailed examination and demonstrations.
GitHub Copilot provides multiple ways to customize AI responses and tailor assistance to your specific workflows, team guidelines, and project requirements:
| 🔧 Custom Instructions | 📝 Prompt Files (Reusable Prompts) | 🧩 Custom Chat Modes | 🔌 MCP Servers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Define common guidelines for tasks like code generation, reviews, and commit messages. Describe how tasks should be performed Benefits: • Automatic inclusion in every chat request • Repository-wide consistency • Multiple implementation options |
Create reusable, standalone prompts for specific tasks. Describe what should be done with optional task-specific guidelines Benefits: • Eliminate repetitive prompt writing • Shareable across teams • Support for variables and dependencies |
Define chat behavior, available tools, and codebase interaction patterns within specific boundaries for each request Benefits: • Context-aware assistance • Tool configuration • Role-specific workflows |
Extend GitHub Copilot agents with standardized tools, resources, and prompts via Model Context Protocol for specialized tasks and external integrations Benefits: • Invoke tools for databases, APIs, and file operations • Access external resources as chat context • Pre-configured prompts for complex workflows • Tool confirmation and parameter editing • Automatic discovery and workspace sharing |
💡 Pro Tip: Custom instructions only affect Copilot Chat (not inline code completions). You can combine all three customization types - use custom instructions for general guidelines, prompt files for specific tasks, and chat modes to control the interaction context.
Custom instruction files with specific language and framework guidance can be found in the instructions/ folder.
Important
Custom Instructions only apply to Chat modes (Ask, Edit, Agent or custom modes), they do not apply to Copilot auto-completion in the editor.
| Title | Description | Install |
|---|---|---|
| AI Prompt Engineering & Safety Best Practices | Comprehensive best practices for AI prompt engineering, safety frameworks, bias mitigation, and responsible AI usage for Copilot and LLMs. |   |
| Angular Development Instructions | Angular-specific coding standards and best practices | |
| ASP.NET REST API Development | Guidelines for building REST APIs with ASP.NET | |
| Azure Developer CLI Solution Accelerator Instructions | Apply Azure Developer CLI best practices and guidelines for creating Azure solution accelerators. | |
| Azure Functions Typescript | TypeScript patterns for Azure Functions | |
| Bicep Code Best Practices | Infrastructure as Code with Bicep | |
| Blazor | Blazor component and application patterns | |
| Cmake Vcpkg | C++ project configuration and package management | |
| Containerization & Docker Best Practices | Comprehensive best practices for creating optimized, secure, and efficient Docker images and managing containers. Covers multi-stage builds, image layer optimization, security scanning, and runtime best practices. | |
| Copilot Process tracking Instructions | See process Copilot is following where you can edit this to reshape the interaction or save when follow up may be needed | |
| C# 14 Best Practices for AI Code Generation Instructions | C# 14 best practices and formatting guidelines for AI code generation. | |
| C# Best Practices for AI Code Generation Instructions | C# best practices and formatting guidelines for AI code generation (all versions). | |
| C# Development | Guidelines for building C# applications | |
| DevOps Core Principles | Foundational instructions covering core DevOps principles, culture (CALMS), and key metrics (DORA) to guide GitHub Copilot in understanding and promoting effective software delivery. | |
| DDD Systems & .NET Guidelines | DDD and .NET architecture guidelines | |
| .NET MAUI | .NET MAUI component and application patterns | |
| Genaiscript | AI-powered script generation guidelines | |
| Generate Modern Terraform Code For Azure | Guidelines for generating modern Terraform code for Azure | |
| Gilfoyle Code Review Instructions | Gilfoyle-style code review instructions that channel the sardonic technical supremacy of Silicon Valley''s most arrogant systems architect. | |
