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Project Setup Info Local

OrganizationPopular
microsoft
project-setup-info-local

Comprehensive setup steps to help the user create complete project structures in a VS Code workspace; this tool is designed for full project initialization and scaffolding, not for creating individual files. When to use this tool: user wants to create a new complete project from scratch; setting up entire project frameworks (TypeScript projects, React apps, Node.js servers, etc.); initializing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers with full structure; creating VS Code extensions with proper scaffolding; setting up Next.js, Vite, or other framework-based projects; user asks for "new project", "create a workspace", "set up a [framework] project"; need to establish a complete development environment with dependencies, config files, and folder structure. When NOT to use this tool: creating single files or small code snippets; adding individual files to existing projects; making modifications to existing codebases; user asks to "create a file" or "add a component"; simple code examples or demonstrations; debugging or fixing existing code. This tool provides complete project setup including: folder structure creation; package.json and dependency management; configuration files (tsconfig, eslint, etc.); initial boilerplate code; development environment setup; build and run instructions. Use other file creation tools for individual files within existing projects.

Overview

Publishermicrosoft
Repositoryvscode
Skill nameproject-setup-info-local
Stars
192.7K
Forks
42.7K
Bundled files
Instructions only
LicenseMIT
Links
  • 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 Project Setup Info Local AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

1

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.

  1. Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
  2. Choose "Install from GitHub".
  3. Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
  4. Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.
Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.
2

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/project-setup-info-local .claude/skills/project-setup-info-local
Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Project Setup Info Local 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 Project Setup Info Local 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 Project Setup Info Local 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.

How to setup a project

Determine what kind of project the user wants to create, then based on that, choose which setup info below to follow. Only setup a project if the folder is empty or if you've just called the tool first calling the tool to create a workspace.

vscode-extension

A template for creating a VS Code extension using Yeoman and Generator-Code.

Run this command:

npx --package yo --package generator-code -- yo code . --skipOpen

The command has the following arguments:

  • -t, --extensionType: Specify extension type: ts, js, command-ts, command-js, colortheme, language, snippets, keymap, extensionpack, localization, commandweb, notebook. Defaults to ts
  • -n, --extensionDisplayName: Set the display name of the extension.
  • --extensionId: Set the unique ID of the extension. Do not select this option if the user has not requested a unique ID.
  • --extensionDescription: Provide a description for the extension.
  • --pkgManager: Specify package manager: npm, yarn, or pnpm. Defaults to npm.
  • --bundler: Bundle the extension using webpack or esbuild.
  • --gitInit: Initialize a Git repository for the extension.
  • --snippetFolder: Specify the location of the snippet folder.
  • --snippetLanguage: Set the language for snippets.

Rules

  1. Do not remove any arguments from the command. Only add arguments if the user requests them.
  2. Call the tool get_vscode_api with the user's query to get the relevant references.
  3. After the tool get_vscode_api has completed, only then begin to modify the project.

next-js

A React based framework for building server-rendered web applications.

Run this command:

npx create-next-app@latest .

The command has the following arguments:

  • --ts, --typescript: Initialize as a TypeScript project. This is the default.
  • --js, --javascript: Initialize as a JavaScript project.
  • --tailwind: Initialize with Tailwind CSS config. This is the default.
  • --eslint: Initialize with ESLint config.
  • --app: Initialize as an App Router project.
  • --src-dir: Initialize inside a 'src/' directory.
  • --turbopack: Enable Turbopack by default for development.
  • --import-alias <prefix/*>: Specify import alias to use.(default is "@/*")
  • --api: Initialize a headless API using the App Router.
  • --empty: Initialize an empty project.
  • --use-npm: Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap the application using npm.
  • --use-pnpm: Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap the application using pnpm.
  • --use-yarn: Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap the application using Yarn.
  • --use-bun: Explicitly tell the CLI to bootstrap the application using Bun.

vite

A front end build tool for web applications that focuses on speed and performance. Can be used with React, Vue, Preact, Lit, Svelte, Solid, and Qwik.

Run this command:

npx create-vite@latest .

The command has the following arguments:

  • -t, --template NAME: Use a specific template. Available templates: vanilla-ts, vanilla, vue-ts, vue, react-ts, react, react-swc-ts, react-swc, preact-ts, preact, lit-ts, lit, svelte-ts, svelte, solid-ts, solid, qwik-ts, qwik

mcp-server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server project. This project supports multiple programming languages including TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, C#, Java, and Kotlin.

Rules

  1. First, visit https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol to find the correct SDK and setup instructions for the requested language. Default to TypeScript if no language is specified.
  2. Use the fetch_webpage tool to find the correct implementation instructions from https://modelcontextprotocol.io/llms-full.txt
  3. Update the copilot-instructions.md file in the .github directory to include references to the SDK documentation
  4. Create an mcp.json file in the .vscode folder in the project root with the following content: { "servers": { "mcp-server-name": { "type": "stdio", "command": "command-to-run", "args": [list-of-args] } } }.
    • mcp-server-name: The name of the MCP server. Create a unique name that reflects what this MCP server does.
    • command-to-run: The command to run to start the MCP server. This is the command you would use to run the project you just created.
    • list-of-args: The arguments to pass to the command. This is the list of arguments you would use to run the project you just created.
  5. Install any required VS Code extensions based on the chosen language (e.g., Python extension for Python projects).
  6. Inform the user that they can now debug this MCP server using VS Code.

python-script

A simple Python script project which should be chosen when just a single script wants to be created.

Required extensions: ms-python.python, ms-python.vscode-python-envs

Rules

  1. Call the tool copilot_runVscodeCommand to correctly create a new Python script project in VS Code. Call the command with the following arguments. Note that "python-script" and "true" are constants while "New Project Name" and "/path/to/new/project" are placeholders for the project name and path respectively.
    json
    {
      "name": "python-envs.createNewProjectFromTemplate",
      "commandId": "python-envs.createNewProjectFromTemplate",
      "args": ["python-script", "true", "New Project Name", "/path/to/new/project"]
    }

python-package

A Python package project which can be used to create a distributable package.

Required extensions: ms-python.python, ms-python.vscode-python-envs

Rules

  1. Call the tool run_vscode_command to correctly create a new Python package project in VS Code. Call the command with the following arguments. Note that "python-package" and "true" are constants while "New Package Name" and "/path/to/new/project" are placeholders for the package name and path respectively.
    json
    {
      "name": "python-envs.createNewProjectFromTemplate",
      "commandId": "python-envs.createNewProjectFromTemplate",
      "args": ["python-package", "true", "New Package Name", "/path/to/new/project"]
    }

Frequently asked questions

What does the Project Setup Info Local AI skill do?

Comprehensive setup steps to help the user create complete project structures in a VS Code workspace; this tool is designed for full project initialization and scaffolding, not for creating individual files. When to use this tool: user wants to create a new complete project from scratch; setting up entire project frameworks (TypeScript projects, React apps, Node.js servers, etc.); initializing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers with full structure; creating VS Code extensions with proper scaffolding; setting up Next.js, Vite, or other framework-based projects; user asks for "new project",...

Why use Project Setup Info Local on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Project Setup Info Local 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 Project Setup Info Local in TypingMind?

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

Which AI models can use Project Setup Info Local?

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 Project Setup Info Local?

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

Is the Project Setup Info Local 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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