# How to Integrate i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot: Complete Setup Guide > Integrate i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot easily. Follow our complete setup guide to install the Agent Skill and start using its powerful features via Copilot chat. Enhance your coding workflow today. - Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-07-30 --- **Integrate i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot by installing the Agent Skill via the CLI (`npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot`) or manual copy, then invoke it with `/i-have-adhd` in any Copilot chat.** The `ayghri/i-have-adhd` repository provides an ADHD-optimized output style for large language models, packaged as an Agent Skill compatible with GitHub Copilot. When integrated, Copilot reads the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file from the `skills/i-have-adhd` directory and applies structured, action-focused formatting to help developers with ADHD process information more efficiently. ## What Is the i-have-adhd Agent Skill? The i-have-adhd skill is defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and implements the Agent Skills specification for LLM-powered coding assistants. It contains a specific set of **output rules** designed to reduce cognitive load, including leading with actionable items, numbering multi-step workflows, and restating progress each turn. The skill metadata includes `disable-model-invocation: true`, meaning Copilot will not automatically trigger the style and you must invoke it explicitly unless you configure always-on mode. ## Installation Methods You can integrate the skill either through the Copilot CLI (recommended) or by manually copying the skill files to Copilot's scan directories. ### Install via Copilot CLI (Recommended) The fastest way to integrate i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot is using the `npx skills` command. This automatically clones the skill into the correct location and registers it with Copilot. **For the current project only:** ```bash npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot ``` **For all projects globally:** ```bash npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot -g ``` *What happens*: The CLI clones the `skills/i-have-adhd` folder into `.github/skills/` (project scope) or `~/.copilot/skills/` (global scope). Copilot then reads [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) and registers the skill as `/i-have-adhd`. ### Manual Installation If you prefer not to use the CLI or need to customize the skill first, copy the files manually: ```bash # Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd # Create the global Copilot skills directory mkdir -p ~/.copilot/skills # Copy the skill folder cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.copilot/skills/ ``` After copying, Copilot will discover the skill automatically on the next restart. According to the repository's [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) (lines 71-77), this method works for both VS Code and Copilot CLI environments. ## Verify Your Integration Once installed, confirm that Copilot recognizes the skill before attempting to use it. **In VS Code:** Open the Copilot chat panel and type a single slash `/`. You should see `i-have-adhd` listed among available skills. **Via CLI:** Run the verification commands to list registered skills: ```bash # List project-scoped skills npx skills list # List globally installed skills npx skills ls -g ``` If the skill appears in the output, the integration is successful and you can proceed to use it in your workflow. ## Usage: Explicit Invocation and Always-On Mode The skill supports two usage patterns: on-demand invocation for specific queries, or automatic application to every chat session. ### Explicit Skill Invocation To use the ADHD-optimized style for a specific request, prepend your prompt with the skill trigger: ``` /i-have-adhd refactor this function to use async/await ``` When invoked this way, Copilot formats its response according to the rules defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), including leading with the answer, numbering steps, and ending with a sub-two-minute next action. ### Enable Always-On Mode To automatically apply the ADHD style to every Copilot interaction without typing `/i-have-adhd`, create a [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.github/copilot-instructions.md) file in your repository root: ```bash mkdir -p .github cat <<'EOF' > .github/copilot-instructions.md ## Output style The reader has ADHD. Shape every response so it can be acted on: 1. Lead with the answer or next action: command, path, or snippet first. 2. Number multi-step work; one bounded action per step. 3. End with one next action doable in under two minutes. 4. Finish the current issue before raising a new one. 5. Restate progress each turn ("step 3 of 5 done"). EOF ``` Copilot automatically reads this file into every chat context, effectively making the i-have-adhd style the default output format for your repository (as documented in [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md), lines 108-114). ## How the Skill Works Under the Hood The integration relies on Copilot's Agent Skills protocol. When you install the skill, Copilot parses [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) to extract: - **Skill name**: `i-have-adhd` - **Invocation trigger**: `/i-have-adhd` - **Behavior flags**: `disable-model-invocation: true` (requires explicit use) - **Output rules**: 10 specific formatting instructions optimized for ADHD cognitive patterns Because `disable-model-invocation` is set to `true` in the skill definition (lines 1-5 of [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md)), the model will not automatically apply these rules based on context detection. You must either invoke it explicitly via slash command or use the always-on instruction file method described above. ## Summary - **Install** the skill using `npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot` for local scope or add `-g` for global use. - **Verify** installation by checking for `/i-have-adhd` in the Copilot skills list or running `npx skills list`. - **Invoke** explicitly with `/i-have-adhd` before your prompt, or create [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.github/copilot-instructions.md) for always-on behavior. - **Key files**: [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) defines the formatting rules; [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) contains platform-specific guidance for GitHub Copilot integration. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I use i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot in JetBrains IDEs? Currently, the Agent Skills specification used by `ayghri/i-have-adhd` is primarily supported in VS Code and the Copilot CLI. JetBrains IDE support depends on Copilot's feature parity across editors. Check the repository's [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) for the latest platform compatibility updates. ### Why doesn't Copilot automatically apply the ADHD style without the slash command? The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file explicitly sets `disable-model-invocation: true` to prevent automatic triggering. This design choice ensures that the structured, step-by-step formatting only appears when you specifically request it, avoiding potential disruption to standard coding workflows. ### How do I uninstall the i-have-adhd skill from Copilot? If you installed via CLI, remove it using `npx skills remove i-have-adhd`. For manual installations, delete the `i-have-adhd` folder from `.github/skills/` (project scope) or `~/.copilot/skills/` (global scope). If you created [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.github/copilot-instructions.md), delete or modify that file to remove the always-on behavior. ### Can I customize the ADHD output rules for my team? Yes. Since the skill is open source, you can fork `ayghri/i-have-adhd`, modify the rules in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), and install your custom version using the manual installation method pointing to your fork. Alternatively, adjust the content of [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.github/copilot-instructions.md) to include organization-specific conventions while maintaining the core ADHD-optimized structure.