In plain terms: Copilot only works as well as the setup around it—but that setup is usually scattered across files, machines, and habits. GitHub Copilot Toolbox is one dedicated Copilot Toolbox in VS Code: you can see what’s configured, standardize how teams move to Copilot (including from Cursor), and give Chat better context while each developer still chooses what to share.
For engineering teams, that means:
- Faster path from Cursor to Copilot — guided actions to port connections (MCP), rules, and scaffold a memory bank.
- Discover and add servers and skills from one hub — browse catalogs, see what’s already installed, fewer raw config edits.
- A single checklist view — workspace vs personal setup, local skill folders, rules, instructions, and memory bank so the repo matches what you think you shipped.
- Smarter context for Chat — structured “context packs” and readiness flows, with explicit choices so teams stay aligned on what Copilot is allowed to see.
Packaging: npm run package in this folder stages the monorepo root README (with GitHub URLs for screenshots) into this README.md for the .vsix, then restores this extension reference. Use npm run package:extension-readme-only only if you must package the file below as-is.
License: MIT · Marketplace ID: amitchorasiya.github-copilot-toolbox · npm package name: github-copilot-toolbox
Install: code --install-extension amitchorasiya.github-copilot-toolbox (when published) or install from a built .vsix.
Monorepo home: Github-Copilot-ToolBox — this folder is packages/github-copilot-toolbox/.
Table of contents
Overview
GitHub Copilot Toolbox adds Copilot Toolbox with:
- MCP & skills — Webview hub: Intelligence (default), MCP, Skills, Workspace (checklist + every toolbox command as searchable tiles).
- Workspace kit — Tree checklist for rules, memory bank,
copilot-instructions.md, mcp.json, wizard.
- Guide & tools — Tree of shortcuts to the same flows.
Command / setting prefix: GitHubCopilotToolBox.*.
VS Code resolves README images relative to this package folder. Screenshots live at the monorepo screenshots/ root, so embeds below use absolute raw.githubusercontent.com URLs (same as the published .vsix / Marketplace README).
Screenshots
What you get after install—real hub UI, not mockups. Captures are high-resolution (~2.5k width) for legible detail in the Marketplace and on GitHub.
Intelligence (hub): Port Cursor → Copilot (MCP, rules, memory bank), then broader bridges, context pack, readiness, MCP & Skills scan.
MCP: installed workspace/user servers and registry browse.
Skills: catalog (skills.sh) and local installed SKILL.md trees.
Workspace checklist and Intelligence hub (context hygiene).
Reference diagram (Mermaid export; not a live UI capture).
Open MCP & skills from the Copilot Toolbox activity bar. Same reference as the monorepo README; duplicated here for package-folder readers.
Main tabs (top)
| Tab |
Purpose |
| Intelligence |
Bridges, Context hygiene tiles, Context & readiness, auto-scan controls. Default tab. |
| MCP |
Browse registry or Installed workspace + user mcp.json servers. |
| Skills |
Browse skills.sh or Installed local SKILL.md folders under standard roots. |
| Workspace |
Workspace checklist and All toolbox commands (searchable tiles). |
Browse vs Installed (MCP and Skills)
| Sub-tab |
Purpose |
| Browse |
Remote catalog search; MCP → Browse shows an extra chip row. |
| Installed |
Filter/manage on-disk config and discovered skills. |
Auto-scan row (Intelligence only)
| Control |
What it does |
| Checkbox |
GitHubCopilotToolBox.intelligence.autoScanMcpSkillsOnWorkspaceOpen — on folder open: awareness report, hub refresh, merge MCP/skills block into .github/copilot-instructions.md; same merge when Scan now runs with this on. |
| Scan now |
Runs awareness + refresh now (and instructions merge when checkbox on). |
Search box
Hidden on Intelligence. Elsewhere: filters registry/skills results, installed servers/skills, or workspace command tiles.