| GitHub Actions CI/CD Best Practices | Comprehensive guide for building robust, secure, and efficient CI/CD pipelines using GitHub Actions. Covers workflow structure, jobs, steps, environment variables, secret management, caching, matrix strategies, testing, and deployment strategies. | |
| Go Development Instructions | Instructions for writing Go code following idiomatic Go practices and community standards | |
| Java Development | Guidelines for building Java base applications | |
| Joyride User Script Project Assistant | Expert assistance for Joyride User Script projects - REPL-driven ClojureScript and user space automation of VS Code | |
| Joyride Workspace Automation Assistant | Expert assistance for Joyride Workspace automation - REPL-driven and user space ClojureScript automation within specific VS Code workspaces | |
| Kubernetes Deployment Best Practices | Comprehensive best practices for deploying and managing applications on Kubernetes. Covers Pods, Deployments, Services, Ingress, ConfigMaps, Secrets, health checks, resource limits, scaling, and security contexts. | |
| Guidance for Localization | Guidelines for localizing markdown documents | |
| Markdown | Documentation and content creation standards | |
| Memory Bank | Bank specific coding standards and best practices | |
| MS-SQL DBA Chat Mode Instructions | Instructions for customizing GitHub Copilot behavior for MS-SQL DBA chat mode. | |
| Next.js + Tailwind Development Instructions | Next.js + Tailwind development standards and instructions | |
| Code Generation Guidelines | Guidelines for writing Node.js and JavaScript code with Vitest testing | |
| Performance Optimization Best Practices | The most comprehensive, practical, and engineer-authored performance optimization instructions for all languages, frameworks, and stacks. Covers frontend, backend, and database best practices with actionable guidance, scenario-based checklists, troubleshooting, and pro tips. | |
| Playwright Typescript | Playwright test generation instructions | |
| Power Platform Connectors Schema Development Instructions | Comprehensive development guidelines for Power Platform Custom Connectors using JSON Schema definitions. Covers API definitions (Swagger 2.0), API properties, and settings configuration with Microsoft extensions. | |
| PowerShell Cmdlet Development Guidelines | PowerShell cmdlet and scripting best practices based on Microsoft guidelines | |
| Python Coding Conventions | Python coding conventions and guidelines | |
| Quarkus MCP Server | Quarkus and MCP Server with HTTP SSE transport development standards and instructions | |
| Quarkus | Quarkus development standards and instructions | |
| ReactJS Development Instructions | ReactJS development standards and best practices | |
| Ruby on Rails | Ruby on Rails coding conventions and guidelines | |
| Secure Coding and OWASP Guidelines | Comprehensive secure coding instructions for all languages and frameworks, based on OWASP Top 10 and industry best practices. | |
| Self-explanatory Code Commenting Instructions | Guidelines for GitHub Copilot to write comments to achieve self-explanatory code with less comments. Examples are in JavaScript but it should work on any language that has comments. | |
| Spec Driven Workflow v1 | Specification-Driven Workflow v1 provides a structured approach to software development, ensuring that requirements are clearly defined, designs are meticulously planned, and implementations are thoroughly documented and validated. | |
| Spring Boot Development | Guidelines for building Spring Boot base applications | |
| SQL Development | Guidelines for generating SQL statements and stored procedures | |
| Taming Copilot | Prevent Copilot from wreaking havoc across your codebase, keeping it under control. | |
| TanStack Start with Shadcn/ui Development Guide | Guidelines for building TanStack Start applications | |
| VueJS 3 Development Instructions | VueJS 3 development standards and best practices with Composition API and TypeScript | |
To set a custom instruction file in your repository:
- Copy these instructions to your
.github/copilot-instructions.mdfile or create task-specific.github/.instructions.mdfiles in your workspace's.github/instructionsfolder.
This file will automatically apply to all contributors when they use GitHub Copilot in the specified file types (e.g., C# files).
Prompt file examples are found in the prompts/ folder.
