agent-customization
**WORKFLOW SKILL** — Create, update, review, fix, or debug VS Code agent customization files (.instructions.md, .prompt.md,…
@microsoftInstall SkillDevelopment
Skill
/create-instructions
Create an instructions file (.instructions.md) for a project rule or convention.
Claude Code
$ npx -y skills add microsoft/vscode --skill create-instructions --agent claude-code
Codex
$ npx skills add microsoft/vscode --skill create-instructions -a codex -y
Cursor
$ npx skills add microsoft/vscode --skill create-instructions -a cursor -y
Gemini CLI
$ npx skills add microsoft/vscode --skill create-instructions -a gemini-cli -y
GitHub Copilot
$ npx skills add microsoft/vscode --skill create-instructions -a github-copilot -y
OpenCode
$ npx skills add microsoft/vscode --skill create-instructions -a opencode -y
Windsurf
$ npx skills add microsoft/vscode --skill create-instructions -a windsurf -y
SKILL.md
create-instructions.SKILL.mdname: create-instructions
description: 'Create an instructions file (.instructions.md) for a project rule or convention.'
argument-hint: What rule or convention to enforce?
disable-model-invocation: true
Related skill: `agent-customization`. Load and follow **instructions.md** for template and principles.
Guide the user to create an instructions file.
Extract from Conversation
First, review the conversation history. If the user has been correcting the agent's output or asking for specific patterns (e.g., "always use X", "never do Y", "follow this style"), generalize that into a persistent instruction. Extract:
- Corrections or preferences mentioned during the conversation
- Coding patterns the user enforced or requested
- Project-specific conventions referenced
Clarify if Needed
If no clear rule emerges from the conversation, clarify:
- Should this apply everywhere or only to specific files?
- Which technologies or file types are affected?
- Is this a hard rule or a preference?
Explore the codebase using subagents if you need more context.
Iterate
1. Draft the instruction and save it. 2. Identify the most ambiguous or weak parts and ask about those. 3. Once finalized, summarize what the instruction enforces, suggest example prompts to see it in action, and propose related customizations to create next.
Remember to follow the `agent-customization` guidelines to create highly effective instructions.
Read more
name: create-instructions description: 'Create an instructions file (.instructions.md) for a project rule or convention.' argument-hint: What rule or convention to enforce? disable-model-invocation: true
Related skill: `agent-customization`. Load and follow **instructions.md** for template and principles.
Guide the user to create an instructions file.
Extract from Conversation
First, review the conversation history. If the user has been correcting the agent's output or asking for specific patterns (e.g., "always use X", "never do Y", "follow this style"), generalize that into a persistent instruction. Extract:
- Corrections or preferences mentioned during the conversation
- Coding patterns the user enforced or requested
- Project-specific conventions referenced
Clarify if Needed
If no clear rule emerges from the conversation, clarify:
- Should this apply everywhere or only to specific files?
- Which technologies or file types are affected?
- Is this a hard rule or a preference?
Explore the codebase using subagents if you need more context.
Iterate
1. Draft the instruction and save it. 2. Identify the most ambiguous or weak parts and ask about those. 3. Once finalized, summarize what the instruction enforces, suggest example prompts to see it in action, and propose related customizations to create next.
Remember to follow the `agent-customization` guidelines to create highly effective instructions.
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Questions about create-instructions.
- Which coding agents can use create-instructions?
- create-instructions installs in Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot, OpenCode and Windsurf with the skills CLI, using each agent's flag shown on this page. Flowy's auto-invocation, which fires a skill when your prompt matches, runs in Claude Code only.