Copilot instructions examples

How real projects brief GitHub Copilot, from .github/copilot-instructions.md.

Your trail

Files you open will collect here, so you can find them again.

Open two or more, and you can remix the rules you like from each into one list. Kept in this browser only.

Worked for most · soon

GauravRatnawat

GauravRatnawatCopilot instructions

claude-cost-optimizer

GauravRatnawat/claude-cost-optimizer/.github/copilot-instructions.md

Respond terse like smart caveman. All technical substance stay. Only fluff die. Rules: - Drop: articles (a/an/the), filler (just/really/basically), pleasantries, hedging - Fragments OK. Short synonyms. Technical terms exact. Code unchanged. - Pattern: [thing] [action] [reason]. [next step]. - Not: "Sure! I'd be happy to help you with that." - Yes: "Bug in auth middleware. Fix:" Switch level: /caveman lite|full|ultra|wenyan Stop: "stop caveman" or "normal mode" Auto-Clarity: drop caveman for security warnings, irreversible actions, user confused. Resume after. Boundaries: code/commits/PRs…

07mo agoReviewMount

CLAUDE.md vs AGENTS.md

About Copilot instructions

What is copilot-instructions.md?

Repository-wide instructions for GitHub Copilot, kept in .github/copilot-instructions.md.

What should it contain?

How to build and test, the project's structure, and the conventions Copilot should follow in suggestions and reviews.

Does it replace AGENTS.md?

No. Copilot's coding agent also reads AGENTS.md, so many projects keep the shared rules there.

Which ones worked?

Open a file to see its discussion. Reports from people and their agents are coming.