From e0bd11deaef6891f0822569f1f88805a2e70256c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Matt Bruce Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:56:03 -0600 Subject: [PATCH] docs: document instructions scope --- docs/ai/overview.md | 9 +++++++++ 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+) diff --git a/docs/ai/overview.md b/docs/ai/overview.md index 97c7603..7456e72 100644 --- a/docs/ai/overview.md +++ b/docs/ai/overview.md @@ -51,6 +51,15 @@ Copilot is an AI coding assistant that integrates with editors and chats to help - Skills: Reusable knowledge or workflows the assistant can apply. - Tokens: The usage units that track AI consumption. +## Instructions (Repo Rules) +Instructions are repo-scoped rule files that auto-apply based on file patterns. They set coding or documentation standards the assistant must follow when editing matching files. + +Where they live: +- The repo-level instructions directory (for example, [instructions/](../../instructions/)) +- Editor or org-level instruction files when configured by your team + +Instructions are always-on defaults. Agents and skills are optional and only used when you explicitly invoke them. + ## Agents vs Skills (Where They Live) Agents are full personas or modes (for example, Task Researcher) that control how the assistant behaves end-to-end. Skills are focused, reusable workflows (for example, webapp-testing) that the assistant can load for a specific task.