About This Catalog
This catalog contains 175+ custom instructions that automatically guide GitHub Copilot to follow best practices, coding standards, and project-specific conventions. Instructions are organized by technology, framework, and use case.Each instruction includes an applyTo pattern that automatically activates when working with matching files. Click the file name to view the source on GitHub.
Frontend Frameworks
React Ecosystem
React
File:
Applies to:
reactjs.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.jsx, **/*.tsx, **/*.js, **/*.ts, **/*.css, **/*.scssReactJS development standards with modern hooks, patterns, and best practices. Includes component design, state management, performance optimization, and testing guidelines.Next.js
File:
Applies to:
nextjs.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsx, **/*.ts, **/*.jsx, **/*.js, **/*.cssBest practices for Next.js App Router with modern caching, tooling, and server/client boundaries (Next.js 16.1.1+).Next.js + Tailwind
File:
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nextjs-tailwind.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsx, **/*.ts, **/*.jsx, **/*.jsCombined Next.js and Tailwind CSS patterns for rapid development.TanStack Start
File:
Applies to:
tanstack-start-shadcn-tailwind.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsx, **/*.tsTanStack Start with shadcn/ui and Tailwind CSS integration.Angular
Angular
File:
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angular.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.ts, **/*.html, **/*.scss, **/*.cssAngular-specific coding standards with Signals for state management, standalone components, and TypeScript best practices. Includes architecture, testing, and performance optimization.Vue.js
Vue.js 3
File:
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vuejs3.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.vue, **/*.ts, **/*.js, **/*.scssVue 3 development with Composition API, TypeScript, Pinia state management, and modern patterns. Includes component design, reactivity, and testing.Other Frontend Frameworks
Svelte
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svelte.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.svelte, **/*.ts, **/*.jsSvelte component development patterns and best practices.Astro
File:
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astro.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.astro, **/*.ts, **/*.tsxAstro development standards for content-driven websites.Backend Frameworks & Languages
.NET Ecosystem
C#
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csharp.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.csC# development guidelines with C# 14 features, naming conventions, nullable reference types, and best practices.ASP.NET REST APIs
File:
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aspnet-rest-apis.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.csGuidelines for building REST APIs with ASP.NET including authentication, validation, versioning, and documentation.Blazor
File:
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blazor.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.razor, **/*.razor.cs, **/*.razor.cssBlazor component and application patterns for building interactive web UIs with .NET..NET MAUI
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dotnet-maui.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.xaml, **/*.cs.NET MAUI component and application patterns for cross-platform mobile development..NET Framework
File:
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dotnet-framework.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.cs, **/*.vbGuidance for .NET Framework projects including project structure and NuGet management..NET WPF
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dotnet-wpf.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.xaml, **/*.csWPF application development with MVVM patterns and XAML best practices.Java & JVM
Java
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java.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.javaJava development guidelines with modern language features and best practices.Spring Boot
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springboot.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.javaSpring Boot application development patterns, dependency injection, and REST API design.Quarkus
File:
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quarkus.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.javaQuarkus framework patterns for cloud-native Java applications.Scala 2
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scala2.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.scalaScala 2 development patterns and functional programming best practices.Node.js & TypeScript
TypeScript
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typescript-5-es2022.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.ts, **/*.tsxTypeScript 5 with ES2022 features, strict mode, and type-safety patterns.NestJS
File:
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nestjs.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsNestJS framework patterns for building scalable server-side applications.Node.js + Vitest
File:
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nodejs-javascript-vitest.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.js, **/*.tsNode.js and JavaScript code generation with Vitest testing framework.Python
Python
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python.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pyPython coding conventions following PEP 8 with type hints, docstrings, and best practices.LangChain Python
File:
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langchain-python.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pyLangChain development patterns for building LLM applications with Python.Other Languages
Go
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go.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.goGo development standards and idiomatic patterns.Rust
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rust.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.rsRust development with ownership, borrowing, and memory safety patterns.Ruby on Rails