MCP chips (MCP → Browse)
| Chip |
Action |
| Registry |
workbench.mcp.browseServers |
| Add server |
workbench.mcp.addConfiguration |
| List (native) |
workbench.mcp.listServer |
| Port Cursor → VS Code |
npx cursor MCP port bridge |
| @mcp registry |
Extension registry browse |
| Refresh |
Reload hub payload |
Intelligence → Context hygiene
| Tile |
Action |
| Snapshot |
Read-only MCP + instructions file stats. |
| Scan Copilot/MCP files |
Heuristic secret-shaped scan → Output. |
| Notepad → memory-bank |
Append session notepad into memory-bank/**/*.md. |
| New SKILL.md stub |
.github/skills/<name>/SKILL.md. |
| Verification checklist |
Multi-pick pre-ship checklist. |
| Bundled MCP recipe |
Merge sample server into .vscode/mcp.json. |
| Run first test task |
Run a tasks.json task (heuristic). |
Intelligence → Cursor → VS Code & Copilot
| Primary button |
Action |
| Run npx port |
Port Cursor mcp.json → VS Code. |
| GitHub |
Port CLI repo. |
| Run npx init |
Memory bank npx scaffold + instructions merge. |
| GitHub |
Memory bank repo. |
| Run converter |
Cursor rules → Copilot instruction files. |
| GitHub |
Converter repo. |
| Run migration |
.cursor/skills → .agents/skills. |
Intelligence → Context & readiness
| Button |
Action |
| Run scan |
MCP & Skills awareness markdown report. |
| Build pack |
Context pack for Chat (quick picks). |
| Run readiness |
Readiness markdown summary. |
| Open settings |
Intelligence-related settings. |
MCP → Browse / Installed
- Install / Load more on registry cards (Browse).
- Turn OFF / Turn ON / Remove / Edit mcp.json on installed server cards (stash behavior for OFF/ON; Remove clears stash/entry).
Skills → Browse / Installed
- Install (project) / Install (global) on catalog cards.
- Turn OFF / Turn ON / Delete… / Open SKILL.md / Reveal folder on installed skill cards.
Workspace
- Checklist: Run wizard, Open, Create / sync per row.
- All toolbox commands: grouped tiles (Intelligence, Chat & session, Rules & instructions, MCP bridges, Workspace setup, Docs & environment)—each tile runs the matching
GitHubCopilotToolBox.* command.
Legend for skill roots and MCP/skill Turn OFF semantics.
View title
Refresh on MCP & skills and Workspace kit views reloads state.
Requirements
| Requirement |
Notes |
| VS Code |
1.99+ (MCP + modern Copilot Chat) |
| GitHub Copilot |
Signed in; some flows need Agent + MCP tools UI |
| Node.js |
18+ for npx bridges (port MCP, memory bank, rules sync) |
| Git |
On PATH for Intelligence “include git” (Windows: git.exe) |
Features (at a glance)
- One hub for MCP + skills: Workspace and user
mcp.json, registry and skills.sh browse, Turn OFF stash for servers, hub-only hide for skills, Install flows without leaving VS Code.
- Intelligence that matches how teams work: Awareness report, context pack, readiness, config scan, notepad → memory-bank, bundled MCP recipes, verification—each available as a labeled button or tile.
- Cursor → Copilot bridges in the UI: Port MCP, init memory bank, sync rules, migrate skill folders—
npx behind primary buttons, GitHub links for source.
- Workspace kit tree: Same checklist targets (rules, memory bank, instructions,
mcp.json) with Open / Create / wizard.
- No false promises on skills: Local
SKILL.md trees are discovered and openable; the UI states clearly that Copilot does not auto-load arbitrary skill folders—use attachments, instructions, or MCP for live tools.
Every hub control is documented in MCP & skills hub: every tab, toggle, and button. Every command title appears under GitHub Copilot Toolbox: in the Command Palette.
