# How to Use i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot: Complete Setup Guide > Integrate i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot for enhanced coding assistance. Follow our guide to install and activate the skill, boosting your productivity. - Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-02 --- **Install the `i-have-adhd` skill using `npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot`, verify it appears when typing `/` in Copilot chat, then invoke it with `/i-have-adhd` or enable always-on mode via [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.github/copilot-instructions.md).** The `i-have-adhd` repository delivers an **Agent Skill** that optimizes AI coding assistant output for ADHD cognitive patterns. According to the source code in `ayghri/i-have-adhd`, GitHub Copilot (both VS Code and CLI versions) can consume this skill to restructure responses with clear action steps, bounded tasks, and immediate next actions. ## Installing the i-have-adhd Skill for GitHub Copilot ### Install via Copilot CLI (Recommended) The fastest method uses the `npx skills` CLI to register the skill with Copilot. This clones the `skills/i-have-adhd` folder into Copilot’s skill scanning locations and loads the [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) definition automatically. For project-specific installation: ```bash npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot ``` For global installation across all projects: ```bash npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot -g ``` When executed, these commands place the skill in `.github/skills/` (project) or `~/.copilot/skills/` (global). Copilot then reads [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), which contains the ADHD output rules and the `disable-model-invocation: true` flag, ensuring the skill only activates when explicitly invoked. ### Manual Installation (Alternative) If you prefer not to use the CLI, manually copy the skill directory from the repository: ```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/ ``` Copilot discovers the skill automatically on the next startup by scanning the `~/.copilot/skills/` directory for valid [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) files. ## Verifying the Skill Installation Open any Copilot chat interface (VS Code chat panel or Copilot CLI) and type a single slash `/`. The dropdown should list `i-have-adhd` among available skills. Alternatively, verify installation via the CLI helper: ```bash # List project-specific skills npx skills list # List globally installed skills npx skills ls -g ``` Successful output shows `i-have-adhd` in the registered skills list, confirming that Copilot has loaded the configuration from [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) as referenced in the repository’s [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) (lines 80-86). ## Enabling Always-On ADHD-Optimized Output By default, the skill requires explicit invocation because `disable-model-invocation: true` is set in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md). To apply ADHD-optimized formatting automatically to every Copilot chat 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: ```markdown ## 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"). ``` Copilot automatically reads this file into every chat context, enforcing the ADHD output rules without manual skill invocation. This approach bypasses the `disable-model-invocation` restriction by embedding the instructions directly into Copilot’s system prompt. ## Using the Skill in Copilot Chat **Explicit invocation**: Type `/i-have-adhd` followed by your request. For example: ``` /i-have-adhd Refactor this function to use async/await ``` Copilot formats the response according to the 10 ADHD rules defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), leading with the code snippet or command, numbering steps, and ending with an immediate next action. **Indirect usage**: Because the skill metadata sets `disable-model-invocation: true`, Copilot will not automatically trigger the skill based on context detection. You must either use explicit invocation or rely on the always-on [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.github/copilot-instructions.md) method described above. ## Summary - **Install** the skill via `npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot` or manual copy to `~/.copilot/skills/` - **Verify** installation by typing `/` in Copilot chat or running `npx skills list` - **Invoke** explicitly with `/i-have-adhd` before prompts, or enable automatic application via [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.github/copilot-instructions.md) - **Source files** driving the behavior include [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) (rules and flags) and [`INSTALL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/INSTALL.md) (setup instructions) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How do I install i-have-adhd for all my GitHub Copilot projects? Run `npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot -g` to install globally, which copies the skill to `~/.copilot/skills/`. Alternatively, manually clone the repository and copy `skills/i-have-adhd` to `~/.copilot/skills/` so Copilot loads it for every workspace. ### Why do I need to manually invoke the skill with /i-have-adhd? The [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) file in `skills/i-have-adhd/` contains `disable-model-invocation: true`, which prevents Copilot from automatically triggering the skill based on context. This design ensures you control when the ADHD-optimized output style applies rather than having the model decide. ### Can I use i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot without the CLI? Yes. Clone the repository manually, create `~/.copilot/skills/` if it does not exist, and copy the `skills/i-have-adhd` folder there. Copilot scans this directory on startup and loads the skill without requiring the `npx skills` CLI tool. ### What file controls the ADHD output rules in Copilot? The rules are defined in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) within the repository. This file specifies the 10 ADHD-optimized output instructions and the `disable-model-invocation` flag. For always-on behavior without explicit invocation, copy these rules into [`.github/copilot-instructions.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/.github/copilot-instructions.md) in your project root.