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ruby-on-rails.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.rb, **/*.erbRuby on Rails conventions and best practices.PHP Symfony
File:
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php-symfony.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.phpSymfony framework patterns for PHP applications.Dart & Flutter
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dart-n-flutter.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.dartDart and Flutter development following official recommendations.Swift
File:
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swift-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.swiftSwift development for MCP server implementation.Kotlin
File:
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kotlin-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.ktKotlin development patterns for MCP servers.Clojure
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clojure.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.clj, **/*.cljsClojure functional programming patterns and REPL-driven development.R
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r.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.r, **/*.RR programming for statistical computing and data analysis.Infrastructure as Code
Terraform
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terraform.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tfTerraform conventions and guidelines for infrastructure provisioning with security, modularity, and maintainability focus.Terraform Azure
File:
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terraform-azure.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tfAzure-specific Terraform patterns and best practices.Terraform SAP BTP
File:
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terraform-sap-btp.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tfSAP Business Technology Platform infrastructure with Terraform.Bicep
File:
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bicep-code-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.bicepInfrastructure as Code with Bicep for Azure resources.Azure Verified Modules (Bicep)
File:
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azure-verified-modules-bicep.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.bicepAzure Verified Modules patterns for Bicep.Azure Verified Modules (Terraform)
File:
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azure-verified-modules-terraform.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tfAzure Verified Modules patterns for Terraform.Ansible
File:
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ansible.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.yml, **/*.yamlAnsible conventions and best practices for automation.Cloud & DevOps
Azure
Azure Functions TypeScript
File:
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azure-functions-typescript.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsTypeScript patterns for Azure Functions serverless development.Azure DevOps Pipelines
File:
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azure-devops-pipelines.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.yml, **/*.yamlBest practices for Azure DevOps Pipeline YAML files.Azure Logic Apps & Power Automate
File:
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azure-logic-apps-power-automate.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.jsonWorkflow Definition Language patterns for Logic Apps and Power Automate.AWS
AWS AppSync Event API
File:
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aws-appsync.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.jsAWS AppSync Event API handlers with APPSYNC_JS runtime patterns.Containerization & Kubernetes
Docker Best Practices
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containerization-docker-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/Dockerfile, **/*.dockerfileComprehensive Docker best practices for optimized, secure images.Kubernetes Manifests
File:
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kubernetes-manifests.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.yml, **/*.yamlKubernetes manifest patterns and best practices.Kubernetes Deployment
File:
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kubernetes-deployment-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.yml, **/*.yamlBest practices for Kubernetes deployments, services, and configurations.CI/CD
GitHub Actions
File:
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github-actions-ci-cd-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/.github/workflows/*.yml, **/.github/workflows/*.yamlGitHub Actions workflow patterns for CI/CD pipelines.Database & Data
MongoDB DBA
File:
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mongo-dba.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.js, **/*.tsMongoDB database administration patterns.MS SQL DBA
File:
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ms-sql-dba.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.sqlMicrosoft SQL Server administration and T-SQL best practices.SQL Stored Procedures
File:
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sql-sp-generation.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.sqlSQL stored procedure generation patterns.Testing Frameworks
Playwright TypeScript
File:
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playwright-typescript.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.spec.ts, **/*.test.tsPlaywright end-to-end testing with TypeScript.Playwright Python
File:
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playwright-python.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pyPlaywright testing patterns for Python.Playwright .NET
File:
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playwright-dotnet.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.csPlaywright testing for .NET applications.PowerShell Pester
File:
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powershell-pester-5.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.Tests.ps1Pester 5 testing framework for PowerShell.Microsoft Power Platform
Power Apps & PCF
PCF Code Components
File:
