Guide · Agent skill
How to use the EditorConfig Generator agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The editorconfig skill is an agent skill that writes a .editorconfig file for your project. That file tells code editors how to handle indentation, line endings, character encoding and trailing spaces, so everyone working on the project gets the same style. This guide is for people who have never used an agent skill: it explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for it in plain language, and what to check before you save the result.
EditorConfig Generatorgithub/awesome-copilot · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip the skill. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. The folder should contain SKILL.md.
- 2Place the skill folder. Move the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or into .claude/skills/ in your project. Alternatively, upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps.
- 3Open your project. Start your agent in the project folder so it can look at the file types present.
- 4Make a request. Ask for an .editorconfig file and state your preferences, such as spaces and 2-space indentation.
- 5Read the explanation. Review the rule-by-rule explanation and note any conflicts the agent flagged.
- 6Save and commit. Save the content as .editorconfig at the project root and check it against your formatters.
What the editorconfig skill makes the agent do
An agent skill is a folder with a SKILL.md file that gives an AI agent specific instructions for one kind of task. This skill is for generating a .editorconfig file. The agent first looks at the project's file types to infer which languages and technologies are used, then applies your stated preferences, such as spaces instead of tabs and 2-space indentation.
The agent then writes a complete .editorconfig file and explains each rule and why it is there. The skill's own instructions say that where one of your requirements conflicts with a common best practice, the agent follows your requirement and notes the conflict. The skill only produces text for you to review and save. It does not run any scripts and does not use the network.
Install the editorconfig skill
You can install the skill in one of three places. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it so the skill folder (containing SKILL.md) sits in one of these locations:
- Personal skills: ~/.claude/skills/
- Project skills: .claude/skills/ inside your project folder
- Claude apps: upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Trigger the skill with a natural request
You do not need a special command. Describe what you want in plain language and mention an .editorconfig file. The agent uses the skill when your request matches its description, which is about generating a .editorconfig file based on project analysis and your preferences.
Give the agent your preferences in the same message. The skill's stated defaults for this copy are spaces rather than tabs and an indentation size of 2, so say so if you want something different.
- Create an .editorconfig for this repository. Use spaces, 2-space indentation.
- I keep mixing tabs and spaces across editors. Generate an .editorconfig for this project and explain each rule.
- Review my project files and write a baseline .editorconfig that my team can commit.
Review and save the output
The skill's output format has two parts: a single code block with the .editorconfig content, and a rule-by-rule explanation. Read the explanation before you save the file, because it tells you which rules are universal defaults and which came from your request.
Save the content as a file named .editorconfig at the root of your project. Check that the glob patterns match the file types you actually use, and that nothing overrides a formatter config you already rely on.
- Check that root = true is present so the search stops at the project root.
- Confirm the [*] rules suit every file type in the project.
- Look for any [*.md] override and keep it if your Markdown depends on trailing spaces.
Example of generated output
The skill's example output for a project using spaces with 2-space indentation looks like this. Your result will differ based on your project's files and preferences.
# .editorconfig
# Top-most EditorConfig file
root = true
[*]
indent_style = space
indent_size = 2
end_of_line = lf
charset = utf-8
trim_trailing_whitespace = true
insert_final_newline = true
[*.md]
trim_trailing_whitespace = falseWhat people use it for
- Starting a new repository with a consistent editor setup for all contributors.
- Ending mixed tabs and spaces or mixed line endings across editors on an existing team project.
- Writing a documented baseline config that new contributors can read and understand.
- Producing a starting point for a mixed-language project, using glob patterns for different file types.
Frequently asked questions
Is the editorconfig skill free?
The skill is published under the MIT licence, as listed on this page. Check the licence file in the source repository for the full terms.
What does the editorconfig skill require?
The skill lists no requirements, does not run scripts and does not use the network. It only generates text for you to review and save.
Where do I put the skill so the agent can find it?
Place the unzipped skill folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or .claude/skills/ inside a project. You can also upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Will this overwrite my existing .editorconfig?
The skill does not write files itself. It produces text for you to save, so you decide. Projects that already have a tuned .editorconfig should review the output carefully, because the generated file may overwrite sensible existing rules.
Does it work with gofmt or black?
Not as a replacement. For projects with strict language-specific formatting, such as Go's gofmt or Python's black, the formatter's own config should take priority over a generated .editorconfig.
What should I use instead if I already have a tuned config?
Keep your existing .editorconfig and use the skill only on a new repository or as a reference. The source does not name other specific tools, so compare options yourself against your formatter needs.
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Our verdict
The editorconfig skill suits developers starting a new repository, teams mixing tabs, spaces or line endings, and maintainers who want an explained baseline for contributors. It is less useful for projects with a tuned .editorconfig or strict language formatters, where you should keep the existing config or let the formatter's own settings take priority.
Download the skill