Copilot customization workshop

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03 — Build and exercise a skill ​

Goal and starting workspace ​

  • Author, after 02. Create a reusable procedure before packaging it.
  • Canonical source is .github/skills/api-change-workflow/, not a copied package directory.

Build it yourself ​

  1. Create SKILL.md with name: api-change-workflow and a one-line discovery description.
  2. Describe trigger, inputs, planning/approved implementation/review stages, human stop conditions and evidence.
  3. Create and link references/review-checklist.md; keep detailed edge cases there.
  4. Invoke a planning request and a review-only request without implementing search.
  5. Add one missed boundary case, such as duplicate blank q, to the checklist; reload and demonstrate changed behavior.
  6. Do not add broad shell preapproval or automatic publish/install steps.

Inspect the example ​

  • Browse examples branch.
  • Complete two-file skill; personalize a rule and demonstrate its effect instead of merely reading it.

Bring in this step ​

sh
npm run lab:example -- --step 03-skill --preview
npm run lab:example -- --step 03-skill --stage
npm run lab:example -- --step 03-skill --apply
  • Requires reviewed prompt/guidance. Import does not invoke the skill.

If you already changed these files ​

  • Retain your procedure; stage references and manually merge. Source personalization is expected.
  • When 05 later updates the sample, different authored content remains protected even after a commit. Recovery.

Client steps ​

VS Code ​

  • Inspect native skills discovery for api-change-workflow and its project path.
  • Request it for planning, then for review; inspect actual loading/invocation indicators where available.
  • Reload the window after revision if needed. Similar-looking output alone is not loading proof.

Copilot CLI ​

  • /skills reload, then /skills info; select/inspect api-change-workflow using this build's supported interface.
  • Request: “Use api-change-workflow to plan the approved search task; stop for approval.”
  • Reinvoke for review, modify the checklist, reload, and record source plus behavior change.

Copilot app ​

  • Inspect Customize Skills for the author project and confirm the canonical project source.
  • Invoke the named procedure, inspect any loading/source evidence, revise and start/refresh session as needed.
  • If skill loading cannot be observed, explicitly read its procedure as a manual walkthrough, not a native skill success.

Verify the result ​

  • npm run verify:exercise -- --step 03-skill validates required frontmatter/reference/boundaries.
  • npm test; search remains 501. Retain planning/review invocations and changed-rule evidence.
  • Recovery: fix missing reference/frontmatter, reload and reinvoke; do not equate validator success with discovery.
  • Next: 04 — Plugin.