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pcf-code-components.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/ControlManifest.Input.xml, **/*.tsx, **/*.tsPowerApps Component Framework structure and implementation.PCF Best Practices
File:
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pcf-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsx, **/*.tsBest practices for developing PCF code components.PCF Model-Driven Apps
File:
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pcf-model-driven-apps.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsx, **/*.tsPCF components for model-driven apps.PCF Canvas Apps
File:
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pcf-canvas-apps.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsx, **/*.tsPCF components for canvas apps with security and configuration.Power Apps Canvas YAML
File:
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power-apps-canvas-yaml.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pa.yaml, **/*.fx.yamlPower Apps Canvas app YAML format patterns.Power Apps Code Apps
File:
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power-apps-code-apps.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsx, **/*.tsCode-first Power Apps development patterns.Power BI
Power BI DAX
File:
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power-bi-dax-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.daxDAX best practices for Power BI calculations.Power BI Data Modeling
File:
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power-bi-data-modeling-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pbit, **/*.pbixPower BI data modeling best practices.Power BI Report Design
File:
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power-bi-report-design-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pbixPower BI report design and visualization best practices.Power BI Security & RLS
File:
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power-bi-security-rls-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.dax, **/*.pbixRow-level security and data protection in Power BI.Power BI Custom Visuals
File:
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power-bi-custom-visuals-development.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.ts, **/*.tsxCustom visual development for Power BI.Power BI DevOps & ALM
File:
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power-bi-devops-alm-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.json, **/*.ymlApplication lifecycle management for Power BI solutions.Dataverse
Dataverse Python SDK
File:
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dataverse-python.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pyDataverse SDK for Python development patterns.Dataverse Best Practices
File:
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dataverse-python-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pyBest practices for Dataverse Python SDK usage.Dataverse Authentication
File:
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dataverse-python-authentication-security.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pyAuthentication and security patterns for Dataverse.Dataverse Performance
File:
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dataverse-python-performance-optimization.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pyPerformance optimization for Dataverse operations.Power Platform Connectors
Power Platform Connector
File:
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power-platform-connector.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.jsonCustom connector development for Power Platform.Salesforce
Apex
File:
Applies to:
apex.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.cls, **/*.triggerSalesforce Apex development guidelines and best practices.Lightning Web Components
File:
Applies to:
lwc.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.js, **/*.html, **/*.cssLightning Web Components development patterns.MCP Server Development
Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation guides for various languages:TypeScript MCP
File:
Applies to:
typescript-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.tsPython MCP
File:
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python-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.pyC# MCP
File:
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csharp-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.csGo MCP
File:
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go-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.goJava MCP
File:
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java-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.javaKotlin MCP
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kotlin-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.ktPHP MCP
File:
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php-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.phpRuby MCP
File:
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ruby-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.rbRust MCP
File:
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rust-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.rsSwift MCP
File:
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swift-mcp-server.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.swiftCross-Cutting Concerns
Security
Security & OWASP
File:
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security-and-owasp.instructions.mdApplies to:
**OWASP security guidelines and vulnerability prevention.Agent Safety
File:
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agent-safety.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Safety and governance for AI agent systems.Accessibility
Accessibility (a11y)
File:
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a11y.instructions.mdApplies to:
**WCAG 2.2 Level AA compliance and accessibility best practices.Markdown Accessibility
File:
Applies to:
markdown-accessibility.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.md, **/*.mdxAccessible markdown content guidelines.Performance & Optimization
Performance Optimization
File:
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performance-optimization.instructions.mdApplies to:
**General performance optimization patterns.Object Calisthenics
File:
