How to Set Up VS Code Copilot Custom Instructions
Why Use Custom Instructions? Custom instructions help Copilot follow your coding, documentation, and team workflow preferences more consistently. Why Use Custom Instructions? Consistency: Ensure everyone follows the same standards for commits, docs, and more. Productivity: Automate repetitive tasks and reduce manual errors. AI Readiness: Make your workflow friendly for Copilot, ChatGPT, and other AI tools. Personalization: Tailor Copilot’s suggestions to your coding style and team practices. Quick Start Follow these steps to create your first custom instructions file: Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P or Ctrl+Shift+P). Run Chat: New Instructions File to create a .instructions.md file in .github/instructions at the root of your repository. Add your guidelines in Markdown format. Example: # Custom instructions for Copilot ## Project context This project is a web application built with React and Node.js. ## Indentation We use tabs, not spaces. ## Coding style Use camelCase for variable names and prefer arrow functions over traditional function expressions. ## Testing We use Jest for unit testing and Playwright for end-to-end testing. Optionally, use the applyTo metadata to target specific files: --- applyTo: "**/*.ts" --- Coding practices for TypeScript files. ... ...