AI Dev Tools Sync

Synchronize Claude Code and GitHub Copilot configurations to maintain feature parity.

When to Use

Activate this skill when:

User asks to update Claude Code or Copilot setup
User wants to add/modify skills, prompts, agents, or instructions
User wants both tools to work similarly
User asks about AI dev tool configuration

Quick Reference

| Claude Code | GitHub Copilot | Location | | -------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | SKILL.md | SKILL.md | .claude/skills/ + .github/skills/ | | commands/.md | prompts/.prompt.md | .claude/commands/ + .github/prompts/ | | agents/.md | agents/.md | .github/agents/ (shared) | | workflows/.md | - | .claude/workflows/ | | CLAUDE.md | copilot-instructions.md | Root + .github/ | | - | instructions/.md | .github/instructions/ (applyTo patterns) | | - | chatmodes/*.chatmode.md | .github/chatmodes/ |

GitHub Copilot Features Catalog

Complete catalog of GitHub Copilot customization features (as of 2026).

Configuration Files

Repository-Level (`.github/`)

| File/Folder | Purpose | Format | | --- | --- | --- | | copilot-instructions.md | Global instructions for all Copilot interactions | Markdown | | instructions/*.instructions.md | Path-scoped instructions with applyTo frontmatter | Markdown + YAML | | prompts/*.prompt.md | Reusable prompts (slash commands) | Markdown + YAML | | agents/*.md | Agent definitions | Markdown + YAML | | skills/*/SKILL.md | Agent skills with bundled resources | Markdown + YAML | | chatmodes/*.chatmode.md | Custom chat personalities | Markdown + YAML | | AGENTS.md | Master agent routing file | Markdown |

Also Supported (Backward Compatibility)

.claude/skills/ - Copilot auto-reads Claude skills
CLAUDE.md - Copilot reads if present
GEMINI.md - Gemini CLI format

Feature Details

Custom Instructions (`copilot-instructions.md`)

Root instructions auto-included in every request.

# Project Guidelines
- Use TypeScript for all new files
- Follow BEM naming for CSS classes

Path-Scoped Instructions (`.github/instructions/`)

Apply to specific file patterns via applyTo:

---
applyTo: "src/Services/**/*.cs"
excludeAgent: ["code-review"] # Optional: exclude specific agents
---
# Backend C# Guidelines
Use PlatformValidationResult for validation...

Prompts (`.github/prompts/`)

Reusable via /prompt-name in chat:

---
mode: agent # Optional: agent, chat, edit
---
# Debug this issue
1. Analyze the error
2. Find root cause
3. Propose fix

Agent Skills (`.github/skills/`)

Folder structure with SKILL.md + bundled resources:

skills/my-skill/
├── SKILL.md
├── scripts/
├── references/
└── assets/

Chat Modes (`.github/chatmodes/`)

Custom chat personalities with tool restrictions:

---
name: security-reviewer
tools: ["read", "grep", "glob"] # Restrict tools
---
# Security Review Mode
Focus only on security vulnerabilities...

Agents (`.github/agents/`)

Specialized agent definitions:

---
name: frontend-developer
description: UI/UX implementation specialist
---
# Frontend Developer Agent
Specializes in React, TypeScript, CSS...

Sync Patterns

Patterns for keeping Claude Code and GitHub Copilot configurations synchronized.

Skill Sync

Both platforms support skills in .github/skills/. Copilot also reads .claude/skills/.

Best Practice: Create skills in .github/skills/ for maximum compatibility.

.github/skills/my-skill/
├── SKILL.md          # Both platforms read
├── scripts/          # Executable scripts
├── references/       # Progressive disclosure docs
└── assets/           # Templates, images

Prompt/Command Sync

| Claude Code | GitHub Copilot | | ---------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | | .claude/commands/my-cmd.md | .github/prompts/my-cmd.prompt.md | | Invoked via /my-cmd | Invoked via /my-cmd or #prompt:my-cmd |

Sync Strategy:

Create in .github/prompts/ (both read)
Or maintain duplicates if behavior differs

Instructions Sync

| Claude Code | GitHub Copilot | | ------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | CLAUDE.md (root) | .github/copilot-instructions.md | | Single file | Multi-file with applyTo patterns |

Sync Strategy:

Keep core rules in both files
Use .github/instructions/ for path-scoped rules (Copilot-specific)
Reference detailed docs from both files

Agent Sync

Both platforms read .github/agents/*.md.

Single Source: Maintain agents in .github/agents/ only.

Workflow Sync

Claude has workflow orchestration. Copilot uses chat modes.

| Claude Workflow | Copilot Equivalent | | ------------------------ | -------------------- | | Sequential agent chains | Chat mode switching | | .claude/workflows/ | .github/chatmodes/ |

Decision Matrix

| Feature | Location | Reason | | --- | --- | --- | | Skills | .github/skills/ | Maximum compatibility | | Prompts | .github/prompts/ | Both platforms read | | Agents | .github/agents/ | Shared location | | Instructions | Both files | Platform-specific nuances | | Workflows | .claude/workflows/ | Claude-specific | | Chat Modes | .github/chatmodes/ | Copilot-specific |

Common Sync Tasks

Add New Skill

mkdir -p .github/skills/new-skill
# Create SKILL.md with frontmatter
# Add references/ and scripts/ as needed

Add New Prompt

# Create in .github/prompts/ for both platforms
touch .github/prompts/new-prompt.prompt.md

Update Core Instructions

Edit CLAUDE.md
Edit .github/copilot-instructions.md
Keep essential rules in sync

Add Path-Scoped Instructions (Copilot)

# Copilot-specific feature
touch .github/instructions/backend-cqrs.instructions.md
# Add applyTo: "src/Services/**/*Command*.cs"

Sync Process

Step 1: Understand Current Setup

Read these files to understand current configuration:

.claude/workflows/orchestration-protocol.md
.claude/workflows/primary-workflow.md
.github/copilot-instructions.md
.github/AGENTS.md
CLAUDE.md

Step 2: Research Latest Features

Search web for:

"GitHub Copilot features setup 2026"
"GitHub Copilot custom instructions agents skills prompts"
"GitHub Copilot agent mode workspace context"

See the GitHub Copilot Features Catalog section above for the full feature catalog.

Step 3: Identify Sync Opportunities

Compare capabilities and identify gaps:

Skills missing in one platform
Inconsistent prompt/instruction behavior
Agent definitions that differ

Step 4: Implement Changes

For each change:

Skills: Create in both .claude/skills/ and .github/skills/
Prompts: Create in both .claude/commands/ and .github/prompts/
Instructions: Update both CLAUDE.md and .github/copilot-instructions.md
Agents: Update .github/agents/ (shared by both)

Compatibility Notes

Copilot reads .claude/skills/ automatically (backward compatibility)
Both read .github/prompts/*.prompt.md
Both read .github/agents/*.md
Both read AGENTS.md in root or .github/
Both support path-based instruction files via applyTo in frontmatter

Sources

IMPORTANT Task Planning Notes

Always plan and break many small todo tasks
Always add a final review todo task to review the works done at the end to find any fix or enhancement needed