# GitHub Copilot Harness -- References

> Last updated: 2026-04-02

## Custom Agents

- [About custom agents](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/coding-agent/about-custom-agents) -- GitHub Docs
- [Creating custom agents for Copilot cloud agent](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/create-custom-agents) -- GitHub Docs
- [Custom agents configuration reference](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/custom-agents-configuration) -- GitHub Docs
- [Custom agents in VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/custom-agents) -- VS Code Docs
- [Your first custom agent tutorial](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/tutorials/customization-library/custom-agents/your-first-custom-agent) -- GitHub Docs
- [Use custom agents in Visual Studio](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/copilot-specialized-agents?view=visualstudio) -- Microsoft Learn
- [Subagents in VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/agents/subagents) -- VS Code Docs

## Agent Skills

- [About agent skills](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/about-agent-skills) -- GitHub Docs
- [Creating agent skills for GitHub Copilot](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/create-skills) -- GitHub Docs
- [Creating agent skills for GitHub Copilot CLI](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/create-skills) -- GitHub Docs
- [Use Agent Skills in VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/agent-skills) -- VS Code Docs
- [GitHub Copilot now supports Agent Skills (changelog)](https://github.blog/changelog/2025-12-18-github-copilot-now-supports-agent-skills/) -- GitHub Blog, 2025-12-18
- [Agent Skills open standard](https://agentskills.io) -- agentskills.io

## Hooks

- [About hooks](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/coding-agent/about-hooks) -- GitHub Docs
- [Hooks configuration reference](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/hooks-configuration) -- GitHub Docs
- [Using hooks with GitHub Copilot agents](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/use-hooks) -- GitHub Docs
- [Using hooks with GitHub Copilot CLI](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/use-hooks) -- GitHub Docs
- [Agent hooks in VS Code (Preview)](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/hooks) -- VS Code Docs
- [Copilot CLI hooks tutorial](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/tutorials/copilot-cli-hooks) -- GitHub Docs

## MCP (Model Context Protocol)

- [Extending Copilot Chat with MCP servers](https://docs.github.com/copilot/customizing-copilot/using-model-context-protocol/extending-copilot-chat-with-mcp) -- GitHub Docs
- [Extending Copilot cloud agent with MCP](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/extend-coding-agent-with-mcp) -- GitHub Docs
- [Adding MCP servers for Copilot CLI](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/customize-copilot/add-mcp-servers) -- GitHub Docs
- [Using the GitHub MCP Server](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/provide-context/use-mcp/use-the-github-mcp-server) -- GitHub Docs
- [Setting up the GitHub MCP Server](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/provide-context/use-mcp/set-up-the-github-mcp-server) -- GitHub Docs
- [Configure MCP server access for your organization](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-mcp-usage/configure-mcp-server-access) -- GitHub Docs
- [Configure an MCP registry](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/administer-copilot/manage-mcp-usage/configure-mcp-registry) -- GitHub Docs
- [MCP allowlist enforcement](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/reference/mcp-allowlist-enforcement) -- GitHub Docs
- [MCP registry and allowlist controls for JetBrains, Eclipse, and Xcode (changelog)](https://github.blog/changelog/2025-10-28-mcp-registry-and-allowlist-controls-for-copilot-in-jetbrains-eclipse-and-xcode-now-in-public-preview/) -- GitHub Blog, 2025-10-28

## Custom Instructions

- [Adding repository custom instructions](https://docs.github.com/copilot/customizing-copilot/adding-custom-instructions-for-github-copilot) -- GitHub Docs
- [Use custom instructions in VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/custom-instructions) -- VS Code Docs
- [Adding custom instructions for Copilot CLI](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/copilot-cli/add-custom-instructions) -- GitHub Docs
- [Your first custom instructions tutorial](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/tutorials/customization-library/custom-instructions/your-first-custom-instructions) -- GitHub Docs
- [Copilot coding agent supports AGENTS.md (changelog)](https://github.blog/changelog/2025-08-28-copilot-coding-agent-now-supports-agents-md-custom-instructions/) -- GitHub Blog, 2025-08-28
- [Agent-specific instructions support (changelog)](https://github.blog/changelog/2025-11-12-copilot-code-review-and-coding-agent-now-support-agent-specific-instructions/) -- GitHub Blog, 2025-11-12

## Cloud Coding Agent

- [About GitHub Copilot cloud agent](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/coding-agent/about-coding-agent) -- GitHub Docs
- [Customizing the development environment](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-agents/coding-agent/customize-the-agent-environment) -- GitHub Docs
- [Managing access to cloud agent](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/concepts/agents/coding-agent/access-management) -- GitHub Docs
- [Best practices for using Copilot on tasks](https://docs.github.com/copilot/how-tos/agents/copilot-coding-agent/best-practices-for-using-copilot-to-work-on-tasks) -- GitHub Docs
- [Piloting Copilot coding agent in your organization](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/tutorials/coding-agent/pilot-coding-agent) -- GitHub Docs
- [Onboarding your AI peer programmer (blog)](https://github.blog/ai-and-ml/github-copilot/onboarding-your-ai-peer-programmer-setting-up-github-copilot-coding-agent-for-success/) -- GitHub Blog

## Copilot CLI

- [About GitHub Copilot CLI](https://docs.github.com/copilot/concepts/agents/about-copilot-cli) -- GitHub Docs
- [GitHub Copilot CLI repository](https://github.com/github/copilot-cli) -- GitHub
- [Enhanced agents, context management (changelog)](https://github.blog/changelog/2026-01-14-github-copilot-cli-enhanced-agents-context-management-and-new-ways-to-install/) -- GitHub Blog, 2026-01-14
- [Copilot CLI reaches GA](https://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2026/03/02/github-copilot-cli-reaches-general-availability-bringing-agentic-coding-to-the-terminal.aspx) -- Visual Studio Magazine, 2026-03-02
- [Major agentic capabilities for JetBrains (changelog)](https://github.blog/changelog/2026-03-11-major-agentic-capabilities-improvements-in-github-copilot-for-jetbrains-ides/) -- GitHub Blog, 2026-03-11

## Deprecated Extensions

- [Sunset notice: GitHub App-based Copilot Extensions (changelog)](https://github.blog/changelog/2025-09-24-deprecate-github-copilot-extensions-github-apps/) -- GitHub Blog, 2025-09-24
- [Setting up GitHub Copilot Extensions (historical)](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/how-tos/use-copilot-extensions/set-up-copilot-extensions?tool=skillsets) -- GitHub Docs

## General

- [GitHub Copilot features overview](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/get-started/features) -- GitHub Docs
- [GitHub Copilot product page](https://github.com/features/copilot) -- GitHub
- [awesome-copilot community repository](https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot) -- GitHub
- [November 2025 Copilot Roundup](https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/180828) -- GitHub Community
- [December 2025 Copilot Roundup](https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/183537) -- GitHub Community
