BMAD-METHOD/docs/agentic-tools/vs-code-copilot-guide.md

BMAD Method Guide for Visual Studio Code

This guide covers the setup and usage of the BMAD Method in Visual Studio Code. For the complete workflow, see the BMAD Workflow Guide.

Installation

When running npx bmad-method install, select Visual Studio Code as your IDE. This command will perform the following actions:

• Create the .bmad-core/ directory with all the agent rule files.

• Create the .vscode/ directory and add a settings.json file with the basic configuration to enable GitHub Copilot's agent mode.

Using BMAD Agents in VS Code

1. In the GitHub Copilot Chat window, select Agent from the chat mode dropdown list (usually located next to the input field).

2. Once in Agent Mode, type @ and the agent's name in the chat input to activate it:

• @bmad-master - Universal task executor

• @sm - Scrum Master

• @dev - Full-stack developer

• @architect - Solution architect

• @pm - Product manager

• @analyst - Business analyst

• @qa - QA specialist

• @po - Product owner

• @ux-expert - UX specialist

VS Code Specific Features

• Dynamic Configuration: When you first invoke an agent (e.g., @dev), VS Code will automatically update .vscode/settings.json by adding the configuration for that chat mode.

• Activation: Use the @ prefix in the GitHub Copilot Chat for instant switching between agents.

• Collaboration: Fully compatible with Live Share, allowing you, your team, and BMAD agents to work together in real-time.

• Project Context: Agents have full access to your workspace, including open files and the selected code.

Tips for VS Code Users

• Use the help command (e.g., @dev help) to see the available commands for each agent.

• Use @workspace in the Copilot Chat to ask questions about your entire project.

• Consider adding .vscode/ and .bmad-core/ to your .gitignore file in team projects to avoid conflicts with personal settings.