| Title | Description | Install |
|---|---|---|
| AI Prompt Engineering Safety Review & Improvement | Comprehensive AI prompt engineering safety review and improvement prompt. Analyzes prompts for safety, bias, security vulnerabilities, and effectiveness while providing detailed improvement recommendations with extensive frameworks, testing methodologies, and educational content. | |
| ASP.NET Minimal API with OpenAPI | Create ASP.NET Minimal API endpoints with proper OpenAPI documentation | |
| Azure Cost Optimize | Analyze Azure resources used in the app (IaC files and/or resources in a target rg) and optimize costs - creating GitHub issues for identified optimizations. | |
| Azure Resource Health & Issue Diagnosis | Analyze Azure resource health, diagnose issues from logs and telemetry, and create a remediation plan for identified problems. | |
| Comment Code Generate A Tutorial | Transform this Python script into a polished, beginner-friendly project by refactoring the code, adding clear instructional comments, and generating a complete markdown tutorial. | |
| Create Architectural Decision Record | Create an Architectural Decision Record (ADR) document for AI-optimized decision documentation. | |
| Create GitHub Actions Workflow Specification | Create a formal specification for an existing GitHub Actions CI/CD workflow, optimized for AI consumption and workflow maintenance. | |
| Create GitHub Issue from Specification | Create GitHub Issue for feature request from specification file using feature_request.yml template. | |
| Create GitHub Issue from Implementation Plan | Create GitHub Issues from implementation plan phases using feature_request.yml or chore_request.yml templates. | |
| Create GitHub Issues for Unmet Specification Requirements | Create GitHub Issues for unimplemented requirements from specification files using feature_request.yml template. | |
| Create Implementation Plan | Create a new implementation plan file for new features, refactoring existing code or upgrading packages, design, architecture or infrastructure. | |
| Create LLMs.txt File from Repository Structure | Create an llms.txt file from scratch based on repository structure following the llms.txt specification at https://llmstxt.org/ | |
| Generate Standard OO Component Documentation | Create comprehensive, standardized documentation for object-oriented components following industry best practices and architectural documentation standards. | |
| Create Readme | Create a README.md file for the project | |
| Create Specification | Create a new specification file for the solution, optimized for Generative AI consumption. | |
| Create Spring Boot Java project prompt | Create Spring Boot Java project skeleton | |
| Create Spring Boot Kotlin project prompt | Create Spring Boot Kotlin project skeleton | |
| C# Async Programming Best Practices | Get best practices for C# async programming | |
| C# Documentation Best Practices | Ensure that C# types are documented with XML comments and follow best practices for documentation. | |
| MSTest Best Practices | Get best practices for MSTest unit testing, including data-driven tests | |
| NUnit Best Practices | Get best practices for NUnit unit testing, including data-driven tests | |
| TUnit Best Practices | Get best practices for TUnit unit testing, including data-driven tests | |
| XUnit Best Practices | Get best practices for XUnit unit testing, including data-driven tests | |
| .NET/C# Best Practices | Ensure .NET/C# code meets best practices for the solution/project. | |
| .NET/C# Design Pattern Review | Review the C#/.NET code for design pattern implementation and suggest improvements. | |
| Entity Framework Core Best Practices | Get best practices for Entity Framework Core | |
| Product Manager Assistant: Feature Identification and Specification | This workflow guides you through a systematic approach to identify missing features, prioritize them, and create detailed specifications for implementation. | |
| Java Documentation (Javadoc) Best Practices | Ensure that Java types are documented with Javadoc comments and follow best practices for documentation. | |
| JUnit 5+ Best Practices | Get best practices for JUnit 5 unit testing, including data-driven tests | |
| Spring Boot Best Practices | Get best practices for developing applications with Spring Boot. | |
| Javascript Typescript Jest | Best practices for writing JavaScript/TypeScript tests using Jest, including mocking strategies, test structure, and common patterns. | |
| Spring Boot with Kotlin Best Practices | Get best practices for developing applications with Spring Boot and Kotlin. | |
| Multi Stage Dockerfile | Create optimized multi-stage Dockerfiles for any language or framework | |
| My Issues | List my issues in the current repository | |
| My Pull Requests | List my pull requests in the current repository | |
| Next Intl Add Language | Add new language to a Next.js + next-intl application | |
| Review Azure Architecture Center Multitenant Service-Specific Guidance document | Review Azure Architecture Center multitenant service-specific guidance to ensure it is up-to-date with multitenant features provided by the service and guidance is still relevant. | |
| Review And Refactor | Review and refactor code in your project according to defined instructions | |
| Suggest Awesome GitHub Copilot Chatmodes | Suggest relevant GitHub Copilot chatmode files from the awesome-copilot repository based on current repository context and chat history, avoiding duplicates with existing chatmodes in this repository. | |
| Suggest Awesome GitHub Copilot Prompts | Suggest relevant GitHub Copilot prompt files from the awesome-copilot repository based on current repository context and chat history, avoiding duplicates with existing prompts in this repository. | |
| Suggest GitHub Copilot Chatmodes | Suggest relevant GitHub Copilot chatmode files from a GitHub repository based on current repository context and chat history, avoiding duplicates with existing chatmodes in this repository. | |
| Suggest GitHub Copilot Prompts | Suggest relevant GitHub Copilot prompt files from a GitHub repository based on current repository context and chat history, avoiding duplicates with existing prompts in this repository. | |
| Update Azure Verified Modules in Bicep Files | Update Azure Verified Modules (AVM) to latest versions in Bicep files. | |
| Update Implementation Plan | Update an existing implementation plan file with new or update requirements to provide new features, refactoring existing code or upgrading packages, design, architecture or infrastructure. | |
| Update LLMs.txt File | Update the llms.txt file in the root folder to reflect changes in documentation or specifications following the llms.txt specification at https://llmstxt.org/ | |
| Update Markdown File Index | Update a markdown file section with an index/table of files from a specified folder. | |
| Update Standard OO Component Documentation | Update existing object-oriented component documentation following industry best practices and architectural documentation standards. | |
| Update Specification | Update an existing specification file for the solution, optimized for Generative AI consumption based on new requirements or updates to any existing code. | |
To use a prompt file:
-
Copy it from the
promptsfolder in this repository to your workspace or user.vscode/prompts/folder. -
Use
@in VS Code chat and select your prompt, or run theChat: Run Promptcommand.