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object-calisthenics.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Nine rules for better object-oriented code.Code Quality
Code Review
File:
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code-review-generic.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Generic code review guidelines and best practices.Self-Explanatory Code
File:
Applies to:
self-explanatory-code-commenting.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Guidelines for writing self-documenting code with minimal comments.Context Engineering
File:
Applies to:
context-engineering.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Structuring code for better GitHub Copilot context.AI & Prompt Engineering
AI Prompt Engineering
File:
Applies to:
ai-prompt-engineering-safety-best-practices.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Comprehensive AI prompt engineering and safety frameworks.Custom Agent Guidelines
File:
Applies to:
agents.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.agent.mdGuidelines for creating custom GitHub Copilot agent files.Agent Skills Guidelines
File:
Applies to:
agent-skills.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/SKILL.mdCreating high-quality Agent Skills for GitHub Copilot.Custom Instructions Guidelines
File:
Applies to:
instructions.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.instructions.mdMeta-instructions for creating custom instruction files.Copilot Prompts
File:
Applies to:
prompt.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.prompt.mdGuidelines for creating Copilot prompt files.Scripting & Shell
Shell Scripts
File:
Applies to:
shell.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.sh, **/*.bashShell scripting best practices and patterns.PowerShell
File:
Applies to:
powershell.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.ps1, **/*.psm1PowerShell scripting conventions and best practices.Makefile
File:
Applies to:
makefile.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/Makefile, **/*.mkMakefile structure and build automation patterns.Content & Documentation
Markdown
File:
Applies to:
markdown.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.md, **/*.mdxMarkdown formatting and structure guidelines.Localization
File:
Applies to:
localization.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.json, **/*.ymlInternationalization and localization best practices.WordPress
File:
Applies to:
wordpress.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.phpWordPress theme and plugin development.Moodle
File:
Applies to:
moodle.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.phpMoodle plugin and module development.Linux Administration
Arch Linux
File:
Applies to:
arch-linux.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.shArch Linux administration and pacman workflows.Debian Linux
File:
Applies to:
debian-linux.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.shDebian administration and apt package management.Fedora Linux
File:
Applies to:
fedora-linux.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.shFedora administration and dnf package management.CentOS Linux
File:
Applies to:
centos-linux.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.shCentOS administration and RHEL-compatible tooling.Specialized Tools & Frameworks
GenAIScript
File:
Applies to:
genaiscript.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.genai.mjs, **/*.genai.jsGenAIScript patterns for AI automation.Tailwind v4
File:
Applies to:
tailwind-v4-vite.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.css, **/*.htmlTailwind CSS v4 with Vite configuration.HTML/CSS Style Guide
File:
Applies to:
html-css-style-color-guide.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.html, **/*.cssHTML and CSS styling and color usage guidelines.CMake & vcpkg
File:
Applies to:
cmake-vcpkg.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/CMakeLists.txt, **/*.cmakeC++ project configuration and package management.ColdFusion CFC
File:
Applies to:
coldfusion-cfc.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.cfcColdFusion component patterns.ColdFusion CFM
File:
Applies to:
coldfusion-cfm.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.cfmColdFusion page and application patterns.Migration & Upgrade Guides
.NET Upgrades
.NET Upgrades
- dotnet-upgrade.instructions.md - Comprehensive .NET framework upgrades
- dotnet-maui-9-to-dotnet-maui-10-upgrade.instructions.md - MAUI 9 to 10 migration
Java Upgrades
Java Upgrades
- java-11-to-java-17-upgrade.instructions.md - Java 11 to 17 migration
- java-17-to-java-21-upgrade.instructions.md - Java 17 to 21 migration
- java-21-to-java-25-upgrade.instructions.md - Java 21 to 25 migration
Spring Boot Migrations
Spring Boot Migrations
- springboot-4-migration.instructions.md - Spring Boot 4 migration guide
- convert-jpa-to-spring-data-cosmos.instructions.md - JPA to Spring Data Cosmos
- convert-cassandra-to-spring-data-cosmos.instructions.md - Cassandra to Spring Data Cosmos
Utility & Development Tools
DevBox Image Definition
File:
Applies to:
devbox-image-definition.instructions.mdApplies to:
**/*.yaml, **/*.ymlDevBox development environment configuration.Context7
File:
Applies to:
context7.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Using Context7 for authoritative external documentation.Copilot Thought Logging
File:
Applies to:
copilot-thought-logging.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Track and document Copilot’s decision-making process.Memory Bank
File:
Applies to:
memory-bank.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Persistent memory patterns for AI interactions.Task Implementation
File:
Applies to:
task-implementation.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Structured task implementation patterns.Spec-Driven Workflow
File:
Applies to:
spec-driven-workflow-v1.instructions.mdApplies to:
**Specification-driven development workflow.Browse All Instructions
To view the complete source code for any instruction file, visit the Awesome GitHub Copilot repository on GitHub.
Installation
Each instruction can be installed directly into VS Code or VS Code Insiders using the install buttons in the main repository README. Alternatively, download the.instructions.md file and add it to your project’s .github/instructions/ directory.