/sync-upstream
Update a stale session branch by rebasing onto the latest origin. Use when the upstream has moved significantly and the session needs to catch up, resolving conflicts by preserving upstream changes and adapting session work to fit.
$ npx -y skills add microsoft/vscode --skill sync-upstream --agent claude-codeHow it fires
How this skill gets triggered: by you, by Claude, or both.
- Fires itselfAuto-invocation. Claude auto-loads it when your prompt matches the work.Auto-invocation is when the right skill fires by itself at the right moment, driven by a FLOW.md router and a hook, instead of you invoking it by name. It is the difference between a skill being installed and a skill actually getting used.Read the full definition →
- You can call itInvoke it directly when you want it.
- Slash command
/sync-upstream
Context preview
The summary Claude sees to decide when to auto-load this skill.
Update a stale session branch by rebasing onto the latest origin. Use when the upstream has moved significantly and the session needs to catch up, resolving conflicts by preserving upstream changes and adapting session work to fit.
SKILL.md
sync-upstream.SKILL.mdname: sync-upstream description: Update a stale session branch by rebasing onto the latest origin. Use when the upstream has moved significantly and the session needs to catch up, resolving conflicts by preserving upstream changes and adapting session work to fit.
<!-- Customize this skill and select save to override its behavior. Delete that copy to restore the built-in behavior. -->
Update Branch
Rebase the current session branch onto the latest upstream so the work stays grounded in origin.
Workflow
1. If there are uncommitted changes, use the `/commit` skill to commit them first. 2. Fetch the latest upstream and rebase onto it:
git fetch origin git rebase origin/main
Use the appropriate base branch if it is not `main`.
Conflict Resolution
When conflicts arise, **upstream always wins**:
- **Never alter upstream logic, APIs, or patterns** to accommodate session changes.
- **Adapt session work** to fit the new upstream — rename, restructure, or rewrite as needed while preserving the session's goals.
- After resolving each conflict, `git add` the files and `git rebase --continue`.
Validation
After the rebase completes, verify the result still compiles and meets the session's objectives. If session changes no longer make sense against the updated upstream, explain what changed and propose a revised approach.
Repo: microsoft/vscode
Other skills on vscode.
- /agent-customization
**WORKFLOW SKILL** — Create, update, review, fix, or debug VS Code agent customization files (.instructions.md, .prompt.md, .agent.md, SKILL.md, copilot-instructions.md, AGENTS.md). USE FOR: saving coding preferences; troubleshooting why instructions/skills/agents are ignored or
Open skill - /chronicle
Analyze Copilot session history for standup reports, usage tips, session search, and session reindexing. Use when the user asks for a standup, daily summary, usage tips, workflow recommendations, wants to search or find past sessions by keyword/file/PR, wants to reindex their
Open skill - /create-agent
Create a custom agent (.agent.md) for a specific job.
Open skill - /create-hook
Create a hook (.json) to enforce policy or automate agent lifecycle events.
Open skill - /create-instructions
Create an instructions file (.instructions.md) for a project rule or convention.
Open skill - /create-prompt
Create a reusable prompt file (.prompt.md) for a common task.
Open skill

