GitHub Copilot custom instructions alternatives

.github/copilot-instructions.md (repo-wide) plus .github/instructions/*.instructions.md path-scoped via applyTo glob (optional excludeAgent); Copilot agents also honor AGENTS.md (nearest in tree) or a root CLAUDE.md/GEMINI.md. Full GitHub Copilot custom instructions record →

  1. 1 AGENTS.md File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ✓ Self-host ✓ Managed ? MCP ? ★ 25k MIT Compare with GitHub Copilot custom instructions →

  2. 2 CLAUDE.md File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ? Compare with GitHub Copilot custom instructions →

  3. 3 Aider CONVENTIONS.md / .aider.conf.yml File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ? Compare with GitHub Copilot custom instructions →

  4. 4 Cline .clinerules File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with GitHub Copilot custom instructions →

  5. 5 Cline Memory Bank File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with GitHub Copilot custom instructions →

  6. 6 Replit replit.md File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with GitHub Copilot custom instructions →

  7. 7 Zed .rules File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same conflict handling (manual) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with GitHub Copilot custom instructions →

  8. 8 Cursor Rules File-backed / editor paradigms

    also in File-backed / editor paradigms · same storage (file) · same retrieval (injection) · same memory unit (document)

    OSS ? Self-host ? Managed ? MCP ✓ Compare with GitHub Copilot custom instructions →

Ranked by shared memory design (storage, retrieval, conflict handling, memory unit), same section and shared must-haves (open source, self-hosting, MCP), with adoption as a tie-breaker. ✓ confirmed · — no · ? not in the catalog yet. Want picks for your own requirements? Use the chooser. Checking a whole project? Check your stack.