How i-have-adhd Works with GitHub Copilot Skills: Installation and Usage Guide

The i-have-adhd repository provides a custom skill that enables ADHD-friendly output formatting in GitHub Copilot through the /i-have-adhd slash command, installable via the npx skills CLI or manual directory placement.

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository delivers a specialized GitHub Copilot skill designed to modify AI responses for ADHD accessibility. When integrated, this tool alters Copilot's output style to better suit neurodivergent workflows. Understanding how i-have-adhd works with GitHub Copilot skills requires examining its discovery mechanisms, installation paths, and activation protocols.

Skill Discovery and Directory Structure

GitHub Copilot automatically scans specific directories to locate available skills. According to the source code analysis, Copilot checks project-local folders including .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, and .agents/skills/, as well as global directories at ~/.copilot/skills/, ~/.claude/skills/, and ~/.agents/skills/.

When Copilot detects the i-have-adhd folder in any of these locations, it loads the skill definition from skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md and registers the /i-have-adhd slash command for immediate use in chat sessions.

Installing the i-have-adhd Copilot Skill

You can install the skill using either the Copilot CLI toolchain or manual file placement. Both methods make the skill available as a slash command within Copilot Chat.

CLI Installation via npx skills

The recommended approach uses the npx skills command to add the skill directly to your project or global environment.

For project-local installation:

npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot

For global installation (available across all projects):

npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot -g

Verify the installation by listing available skills:

npx skills list
npx skills ls -g  # For globally installed skills

Manual Installation Without CLI

When the CLI is unavailable, manually clone the repository and copy the skill folder to Copilot's global skills directory:

git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd
mkdir -p ~/.copilot/skills
cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.copilot/skills/

This places the skill definition where Copilot automatically scans during startup, making the /i-have-adhd command available without additional configuration.

Activating ADHD Mode in Copilot Chat

Copilot does not automatically invoke the skill; you must explicitly activate it. Open any Copilot Chat window (in VS Code or the CLI) and type:

/i-have-adhd

The skill remains active for the current session. To deactivate ADHD mode, type stop adhd mode in the chat or invoke the /i-have-adhd command again to toggle the setting off.

Core Files and Architecture

The implementation relies on specific files that define the skill behavior and installation logic:

• skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md: Contains the core skill definition with ADHD-friendly formatting rules that modify Copilot's output style
• INSTALL.md: Provides comprehensive installation instructions for all supported agents, including the Copilot-specific npx skills workflow
• ~/.copilot/skills/: The global directory where Copilot searches for user-wide skill packages
• .github/skills/: The project-local directory for repository-specific skill installation

Summary

• The i-have-adhd skill integrates with GitHub Copilot by placing its SKILL.md definition in scanned skill directories
• Install via npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot or manually copy to ~/.copilot/skills/
• Activate the formatting changes by typing /i-have-adhd in any Copilot Chat session
• Deactivate by typing stop adhd mode or toggling the command again
• The skill persists only for the current chat session and does not affect default Copilot behavior

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does GitHub Copilot look for skills?

GitHub Copilot scans multiple predefined paths during initialization. It checks project directories .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, and .agents/skills/, followed by global user directories ~/.copilot/skills/, ~/.claude/skills/, and ~/.agents/skills/. The first valid skill definition found in these locations becomes available as a slash command.

Can I use this skill in VS Code and the Copilot CLI simultaneously?

Yes. Once installed globally in ~/.copilot/skills/ or locally in your project, the skill works across both the VS Code Copilot Chat interface and the Copilot CLI. Both interfaces recognize the same skill definition and respond to the /i-have-adhd activation command.

How do I turn off ADHD mode once activated?

To disable the skill during an active session, type stop adhd mode in the Copilot Chat window. Alternatively, invoking the /i-have-adhd command again toggles the mode off. The deactivation returns Copilot to its standard output formatting for the remainder of the session.

Is the skill available per-project or globally?

The i-have-adhd skill supports both installation scopes. Use npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot for project-local availability (stored in .github/skills/) or add the -g flag for global access across all repositories. Manual installation in ~/.copilot/skills/ also provides global availability.

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