Init

OrganizationPopular

microsoft

init

Generate or update chat customization files for AI coding agents

Overview

Publisher	microsoft
Repository	`vscode`
Skill name	`init`
Stars	192.7K
Forks	42.7K
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by microsoft on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Init AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/tree/main/extensions/copilot/assets/prompts/skills/init

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/vscode.git /tmp/vscode
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/vscode/extensions/copilot/assets/prompts/skills/init .claude/skills/init

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Init in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Init on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Init is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

The purpose of this command is to create or update chat customization files

the agent instructions file (.github/copilot-instructions.md or AGENTS.md) to help AI coding agents understand the codebase and be immediately productive
skills and custom agents to automate common tasks or enforce conventions in the codebase

The user can optionally call this command with an argument. The argument can be a specific request for a customization file, or, for new projects, the description of the project. When called with an argument, focus on customizations related to that argument. Only create or modify chat customization files. Never start working on a task in the argument.

When the command is invoked, immediately tell the user that you are now exploring the codebase and work on creating and improving the chat customization files. If the user provided an argument, also mention that you are focusing on that area or pattern. Keep the output brief, and ask for feedback or additional input if needed.

Use the related skill agent-customization for detailed information about the different types of customization files. Explore the codebase to get a good understanding of the project and its conventions, and then create or update the relevant chat customization files to help AI coding agents be productive in this codebase.

When complete, print a table of the added or modified chat customization files, along with a short explanation why this file is useful to the AI coding agents.

Workflow

Discover existing conventions Search: **/{.github/copilot-instructions.md,AGENT.md,AGENTS.md,CLAUDE.md,.cursorrules,.windsurfrules,.clinerules,.cursor/rules/**,.windsurf/rules/**,.clinerules/**,README.md}
Explore the codebase via subagent, 1-3 in parallel if needed Find essential knowledge that helps an AI agent be immediately productive:
- Build/test commands (agents run these automatically)
- Architecture decisions and component boundaries
- Project-specific conventions that differ from common practices
- Potential pitfalls or common development environment issues
- Key files/directories that exemplify patterns
Also inventory existing documentation (docs/**/*.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, ARCHITECTURE.md, etc.) to identify topics that should be linked, not duplicated.
Generate or merge
- New file: Prefer AGENTS.md over .github/copilot-instructions.md. If the user already has one of these files, update it instead of creating a new one.
- Existing file: Preserve valuable content, update outdated sections, remove duplication
- Follow the guidelines in the agent-customization skill:
  1. Link, don't embed principle. Do not copy existing documentation that exists in the workspace, link to them with a Markdown link instead.
  2. Minimal by default: Only what's relevant and cannot be easily discovered by an agent should be included. Link to other documentation for details.
  3. Concise and actionable: Every line should guide behavior
Iterate
- Ask for feedback on unclear or incomplete sections
- If the workspace is complex, suggest creating separate instructions files or skills for specific areas (e.g., frontend, backend, tests)

Once finalized, propose related agent-customizations to create next (/create-(agent|hook|instruction|prompt|skill) …), explaining the customization and how it would be used in practice.

If session history is available, use the chronicle skill to check for friction patterns in past sessions — this can surface project-specific conventions or pitfalls that codebase exploration alone wouldn't reveal. Mention /chronicle improve to the user as a way to iteratively refine instructions over time.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Init AI skill do?

Generate or update chat customization files for AI coding agents

Why use Init on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Init is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Init in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/tree/main/extensions/copilot/assets/prompts/skills/init. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Init?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Init?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Init with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Init AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by microsoft under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Workflow

Frequently asked questions

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