microsoft/hve-core
Publicmirrored fromhttps://github.com/microsoft/hve-coreAvailable
docs/customization/README.md
127lines · modecode
| 1 | --- |
| 2 | title: Customizing HVE Core |
| 3 | description: Overview of customization approaches from lightweight settings to full fork-and-extend, with role-based entry points |
| 4 | author: Microsoft |
| 5 | ms.date: 2026-03-10 |
| 6 | ms.topic: overview |
| 7 | keywords: |
| 8 | - customization |
| 9 | - github copilot |
| 10 | - hve-core |
| 11 | - configuration |
| 12 | estimated_reading_time: 5 |
| 13 | --- |
| 14 | |
| 15 | ## Before You Customize |
| 16 | |
| 17 | Your installation method determines which customization options are available. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | | Customization Level | Extension Only | Installer Skill (Clone) | Direct Clone | |
| 20 | |---------------------------|:--------------:|:-----------------------:|:------------:| |
| 21 | | VS Code Settings | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| 22 | | copilot-instructions.md | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| 23 | | .instructions.md files | ✅ (your repo) | ✅ | ✅ | |
| 24 | | Agent bundle selection | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| 25 | | Modify agents | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
| 26 | | Modify prompts and skills | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
| 27 | | Build system changes | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
| 28 | | Fork and extend | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | |
| 29 | |
| 30 | The [HVE Core extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ise-hve-essentials.hve-core) installs the flagship RPI workflow and core artifacts. For the complete library across all collections, use the [HVE Core - All extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ise-hve-essentials.hve-core-all). |
| 31 | For MCP auto-configuration, installation method guidance, or agent bundle selection, install the [HVE Core Installer](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ise-hve-essentials.hve-installer) extension and ask any agent \"help me customize hve-core installation\". |
| 32 | For full artifact modification, use a [clone-based installation method](../getting-started/methods/). |
| 33 | |
| 34 | ## Customization Spectrum |
| 35 | |
| 36 | HVE Core supports a range of customization depths. Start with the lightest option that meets your needs, then move deeper when the situation demands it. |
| 37 | |
| 38 | ```mermaid |
| 39 | graph LR |
| 40 | A["VS Code Settings"] --> B["Instructions"] |
| 41 | B --> C["Agents & Prompts"] |
| 42 | C --> D["Skills"] |
| 43 | D --> E["Collections"] |
| 44 | E --> F["Build System"] |
| 45 | F --> G["Fork & Extend"] |
| 46 | |
| 47 | style A fill:#e8f5e9 |
| 48 | style B fill:#c8e6c9 |
| 49 | style C fill:#a5d6a7 |
| 50 | style D fill:#81c784 |
| 51 | style E fill:#66bb6a |
| 52 | style F fill:#4caf50 |
| 53 | style G fill:#388e3c |
| 54 | ``` |
| 55 | |
| 56 | | Approach | Description | |
| 57 | |--------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |
| 58 | | VS Code Settings | Individual preferences like font size, theme, and editor behavior. No files to create or share. | |
| 59 | | Instructions | Configure Copilot behavior through `.github/copilot-instructions.md` and `.instructions.md` files. Lowest effort with highest return for shaping AI output. | |
| 60 | | Agents and Prompts | Specialized workflows: agents for multi-turn interactions, prompts for single-shot tasks. Both accept tool restrictions and delegation rules. | |
| 61 | | Skills | Domain knowledge in self-contained bundles with optional scripts. Use when instruction files alone cannot capture the depth of a domain. | |
| 62 | | Collections | Bundle agents, prompts, instructions, and skills into distributable packages for team or organization adoption. | |
| 63 | | Build System | Validation scripts, schema checks, and plugin generation pipelines. | |
| 64 | | Fork and Extend | Full control over every artifact. Fork the repository when your changes diverge significantly from upstream. | |
| 65 | |
| 66 | ## Choose Your Approach |
| 67 | |
| 68 | | Goal | Approach | Files Involved | Difficulty | |
| 69 | |--------------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------|------------| |
| 70 | | Set coding standards for Copilot | Instructions | `.github/copilot-instructions.md`, `.instructions.md` | Low | |
| 71 | | Create a reusable workflow | Prompt | `.github/prompts/{collection}/name.prompt.md` | Low | |
| 72 | | Build a specialized Copilot assistant | Agent | `.github/agents/{collection}/name.agent.md` | Medium | |
