what-context-needed
- Use it when:
- You're about to ask a question about your code and want the agent to say first what it needs to read.
- It does:
- Lists the files it needs, sorted into must see, should see and already have, with why each one matters.
- You get:
- A Markdown list of files and what it's unsure about without them; you share them, then ask again.
- Unlike a direct answer:
- This one holds the answer until you've provided the files, instead of answering from whatever is already in the chat.
TL;DR
A short prompt, written for GitHub Copilot, that you call with your question. Instead of answering, the agent replies with the files it would need to examine to answer accurately: the ones it must see, the ones that would help, and the ones it has already seen earlier in the conversation, each with a reason. It ends with what it's uncertain about without the code. You then provide those files and ask your question again.
Summarizes the skill at 797337f.
npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill what-context-needed skills.sh pageSource on GitHubAll skills from github/awesome-copilot
- Total Downloads
- 8,900 on skills.sh, Nov 9, 2026
- Repo stars
- 40,943 github/awesome-copilot
- First seen
- Feb 25, 2026 on skills.sh
Weekly values
| Week to | Installs |
|---|---|
| Sep 21 | 10 |
| Sep 28 | 16 |
| Oct 5 | 18 |
| Oct 12 | 2 |
| Oct 19 | 2 |
| Oct 26 | 1 |
| Nov 2 | 3 |
| Nov 9 | 4 |
| Category |
Test-first work, implementation from specs, git hygiene and scope control. Everything for building software: planning, coding, debugging, design, frameworks, cloud, agents and skills. |
|---|---|
| Type |
A one-shot action you invoke by name, such as turning the conversation into a PRD. |
| Effect |
Adds no side effects of its own. It shapes how the agent thinks, writes or reviews. Guidelines and routers are always effect:none, even when the task they support edits code. |
| Needs |
Instructions only. Works in any agent that supports skills. |
| Publisher |
A verified publisher on skills.sh, or the company or maintainer behind the product the skill operates. |
| Topics |
SKILL.md
From github/awesome-copilot at 797337f. Checked daily, last changed Nov 6, 2026.
Frontmatter
name: what-context-needed
description: 'Ask Copilot what files it needs to see before answering a question'What Context Do You Need?
Before answering my question, tell me what files you need to see.
My Question
{{question}}
Instructions
- Based on my question, list the files you would need to examine
- Explain why each file is relevant
- Note any files you've already seen in this conversation
- Identify what you're uncertain about
Output Format
## Files I Need
### Must See (required for accurate answer)
- `path/to/file.ts` — [why needed]
### Should See (helpful for complete answer)
- `path/to/file.ts` — [why helpful]
### Already Have
- `path/to/file.ts` — [from earlier in conversation]
### Uncertainties
- [What I'm not sure about without seeing the code]
After I provide these files, I'll ask my question again.