Context Engineering

id: context-engineering

name: Context Engineering

description: Tools and techniques for maximizing GitHub Copilot effectiveness through better context management. Includes guidelines for structuring code, an agent for planning multi-file changes, and prompts for context-aware development.

tags: [context, productivity, refactoring, best-practices, architecture]

items:

- path: instructions/context-engineering.instructions.md

kind: instruction

- path: agents/context-architect.agent.md

kind: agent

usage: |

recommended

The Context Architect agent helps plan multi-file changes by mapping dependencies

and identifying all relevant files before making modifications.

Use this agent when:

- Planning refactors that span multiple files

- Adding features that touch several modules

- Investigating unfamiliar parts of the codebase

Example usage:

@context-architect I need to add rate limiting to all API endpoints.

      What files are involved and what's the best approach?

For best results:

- Describe the high-level goal, not just the immediate task

- Let the agent search before you provide files

- Review the context map before approving changes

- path: skills/context-engineering/SKILL.md

kind: skill

usage: |

recommended

The Context Engineering skill provides domain expertise for token budgeting,

context window management, caching optimization, and agent orchestration patterns.

Use this skill when:

- Planning multi-file changes that need context budgeting

- Optimizing prompts or instructions for token efficiency

- Designing agent workflows with subagents

- Diagnosing context rot in long sessions

Invoke via slash command:

/context-engineering How should I structure my agent orchestration?

- path: prompts/context-map.prompt.md

kind: prompt

usage: |

optional

Use before any significant change to understand the blast radius.

Produces a structured map of files, dependencies, and tests.

- path: prompts/what-context-needed.prompt.md

kind: prompt

usage: |

optional

Use when Copilot gives a generic or incorrect answer.

Asks Copilot to explicitly list what files it needs to see.

- path: prompts/refactor-plan.prompt.md

kind: prompt

usage: |

optional

Use for multi-file refactors. Produces a phased plan with

verification steps and rollback procedures.

display:

ordering: manual

show_badge: true