i-have-adhd and GitHub Copilot Integration: Setup Guide with copilot-instructions.md

You can integrate the i-have-adhd Agent Skill into GitHub Copilot by installing it via the Copilot CLI or manual copy, then optionally creating a .github/copilot-instructions.md file to make the ADHD-optimized output style apply automatically to every chat.

The ayghri/i-have-adhd repository provides an Agent Skill that implements the Agent Skills specification for LLM-powered coding assistants. When integrated with GitHub Copilot, this skill reformats responses to support ADHD-optimized reading patterns, emphasizing actionable steps and clear structure. This guide covers the complete setup process, from installation to configuring the optional always-on mode using copilot-instructions.md.

Installing the i-have-adhd Skill

GitHub Copilot discovers Agent Skills by scanning specific directories for SKILL.md files. You can install the i-have-adhd skill either via the official Copilot CLI or by manually copying the skill folder.

Using the Copilot CLI (Recommended)

The Copilot CLI provides the fastest installation path. Run the following command from your project root to install the skill for the current repository only:

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

For global installation across all projects, add the -g flag:

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

When executed, npx skills clones the skills/i-have-adhd folder into .github/skills/ (project-specific) or ~/.copilot/skills/ (global). According to the repository's INSTALL.md (lines 666-669), Copilot then loads the SKILL.md file, which contains the disable-model-invocation: true flag. This ensures the skill only activates when explicitly invoked rather than automatically.

Manual Installation

If you prefer not to use the CLI, manually copy the skill folder from a cloned repository:

# Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd

# Create the global Copilot skill directory

mkdir -p ~/.copilot/skills

# Copy the skill assets

cp -R i-have-adhd/skills/i-have-adhd ~/.copilot/skills/

Copilot automatically discovers skills in these locations during the next startup cycle.

Verifying the Installation

After installation, confirm Copilot recognizes the skill by opening a Copilot chat (VS Code chat panel or Copilot CLI) and typing /. The i-have-adhd skill should appear in the available skills list.

You can also verify via command line:

# List project-specific skills

npx skills list

# List globally installed skills

npx skills ls -g

As documented in INSTALL.md (lines 80-86), successful verification shows i-have-adhd in the output list, confirming the SKILL.md file is properly formatted and accessible.

Configuring Always-On Mode with copilot-instructions.md

To apply the ADHD-optimized style automatically to every Copilot interaction without typing /i-have-adhd each time, create a .github/copilot-instructions.md file in your repository root.

Create the file with the following content:

## 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, ensuring the style rules defined in skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md are active by default. This approach, referenced in INSTALL.md (lines 108-114), bypasses the disable-model-invocation: true restriction that prevents automatic skill invocation.

Using the Skill in Copilot Chat

Once installed, invoke the skill explicitly when needed:

/i-have-adhd
Refactor this function to use async/await and explain the changes step by step.

Because SKILL.md (lines 1-5) sets disable-model-invocation: true, the model will not automatically trigger the skill based on context detection. You must either use the explicit /i-have-adhd command or rely on the always-on configuration via copilot-instructions.md.

Key Configuration Files

Understanding these file paths helps with troubleshooting and customization:

• skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md: Defines the skill metadata, invocation rules, and the 10 ADHD output principles. This file contains the critical disable-model-invocation: true flag that controls automatic activation.
• .github/copilot-instructions.md: Optional repository-level file that Copilot loads into every chat. Use this to enforce the ADHD style permanently without manual skill invocation.
• INSTALL.md: Primary documentation for installation methods, located in the repository root.

Summary

• Install via CLI: Use npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot for project-specific or global installation.
• Install manually: Copy skills/i-have-adhd/ to ~/.copilot/skills/ or .github/skills/.
• Verify installation: Run npx skills list or type / in Copilot chat to confirm i-have-adhd appears.
• Enable always-on: Create .github/copilot-instructions.md with the output style rules to bypass the disable-model-invocation restriction.
• Explicit usage: Type /i-have-adhd before prompts when not using the always-on configuration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the disable-model-invocation flag affect usage?

The SKILL.md file sets disable-model-invocation: true, which prevents Copilot from automatically activating the skill based on conversation context. You must explicitly invoke the skill with /i-have-adhd or use the .github/copilot-instructions.md workaround to apply the style automatically. This design gives users explicit control over when the ADHD formatting applies.

Can I use i-have-adhd with GitHub Copilot in editors other than VS Code?

Yes. The Agent Skills specification works with any Copilot implementation that supports the specification, including the Copilot CLI. Install the skill globally using npx skills add ayghri/i-have-adhd -a github-copilot -g to make it available across all Copilot interfaces on your system.

What is the difference between project-specific and global installation?

Project-specific installation places the skill in .github/skills/ within your repository, making it available to anyone who clones the repo and uses Copilot. Global installation places it in ~/.copilot/skills/, making it available for all your projects regardless of repository contents. Both methods read the same SKILL.md configuration.

Do I need to restart VS Code after installing the skill?

No restart is required when using the CLI method, but you may need to reload the Copilot chat panel. For manual installations, Copilot scans skill directories on startup, so a restart ensures immediate detection. If the skill does not appear after installation, run npx skills list to verify the files are in the correct location.

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