Guide · Open source
How to use awesome-copilot: install plugins and browse agents
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
Awesome GitHub Copilot is a community-created collection of custom agents, instructions, skills, hooks, workflows, and plugins for GitHub Copilot. This guide explains where to find those resources, how to install a plugin from the Awesome Copilot marketplace, and how to review third-party content before you use it. It is written for people who already use GitHub Copilot in the Copilot CLI or VS Code.
Awesome GitHub Copilotgithub/awesome-copilot · ★ 40.7k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Install GitHub Copilot. Make sure you have the GitHub Copilot CLI or VS Code with Copilot available.
- 2Browse the collection. Search agents, instructions, skills and plugins on awesome-copilot.github.com.
- 3Pick a plugin. Choose a plugin bundle that matches a workflow you already use.
- 4Review the contents. Inspect the agent or plugin and its documentation, since entries come from third-party developers.
- 5Install the plugin. Run copilot plugin install <plugin-name>@awesome-copilot in your terminal.
- 6Register the marketplace if needed. On an older CLI or custom setup, run copilot plugin marketplace add github/awesome-copilot once, then install.
What is in the awesome-copilot collection?
The repository groups its resources into five categories: agents, instructions, skills, plugins, and a cookbook. Agents are specialized Copilot agents that integrate with MCP servers. Instructions are coding standards applied automatically by file pattern. Skills are self-contained folders with instructions and bundled assets. Plugins are curated bundles of agents and skills for specific workflows.
The cookbook contains copy-paste-ready recipes for working with Copilot APIs.
- Agents: specialized Copilot agents that work with MCP servers
- Instructions: coding standards applied by file pattern
- Skills: folders with instructions and bundled assets
- Plugins: bundles of agents and skills for specific workflows
- Cookbook: recipes for working with Copilot APIs
How do you browse the collection?
The easiest way to explore is the project website at awesome-copilot.github.com. It offers full-text search and filtering across hundreds of resources. You can also read the docs in the repo, such as the agents, instructions, skills, and plugins reference files.
The website also hosts the Learning Hub, which contains curated articles and walkthroughs on agents, skills, instructions, hooks, agentic workflows, MCP servers, and the Copilot coding agent.
How do you install a plugin?
For most users, the Awesome Copilot marketplace is already registered in the Copilot CLI or VS Code, so you can install a plugin directly. Replace <plugin-name> with the plugin you chose.
If you are using an older Copilot CLI version or a custom setup and see an error that the marketplace is unknown, register it once and then install the plugin.
- Prerequisite: GitHub Copilot CLI or VS Code with Copilot
copilot plugin install <plugin-name>@awesome-copilot
copilot plugin marketplace add github/awesome-copilot
copilot plugin install <plugin-name>@awesome-copilotHow should you review third-party content before using it?
The README states that the customizations come from third-party developers. Inspect any agent and its documentation before installing it. This matters most for agents and plugins, since they change how Copilot behaves in your project.
Contributor guidance lives in CONTRIBUTING.md, and AGENTS.md contains guidance for AI agents. The repo also includes a SECURITY.md file.
- Read the agent or instruction files and their documentation
- Check what a plugin bundles before installing it
- Use items that fit your workflow rather than installing everything
How do you add a custom instruction or agent to your workflow?
Instructions apply automatically by file pattern, so a shared coding standard can reach every matching file once it is in place. Agents can be chosen for specialized tasks. Pick the items that match your project, then add them to your setup as their documentation describes.
What people use it for
- Install a curated plugin bundle of agents and skills for a specific workflow
- Apply shared coding standards automatically by file pattern using instructions
- Learn how Copilot customization works through the Learning Hub
- Pull in a specialized agent that integrates with MCP servers
Frequently asked questions
Is awesome-copilot free?
The repository is published under the MIT licence, according to the project information. Individual community items may have their own terms, so check each one before use.
What do I need to use awesome-copilot?
The resources are built for GitHub Copilot. You need the GitHub Copilot CLI or VS Code with Copilot to install plugins from the Awesome Copilot marketplace.
How do I install a plugin from awesome-copilot?
Run copilot plugin install <plugin-name>@awesome-copilot. If you use an older CLI or a custom setup and get an unknown marketplace error, first run copilot plugin marketplace add github/awesome-copilot.
Is awesome-copilot safe to use?
The README says the customizations come from third-party developers and should be inspected before installing. Read any agent and its documentation before you add it to your project.
Can I use awesome-copilot without GitHub Copilot?
No. The resources are designed for GitHub Copilot, so they are not useful without it.
Are there alternatives to awesome-copilot?
The README does not name comparable projects. You can still browse the official website and the Learning Hub to find other resources for customizing Copilot.
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Our verdict
Awesome Copilot suits developers who already use GitHub Copilot and want ready-made agents, shared coding instructions, or curated plugin bundles. It is less suitable if you need vetted or audited code, since the entries come from third-party developers and must be inspected before you install them.
Install options & downloads