Command palette
All commands are prefixed with GitHub Copilot Toolbox: in the palette. Examples:
Intelligence — scan MCP & Skills awareness (report)Intelligence — build context pack for Chat (copy)Port Cursor MCP → VS Code (npx)Open workspace mcp.json / Open user mcp.json
Search GitHub Copilot Toolbox or GitHubCopilotToolBox in Keyboard Shortcuts to rebind.
Settings
| Setting |
Purpose |
GitHubCopilotToolBox.npxTag |
Dist-tag or version for npx (default latest) |
GitHubCopilotToolBox.useInsidersPaths |
Resolve user mcp.json under VS Code Insiders |
GitHubCopilotToolBox.intelligence.includeGitByDefault / includeDiagnosticsByDefault |
Pre-select context pack options |
GitHubCopilotToolBox.intelligence.appendNotepadAfterPack / openChatAfterPack |
Pre-select follow-ups after pack |
GitHubCopilotToolBox.intelligence.autoScanMcpSkillsOnWorkspaceOpen |
After workspace opens (debounced): auto-open awareness, refresh hub, merge MCP/skills into .github/copilot-instructions.md; same merge when you run the scan with this enabled |
GitHubCopilotToolBox.translateWrapMultilineInFence |
Wrap multiline translation in a code fence |
Open filtered settings: Command Intelligence — open related settings → GitHubCopilotToolBox.intelligence.
Keybinding
- Ctrl+Alt+K (Windows/Linux) / Cmd+Alt+K (macOS) → Open inline chat (Cursor-style)
Do not steal VS Code’s Ctrl+K chord globally.
Companion npm packages
Develop & test
cd packages/github-copilot-toolbox # from monorepo root
npm install
npm run compile
npm test
- CI:
.github/workflows/extension-ci.yml — Ubuntu, Windows, macOS on changes under this package.
- Manual: F5 → Run Extension: GitHub Copilot Toolbox (
extensionDevelopmentPath = this folder).
Intelligence caveat: Pasted #file: lines may not attach like Add context; see docs/intelligence-verification.md.
Troubleshooting
| Issue |
What to try |
| MCP commands missing |
Update VS Code + Copilot; MCP UI differs by version. |
| Port / npx fails |
Install Node 18+, check network; set GitHubCopilotToolBox.npxTag if you need a pinned CLI version. |
| No skills listed |
Ensure a subfolder under a scanned root contains SKILL.md (not only loose files at the root). |
| Copilot “ignores” skills |
Expected — use awareness report + attach files or maintain .github/copilot-instructions.md. |
| Insiders vs stable user MCP |
Toggle GitHubCopilotToolBox.useInsidersPaths and reopen hub. |
| Auto-scan every startup |
Disable autoScanMcpSkillsOnWorkspaceOpen in settings or uncheck the Intelligence hub checkbox. |
Publishing
From this directory only:
npm run compile
npm run package # vsce package → .vsix
The LICENSE file is shipped in the VSIX. See the monorepo README for full publish notes.
Disclaimer
Independence and trademarks. GitHub Copilot Toolbox is independent software. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or maintained by Microsoft, GitHub, Cursor, OpenAI, Anthropic, or other vendors of products referenced in this README. Product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. For Microsoft’s VS Code naming and branding expectations, see Visual Studio Code brand guidelines.
MIT “AS IS”. This extension is licensed under the MIT License: provided without warranty, with limited liability—see the full license in the package and repository.
Not professional services. The extension and docs are not a security assessment, legal review, or substitute for your team’s own evaluation of MCP servers, skills, credentials, and AI usage.
Third parties and npx. Features may invoke npx (and other tooling), browse remote registries or catalogs, or modify files such as mcp.json and .github/copilot-instructions.md. npm packages, MCP servers, catalogs, and VS Code / Copilot behavior are outside this project’s control. Review terms, security, and suitability before you run or connect anything.
Your responsibility. You are responsible for backups, secrets hygiene, and complying with your policies and applicable law when using this extension.
License
MIT — Copyright (c) 2026 amitchorasiya.
