CP-Ninja

A VS Code extension that enhances GitHub Copilot with structured, reusable skills - development workflows and best practices delivered through a chat participant.

Note: Skills are currently supported by VS Code Insiders - ref: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/agent-skills

Features

• 19 built-in skills for common development workflows
• Chat integration via @cp-ninja participant with slash commands
• Personal skills - create and manage custom workflows
• Skills Explorer - searchable sidebar with favorites, categories, and quick actions
• Interactive tutorial - onboarding guide for skills, agents, prompts, and instructions
• Git repository browser - import skills and resources from GitHub repositories
• Smart suggestions - context-aware skill recommendations based on file type and content
• Workspace profiles - project-specific skill configurations with auto-detection
• Status bar integration - quick access to commands and tutorial

Installation

From VS Code Marketplace:

1. Open Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X)
2. Search for "Copilot Ninja Skills"
3. Click Install

From VSIX:

code --install-extension cp-ninja-*.vsix

Development & Packaging

• Run the dev host: press F5 in VS Code Insiders. In .vscode/launch.json we enable the chatParticipantAdditions proposal by passing --enable-proposed-api copilot-ninja.cp-ninja, which is required for the @cp-ninja participant to appear in Copilot Chat.
• Build artifacts: npm run compile transpiles TypeScript into out/. Run npm run validate before committing to compile, lint, and test in one step.
• Create a VSIX: npx vsce package --allow-unused-files-pattern packages the extension (the flag suppresses vsce warnings about globs that point to build artifacts).
• Install the VSIX: In VS Code, open the Extensions view, click … → “Install from VSIX…” and pick the generated cp-ninja-*.vsix.

Quick Start

1. Launch tutorial: Click status bar @cp-ninja icon → "Show Tutorial"
2. Enable the participant: In VS Code Insiders open GitHub Copilot Chat, type @, and pick cp-ninja. If you’re developing locally, run the Extension Development Host with the launch configuration provided so --enable-proposed-api copilot-ninja.cp-ninja is set.
3. Activate a slash command: @cp-ninja /brainstorming, @cp-ninja /systematic-debugging, etc., to load the matching skill.
4. Browse skills: Open CP-Ninja sidebar from the activity bar or run CP-Ninja: Show Skills Quick Pick.

Chat Participant Usage

• Skills run entirely inside GitHub Copilot Chat. Start any conversation with @cp-ninja to access the participant.
• For Chat previews (VS Code Insiders), the launch configuration already includes --enable-proposed-api copilot-ninja.cp-ninja. If you build your own launch.json, add the same runtime argument or VS Code will reject the chat participant.
• Slash commands can be chained in a conversation. CP-Ninja also posts a bootstrap skill (using-cp-ninja) on the first turn to remind you of required workflows (brainstorming, TDD, etc.).
• If a slash command isn’t recognized, ensure your workspace trusts the extension and you’re running Insiders (chat participants are currently gated there).

Chat Participant Commands

Use @cp-ninja in GitHub Copilot Chat with these slash commands:

Command	When to Use
/brainstorming	Before creating features or components
/systematic-debugging	Complex bug investigation
/test-driven-development	Implementing with TDD workflow
/writing-plans	Creating implementation plans
/executing-plans	Executing step-by-step plans
/requesting-code-review	Preparing code for review
/receiving-code-review	Addressing review feedback
/subagent-driven-development	Parallel task execution
/dispatching-parallel-agents	Independent concurrent tasks
/verification-before-completion	Pre-completion quality check
/finishing-a-development-branch	Pre-merge cleanup
/using-git-worktrees	Isolated workspace setup
/technical-analysis	Comprehensive technical analysis
/switch-profile	Change development profile
/list-profiles	View available profiles

Core Skills

Skill	Purpose
brainstorming	Structured ideation for new features
systematic-debugging	Methodical bug investigation
test-driven-development	TDD workflow
subagent-driven-development	Parallel task execution
requesting-code-review	Prepare code review requests
receiving-code-review	Address review feedback
writing-plans	Create implementation plans
executing-plans	Step-by-step execution
verification-before-completion	Pre-completion checklist
finishing-a-development-branch	Pre-merge cleanup

View all skills →

Workspace Profiles

CP-Ninja automatically detects your project type and configures relevant skills:

Auto-detected profiles:

• frontend-development - React, Vue, Angular projects
• backend-api - Node.js, Express, Spring Boot APIs
• fullstack-development - Combined frontend/backend
• data-science - Python, Jupyter, ML projects
• mobile-development - React Native, Flutter
• devops - Infrastructure, CI/CD, containers

Manual profile switching:

1. Use @cp-ninja /switch-profile in chat
2. Run CP-Ninja: Configure Profile command
3. Set cpNinja.activeProfile in settings

Configuration

Skills and Suggestions:

{
  "cpNinja.personalSkillsDirectory": "~/Documents/my-skills",
  "cpNinja.enableSuggestions": true,
  "cpNinja.suggestionFrequency": "normal",
  "cpNinja.suggestionCooldown": 300,
  "cpNinja.favoriteSkills": ["brainstorming", "systematic-debugging"],
  "cpNinja.blacklistedSkills": []
}

Workspace Profiles:

{
  "cpNinja.enableAutoProfileDetection": true,
  "cpNinja.profileDetectionConfidenceThreshold": 0.6,
  "cpNinja.activeProfile": {
    "name": "frontend",
    "skills": ["test-driven-development"],
    "agents": ["technical-analysis"]
  },
  "cpNinja.workspaceProfiles": {
    "backend": {
      "favoriteSkills": ["systematic-debugging"],
      "agents": ["software-architect"]
    }
  }
}

Custom Shortcuts:

{
  "cpNinja.customShortcuts": {
    "ctrl+shift+b": "brainstorming",
    "ctrl+shift+d": "systematic-debugging"
  }
}

Commands

Command	Action
CP-Ninja: Show Tutorial	Launch interactive onboarding tutorial
CP-Ninja: Show Welcome Screen	Display welcome screen with setup
CP-Ninja: Show Skills Quick Pick	Quick skill selector and launcher
CP-Ninja: Search Skills	Search skills by name or description
CP-Ninja: Toggle Favorites View	Show/hide favorites in Skills Explorer
CP-Ninja: Add to Favorites	Add skill to favorites list
CP-Ninja: Remove from Favorites	Remove skill from favorites
CP-Ninja: Open Skill in Editor	Open skill file in VS Code editor
CP-Ninja: Browse Git Repository	Import resources from GitHub repos
CP-Ninja: Clear Repository History	Clear browsing history
CP-Ninja: Auto-Detect Project Profile	Detect and configure project type
CP-Ninja: Show Active Profile	View current profile configuration
CP-Ninja: Configure Profile	Customize workspace profile
CP-Ninja: Reset Onboarding	Reset first-run experience

Git Repository Browser

Import skills, prompts, agents, and instructions from any GitHub repository:

1. Click status bar icon → "Browse Git Repository"
2. Enter repository URL (e.g., owner/repo)
3. Browse repository structure
4. Select resources to import
5. Choose destination: Project (.github/) or User (profile folder)

Supported resource types:

• Skills: skills/*/SKILL.md
• Prompts: .github/prompts/*.md
• Instructions: .github/copilot-instructions.md
• Agents: Template files with agent definitions

Resource Locations

Project resources (workspace-specific, stored in .github/):

• Prompts: .github/prompts/
• Instructions: .github/copilot-instructions.md
• Agents: .github/prompts/

User resources (cross-workspace, available globally):

• Skills: ~/.cp-ninja/skills/
• Prompts: Platform-specific VS Code User folder:
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/prompts/
  • Windows: %APPDATA%/Code/User/prompts/
  • Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/prompts/

Skills Explorer

The sidebar provides powerful skill management:

Features:

• Search - Filter skills by name or description
• Favorites - Pin frequently used skills for quick access
• Categories - Browse skills by workflow type
• Quick actions - Open in editor, add to chat, copy to clipboard
• Context menu - Right-click for favorite management

Keyboard shortcuts:

• Click skill → Opens in editor
• Ctrl+Shift+P → Quick Pick launcher
• Search icon → Filter skills
• Star icon → Toggle favorites view

Creating Custom Skills

Directory structure:

~/.cp-ninja/skills/
  └── my-skill/
      └── SKILL.md

Skill template:

---
name: my-skill
description: Brief description of when to use this skill
---

# My Skill

## Overview
Detailed explanation of the skill's purpose.

## When to Use
- Use when [scenario 1]
- Use when [scenario 2]

## Process
1. Step one with clear instructions
2. Step two with expected outcomes
3. Step three with verification criteria

## Success Criteria
- [ ] Criterion 1
- [ ] Criterion 2

Personal skills directory:

• Default: ~/.cp-ninja/skills/
• Custom: Set cpNinja.personalSkillsDirectory
• Supports ~ and ${WORKSPACE} variables
• Auto-reloads on file changes

Creating via command:

1. Run CP-Ninja: Create Dynamic Skill (if available)
2. Or manually create directory structure above
3. Skills appear automatically in explorer

Smart Suggestions

CP-Ninja proactively suggests skills based on your work:

Suggestion triggers:

• Opening files with specific patterns (test files, bug reports)
• Detecting keywords (TODO, FIXME, BUG)
• File type and language detection
• Workspace analysis (frameworks, project structure)

Suggestion frequency settings:

• never - Disable all suggestions
• minimal - Only critical workflow suggestions
• normal - Balanced suggestion frequency (default)
• aggressive - Frequent contextual suggestions

Cooldown: Prevents suggestion spam (default: 300 seconds)

Development

git clone https://github.com/abudhahir/cp-ninja.git
cd cp-ninja
npm install
npm run compile

License

MIT License - see LICENSE

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Documentation: Installation | Skills vs Agents