copilot-spaces

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---
name: copilot-spaces
description: 'Use Copilot Spaces to provide project-specific context to conversations. Use this skill when users mention a "Copilot space", want to load context from a shared knowledge base, discover available spaces, or ask questions grounded in curated project documentation, code, and instructions.'
---

# Copilot Spaces

Use Copilot Spaces to bring curated, project-specific context into conversations. A Space is a shared collection of repositories, files, documentation, and instructions that grounds Copilot responses in your team's actual code and knowledge.

## Available Tools

### MCP Tools (Read-only)

| Tool | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `mcp__github__list_copilot_spaces` | List all spaces accessible to the current user |
| `mcp__github__get_copilot_space` | Load a space's full context by owner and name |

### REST API via `gh api` (Full CRUD)

The Spaces REST API supports creating, updating, deleting spaces, and managing collaborators. The MCP server only exposes read operations, so use `gh api` for writes.

**User Spaces:**

| Method | Endpoint | Purpose |
|--------|----------|---------|
| `POST` | `/users/{username}/copilot-spaces` | Create a space |
| `GET` | `/users/{username}/copilot-spaces` | List spaces |
| `GET` | `/users/{username}/copilot-spaces/{number}` | Get a space |
| `PUT` | `/users/{username}/copilot-spaces/{number}` | Update a space |
| `DELETE` | `/users/{username}/copilot-spaces/{number}` | Delete a space |

**Organization Spaces:** Same pattern under `/orgs/{org}/copilot-spaces/...`

**Collaborators:** Add, list, update, and remove collaborators at `.../collaborators`

**Scope requirements:** PAT needs `read:user` for reads, `user` for writes. Add with `gh auth refresh -h github.com -s user`.

**Note:** This API is functional but not yet in the public REST API docs. It may require the `copilot_spaces_api` feature flag.

## When to Use Spaces

- User mentions "Copilot space" or asks to "load a space"
- User wants answers grounded in specific project docs, code, or standards
- User asks "what spaces are available?" or "find a space for X"
- User needs onboarding context, architecture docs, or team-specific guidance
- User wants to follow a structured workflow defined in a Space (templates, checklists, multi-step processes)

## Workflow

### 1. Discover Spaces

When a user asks what spaces are available or you need to find the right space:

```
Call mcp__github__list_copilot_spaces
```

This returns all spaces the user can access, each with a `name` and `owner_login`. Present relevant matches to the user.

To filter for a specific user's spaces, match `owner_login` against the username (e.g., "show me my spaces").

### 2. Load a Space

When a user names a specific space or you've identified the right one:

```
Call mcp__github__get_copilot_space with:
  owner: "org-or-user"    (the owner_login from the list)
  name: "Space Name"      (exact space name, case-sensitive)
```

This returns the space's full content: attached documentation, code context, custom instructions, and any other curated materials. Use this context to inform your responses.

### 3. Follow the Breadcrumbs

Space content often references external resources: GitHub issues, dashboards, repos, discussions, or other tools. Proactively fetch these using other MCP tools to gather complete context. For example:
- A space references an initiative tracking issue. Use `issue_read` to get the latest comments.
- A space links to a project board. Use project tools to check current status.
- A space mentions a repo's masterplan. Use `get_file_contents` to read it.

### 4. Answer or Execute

Once loaded, use the space content based on what it contains:

**If the space contains reference material** (docs, code, standards):
- Answer questions about the project's architecture, patterns, or standards
- Generate code that follows the team's conventions
- Debug issues using project-specific knowledge

**If the space contains w