| 73 | | Package domain expertise | Skill | `.github/skills/{collection}/{skill}/SKILL.md` | Medium | |
| 74 | | Share curated bundles across teams | Collection | `collections/*.collection.yml` | Medium | |
| 75 | | Add custom validation or plugin generation | Build System | `scripts/`, `package.json` | High | |
| 76 | | Diverge from upstream entirely | Fork and Extend | Full repository | High | |
| 77 | |
| 78 | ## Authoring with Prompt Builder |
| 79 | |
| 80 | The [Prompt Builder](pathname://../../.github/agents/hve-core/prompt-builder.agent.md) agent streamlines creation, evaluation, and refinement of all artifact types. Three commands cover the full authoring workflow: |
| 81 | |
| 82 | | Command | Purpose | |
| 83 | |--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| |
| 84 | | `/prompt-build` | Create new artifacts or improve existing ones | |
| 85 | | `/prompt-analyze` | Evaluate quality and produce a structured assessment report | |
| 86 | | `/prompt-refactor` | Consolidate, deduplicate, or restructure related artifact files | |
| 87 | |
| 88 | Each artifact guide below includes an "Accelerating with Prompt Builder" section with type-specific examples and sample invocations. |
| 89 | |
| 90 | ## Role-Based Entry Points |
| 91 | |
| 92 | Each HVE role benefits from different customization techniques. The table below maps the nine roles to the guides most relevant to their workflow. |
| 93 | |
| 94 | | Role | Recommended Guides | Rationale | |
| 95 | |--------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |
| 96 | | Engineer | [Instructions](instructions.md), [Agents](custom-agents.md) | Coding standards and specialized review agents accelerate daily development | |
| 97 | | TPM | [Prompts](prompts.md), [Collections](collections.md) | Reusable planning prompts and curated bundles standardize project workflows | |
| 98 | | Tech Lead / Architect | [Instructions](instructions.md), [Agents](custom-agents.md), [Skills](skills.md) | Standards enforcement, architecture review agents, and deep domain knowledge | |
| 99 | | Security Architect | [Skills](skills.md), [Instructions](instructions.md) | Compliance knowledge packages and security-focused coding conventions | |
| 100 | | Data Scientist | [Skills](skills.md), [Prompts](prompts.md) | Analytical domain bundles and repeatable notebook workflows | |
| 101 | | SRE / Operations | [Instructions](instructions.md), [Environment](environment.md) | Infrastructure conventions and DevContainer tuning | |
| 102 | | Business Program Manager | [Prompts](prompts.md), [Team Adoption](team-adoption.md) | Sprint-planning prompts and governance patterns for stakeholder alignment | |
| 103 | | New Contributor | [Instructions](instructions.md), [Environment](environment.md) | Quick onboarding through conventions and a ready-to-use development environment | |
| 104 | | Utility | [Collections](collections.md), [Build System](build-system.md) | Cross-cutting tooling assembly and validation pipeline customization | |
| 105 | |
| 106 | ## File Index |
| 107 | |
| 108 | 1. [Customizing with Instructions](instructions.md): Configure Copilot with `copilot-instructions.md` and instruction files |
| 109 | 2. [Creating Custom Agents](custom-agents.md): Build specialized agents with tool restrictions and subagent delegation |
| 110 | 3. [Creating Custom Prompts](prompts.md): Author reusable prompt templates with variables |
| 111 | 4. [Authoring Custom Skills](skills.md): Create domain knowledge packages |
| 112 | 5. [Managing Collections](collections.md): Bundle artifacts into distributable packages |
| 113 | 6. [Build System and Validation](build-system.md): Plugin generation, schema validation, npm scripts |
| 114 | 7. [Forking and Extending](forking.md): Full fork-and-extend customization |
| 115 | 8. [Environment Customization](environment.md): DevContainers, VS Code settings, MCP servers |
| 116 | 9. [Team Adoption and Governance](team-adoption.md): Governance, naming, onboarding, change management |
| 117 | |
| 118 | ## Related Resources |
| 119 | |
| 120 | * [Contributing Guides](../contributing/): Detailed syntax references and contribution standards for each artifact type |
| 121 | * [Getting Started](../getting-started/): Installation and first workflow guides |
| 122 | * [Architecture](../architecture/): Technical architecture overview and design decisions |
| 123 | |
| 124 | <!-- markdownlint-disable MD036 --> |
| 125 | *🤖 Crafted with precision by ✨Copilot following brilliant human instruction, |
| 126 | then carefully refined by our team of discerning human reviewers.* |
| 127 | <!-- markdownlint-enable MD036 --> |
| 128 | |