Custom chat modes define specific behaviors and tools for GitHub Copilot Chat, enabling enhanced context-aware assistance for particular tasks or workflows.
Chat mode examples are found in the chatmodes/ folder.
| Title | Description | Install |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Beast Mode (VS Code v1.102) | GPT 4.1 as a top-notch coding agent. | |
| Accessibility mode | Accessibility mode. | |
| API Architect | Your role is that of an API architect. Help mentor the engineer by providing guidance, support, and working code. | |
| Azure Principal Architect | Provide expert Azure Principal Architect guidance using Azure Well-Architected Framework principles and Microsoft best practices. | |
| Azure SaaS Architect | Provide expert Azure SaaS Architect guidance focusing on multitenant applications using Azure Well-Architected SaaS principles and Microsoft best practices. | |
| Azure AVM Bicep mode | Create, update, or review Azure IaC in Bicep using Azure Verified Modules (AVM). | |
| Azure AVM Terraform mode | Create, update, or review Azure IaC in Terraform using Azure Verified Modules (AVM). | |
| Clojure Interactive Programming with Backseat Driver | Expert Clojure pair programmer with REPL-first methodology, architectural oversight, and interactive problem-solving. Enforces quality standards, prevents workarounds, and develops solutions incrementally through live REPL evaluation before file modifications. | |
| Critical thinking | Challenge assumptions and encourage critical thinking to ensure the best possible solution and outcomes. | |
| C#/.NET Janitor | Perform janitorial tasks on C#/.NET code including cleanup, modernization, and tech debt remediation. | |
| Debug | Debug your application to find and fix a bug | |
| Demonstrate Understanding | Validate user understanding of code, design patterns, and implementation details through guided questioning. | |
| Electron Code Review | Code Review Mode tailored for Electron app with Node.js backend (main), Angular frontend (render), and native integration layer (e.g., AppleScript, shell, or native tooling). Services in other repos are not reviewed here. | |
| Expert .NET software engineer | Provide expert .NET software engineering guidance using modern software design patterns. | |
| Expert React Frontend Engineer | Provide expert React frontend engineering guidance using modern TypeScript and design patterns. | |
| Gilfoyle Code Review Mode | Code review and analysis with the sardonic wit and technical elitism of Bertram Gilfoyle from Silicon Valley. Prepare for brutal honesty about your code. | |
| Implementation Plan Generation Mode | Generate an implementation plan for new features or refactoring existing code. | |
| Universal Janitor | Perform janitorial tasks on any codebase including cleanup, simplification, and tech debt remediation. | |
| Mentor | Help mentor the engineer by providing guidance and support. | |
| Meta Agentic Project Scaffold | Meta agentic project creation assistant to help users create and manage project workflows effectively. | |
| Microsoft Learn Contributor | Microsoft Learn Contributor chatmode for editing and writing Microsoft Learn documentation following Microsoft Writing Style Guide and authoring best practices. | |
| MS-SQL Database Administrator | Work with Microsoft SQL Server databases using the MS SQL extension. | |
| Plan Mode - Strategic Planning & Architecture Assistant | Strategic planning and architecture assistant focused on thoughtful analysis before implementation. Helps developers understand codebases, clarify requirements, and develop comprehensive implementation strategies. | |
| Planning | Generate an implementation plan for new features or refactoring existing code. | |
| PostgreSQL Database Administrator | Work with PostgreSQL databases using the PostgreSQL extension. | |
| Create PRD Chat Mode | Generate a comprehensive Product Requirements Document (PRD) in Markdown, detailing user stories, acceptance criteria, technical considerations, and metrics. Optionally create GitHub issues upon user confirmation. | |
| Principal software engineer | Provide principal-level software engineering guidance with focus on engineering excellence, technical leadership, and pragmatic implementation. | |
| Prompt Engineer | A specialized chat mode for analyzing and improving prompts. Every user input is treated as a propt to be improved. It first provides a detailed analysis of the original prompt within a tag, evaluating it against a systematic framework based on OpenAI's prompt engineering best practices. Following the analysis, it generates a new, improved prompt. | |
