GitHub Copilot Prompt for Organizing a Project
GitHub Copilot is not limited to code completion: it is a true project assistant capable of helping you structure, plan, and organize your entire development. Whether you are starting a new project from scratch or taking over an existing codebase, Copilot can generate coherent folder structures, propose naming conventions, create essential configuration files, and even draft a technical roadmap. By formulating the right prompt, you turn Copilot into a software architect that analyzes your needs, anticipates dependencies, and produces a ready-to-use project skeleton. This approach saves you hours of manual setup and ensures your project follows best practices from the first commit. On this page, you will find a main optimized prompt, variants adapted to your experience level, and answers to frequently asked questions about project organization with GitHub Copilot.
Paste in your AI
Paste this prompt in ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and customize the variables in brackets.
Act as a senior software architect. I am starting a new project [PROJECT_TYPE, e.g., SaaS web application] with the following technologies: [LIST_OF_TECHNOLOGIES, e.g., Next.js, TypeScript, PostgreSQL, Tailwind CSS]. Generate a complete project organization including: 1) Folder and file tree with explanations for each directory, 2) Essential configuration files (.gitignore, tsconfig.json, eslint, prettier), 3) A structured README.md with installation, development, and deployment sections, 4) Naming conventions for files, components, and variables, 5) A phased development plan with priorities, 6) Recommended dependencies with justification for each. The project must follow SOLID principles and favor long-term maintainability. Adapt the structure for a team of [NUMBER] developers.
Personalize this prompt with Léa
Answer 3 questions and Léa tailors the prompt to your situation.
Why this prompt works
This prompt works thanks to role attribution (senior architect) which guides Copilot toward expert responses, and the numbered list which forces a structured and exhaustive output. Mentioning specific technologies and constraints (SOLID, team size) anchors the response in a concrete context, avoiding generic suggestions.
Use Cases
Variants
Expected Output
Copilot generates a complete project tree with folders like src/, tests/, docs/, config/, accompanied by explanations for each structural choice. You also get pre-filled configuration files, a professional README, and a phased development plan. The result is directly usable to initialize your repository.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can GitHub Copilot really organize an entire project or is it limited to code?
GitHub Copilot excels beyond simple code completion. Through Copilot Chat, you can ask it to generate project trees, configuration files, READMEs, CI/CD workflows, and even development plans. It leverages millions of public repositories to suggest structures that follow the conventions of your chosen ecosystem. The key is to craft precise prompts that specify your technologies, constraints, and objectives.
How should I adapt the prompt if my project uses a monorepo with multiple services?
Specify the monorepo nature of your project in your prompt and list the services involved. For example, add: "The project is a monorepo managed with Turborepo containing: a REST API (Node.js), a frontend (React), a shared types library, and a worker service (Python). Propose a structure that optimizes code sharing and independent builds." Copilot will then adapt its response with workspaces, shared configurations, and cross-package dependencies.
Should I use Copilot Chat or inline suggestions to organize a project?
For project organization, use Copilot Chat (side panel or dedicated view) which allows conversational exchanges and long, structured responses. Inline suggestions are ideal for real-time code, but unsuitable for generating full project trees or plans. In Copilot Chat, you can iterate on the proposed structure by requesting specific adjustments without losing the conversation context.
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Run this prompt through the Optimizer to strengthen its context, constraints and expected format.
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- LéaAI
Pour tirer le meilleur de ce prompt, soyez très précis sur le type de projet et les technologies listées. Si vous voulez une structure plus opinée, ajoutez une phrase comme "privilégie l'architecture hexagonale" ou "intègre le pattern repository". Vous pouvez aussi demander à Copilot de justifier chaque choix avec des compromis techniques.
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