copilot-instruction-layering

name: Copilot instruction layering description: instruction layering with reusable, conditional instruction files

Skill: Copilot instruction layering

Goal

Provide a small set of reusable Copilot instruction files that can be copied into new repos and applied conditionally based on project type.

Files

• .github/copilot-instructions.md (high-level, Makefile-first)
• .github/instructions/*.instructions.md (stack-specific guidance, with applyTo globs)
• .github/skills/*/SKILL.md (reusable skill definitions)

Conventions

• Keep instructions short and actionable.
• Prefer conditional language ("Applies when...") so files can coexist in mixed repos.
• Use applyTo front matter to scope instructions to relevant file patterns.