Your GitHub Copilot just got a little smarter thanks to an update that understands your unique coding patterns and automates those repetitive tasks you dread. With the arrival of Agent Skills, developers are empowered to create and share custom automations, putting precise control in your hands.
Defining Agent Skills
Agent Skills function as folders filled with instructions, scripts, and resources. When you ask Copilot for help with a task that matches a skill, it loads the right set of resources and follows your directions. This approach allows you to standardize complex workflows, automate repetitive actions, and personalize Copilot to fit your needs,no matter how specialized.
Wide-Ranging Availability
Currently, Agent Skills are accessible in the Copilot coding agent, Copilot CLI, and Visual Studio Code Insiders (agent mode). Even broader support is coming soon, with the stable version of VS Code set to gain access in early January. This expansion will make custom automation available to a wider range of developers.
How It Works in Practice
When Copilot detects a request matching a defined skill, it immediately loads the corresponding folder and executes your pre-set instructions. This guarantees outputs are not just relevant, but tailored to your coding standards and preferences,whether automating code formatting, running scripts, or tapping into shared resources.
Building and Sharing Your Own Skills
You can create your own custom skills or jumpstart with existing ones from sources like the anthropics/skills repository or the github/awesome-copilot community list. This collaborative approach accelerates setup and multiplies the number of tasks Copilot can automate. If you’ve already built skills for Claude Code using a .claude/skills directory, Copilot will automatically recognize and integrate them, smoothing the transition for teams using multiple tools.
Why Agent Skills Matter
The introduction of Agent Skills elevates Copilot from a helpful assistant to a true automation ally. By encapsulating expertise into reusable skills, teams can:
- Customize Copilot to match personal or team workflows.
- Boost efficiency by automating complex or repetitive tasks.
- Collaborate using community-shared skills to address common challenges quickly.
- Integrate seamlessly with existing skill directories, supporting interoperability across platforms.
Get Started Quickly
To explore Agent Skills further, visit GitHub’s official documentation for setup tips and best practices. The developer community is also active in community announcements, where you can find guidance and share experiences.
A New Era of AI-Powered Development
Agent Skills mark a major leap forward for GitHub Copilot, making it more adaptable and collaborative. Whether you want to streamline your daily routines or enable your team to share coding expertise, this feature opens new doors for automation and productivity in software development.
Source: GitHub Changelog
How GitHub Copilot’s Agent Skills Supercharge Developer Automation