| Refine Requirement or Issue Chat Mode | Refine the requirement or issue with Acceptance Criteria, Technical Considerations, Edge Cases, and NFRs | |
| Rust Beast Mode | Rust GPT-4.1 Coding Beast Mode for VS Code | |
| Semantic Kernel .NET | Create, update, refactor, explain or work with code using the .NET version of Semantic Kernel. | |
| Semantic Kernel Python | Create, update, refactor, explain or work with code using the Python version of Semantic Kernel. | |
| Idea Generator | Brainstorm and develop new application ideas through fun, interactive questioning until ready for specification creation. | |
| Software Engineer Agent v1 | Expert-level software engineering agent. Deliver production-ready, maintainable code. Execute systematically and specification-driven. Document comprehensively. Operate autonomously and adaptively. | |
| Specification | Generate or update specification documents for new or existing functionality. | |
| Technical Debt Remediation Plan | Generate technical debt remediation plans for code, tests, and documentation. | |
| voidBeast_GPT41Enhanced 1.0 - Elite Developer AI Assistant | 4.1 voidBeast_GPT41Enhanced 1.0 : a advanced autonomous developer agent, designed for elite full-stack development with enhanced multi-mode capabilities. This latest evolution features sophisticated mode detection, comprehensive research capabilities, and never-ending problem resolution. Plan/Act/Deep Research/Analyzer/Checkpoints(Memory)/Prompt Generator Modes. | |
| Wg Code Alchemist | Ask WG Code Alchemist to transform your code with Clean Code principles and SOLID design | |
| Wg Code Sentinel | Ask WG Code Sentinel to review your code for security issues. | |
To use a chat mode:
-
Copy it from the
chatmodesfolder in this repository to your workspace or user.vscode/chatmodes/folder. -
In VS Code, select your custom chat mode from the chat mode dropdown.
Sample MCP (Model Context Protocol) server configurations can be found in the mcp/ folder.
MCP servers extend GitHub Copilot agents with external tools, resources, and prompts for specialized tasks.
| Asset Type | Description | Availability | Configuration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Instructions | Language-specific guidelines that apply to file types (e.g., C# files) | VS Code & VS | User & Workspace |
| Prompt Files | Reusable, standalone prompts for specific tasks with optional variables | VS Code only | User & Workspace |
| Custom Chat Modes | Predefined instructions and tools for specialized workflows and contexts | VS Code only | User & Workspace |
| MCP Servers | External service integrations via Model Context Protocol for enhanced functionality | VS Code & VS | User & Workspace |
| Feature Name | Description | VS Code/VS Support | Configuration Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Code Generation Instructions | Code generation instructions for code generation tasks. | VS Code only | User & Workspace |
| Prompt Files | Prompt files are reusable prompts for common tasks. | VS Code only | User & Workspace |
| Custom Chat Modes | Custom chat modes combine instructions and tools for specific workflows. | VS Code only | User & Workspace |
| MCP Servers | MCP Servers enable Copilot to call external services via Model Context Protocol. | VS Code & VS | User & Workspace |
- VS Code Copilot Customization Documentation - Official Microsoft documentation
- GitHub Copilot Chat Documentation - Complete chat feature guide
- Custom Chat Modes - Advanced chat configuration
- VS Code Settings - General VS Code configuration guide
This repository uses various configuration files to ensure consistent code style and avoid issues with line endings:
.editorconfig- Defines coding styles across different editors and IDEs.gitattributes- Ensures consistent line endings in text files.vscode/settings.json- VS Code-specific settings for this repository.vscode/extensions.json- Recommended VS Code extensions
💡 Note: All markdown files in this repository use LF line endings (Unix-style) to avoid mixed line endings issues. The repository is configured to automatically handle line endings conversion.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
Please note that this project is released with a Contributor Code of Conduct. By participating in this project you agree to abide by its terms.
This project may contain trademarks or logos for projects, products, or services. Authorized use of Microsoft trademarks or logos is subject to and must follow Microsoft's Trademark & Brand Guidelines. Use of Microsoft trademarks or logos in modified versions of this project must not cause confusion or imply Microsoft sponsorship. Any use of third-party trademarks or logos are subject to those third-party's policies.