---
title: "Agent Skill to Lsp Setup"
platform: "Promptally"
canonical_url: "https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-lsp-setup"
modality: "SKILL"
category: "Fullstack & Backend Engineering"
compatible_models: [Universal / Model Agnostic]
access_tier: "Free Public Artifact (No Auth Required)"
license: "MIT"
---

# Agent Skill to Lsp Setup

**Summary:** Agent Skill to Lsp Setup is a verified SKILL blueprint on Promptally in Fullstack & Backend Engineering optimized for leading AI models. Enable code intelligence (go-to-definition, find-references, hover, type info) for any programming language by installing and configuring an LSP server for Copilot CLI. Detects the OS, installs the right server, and generates the JSON configuration (user-level or repo-level). Use when you need deeper code understanding and no LSP server is configured, or when the user asks to set up, install, or configure an LSP server. Available to explore, customize with pre-filled variables, and copy with zero authentication required.

## Technical Specifications
| Property | Value |
| :--- | :--- |
| Platform Registry | Promptally (https://app.promptally.dev) |
| Modality | SKILL |
| Category | Fullstack & Backend Engineering |
| Compatible Engines | Universal / Model Agnostic |
| Dynamic Variables | None (Static Blueprint) |
| Approx. Token Length | 1,080 |
| Access Tier | Free Public Artifact (No Auth Required) |
| License | MIT |

### Pre-Filled Template & Production Source

````md
---
name: lsp-setup
description: 'Enable code intelligence (go-to-definition, find-references, hover, type info) for any programming language by installing and configuring an LSP server for Copilot CLI. Detects the OS, installs the right server, and generates the JSON configuration (user-level or repo-level). Use when you need deeper code understanding and no LSP server is configured, or when the user asks to set up, install, or configure an LSP server.'
---

# LSP Setup for GitHub Copilot CLI

**UTILITY SKILL** — installs and configures Language Server Protocol servers for Copilot CLI.
USE FOR: "setup LSP", "install language server", "configure LSP for Java", "add TypeScript LSP", "enable code intelligence", "I need go-to-definition", "find references not working", "need better code understanding"
DO NOT USE FOR: general coding tasks, IDE/editor LSP configuration, non-Copilot-CLI setups

## Workflow

1. **Ask the language** — use `ask_user` to ask which programming language(s) the user wants LSP support for
2. **Detect the OS** — run `uname -s` (or check for Windows via `$env:OS` / `%OS%`) to determine macOS, Linux, or Windows
3. **Look up the LSP server** — read `references/lsp-servers.md` for known servers, install commands, and config snippets (for Java, also read `references/java-jdtls.md`)
4. **Ask scope** — use `ask_user` to ask whether the config should be user-level (`~/.copilot/lsp-config.json`) or repo-level (`.github/lsp.json`)
5. **Install the server** — run the appropriate install command for the detected OS
6. **Write the config** — merge the new server entry into the chosen config file (`~/.copilot/lsp-config.json` for user-level; `.github/lsp.json` for repo-level). Create the file if missing and preserve existing entries.
7. **Verify** — confirm the LSP binary is on `$PATH` and the config file is valid JSON

## Configuration Format

Copilot CLI reads LSP configuration from user-level or repo-level locations, and repo-level config takes precedence over user-level config:

- **User-level**: `~/.copilot/lsp-config.json`
- **Repo-level**: `.github/lsp.json` (a bare `lsp.json` at the repo root is not read: with Copilot CLI 1.0.95, `copilot lsp list` listed servers from `.github/lsp.json` but not from a root `lsp.json`)

The JSON structure:

```json
{
  "lspServers": {
    "<server-key>": {
      "command": "<binary>",
      "args": ["--stdio"],
      "fileExtensions": {
        ".<ext>": "<languageId>",
        ".<ext2>": "<languageId>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Key rules

- `command` is the binary name (must be on `$PATH`) or an absolute path.
- `args` almost always includes `"--stdio"` to use standard I/O transport.
- `fileExtensions` maps each file extension (with leading dot) to a [Language ID](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/identifiers#_known-language-identifiers).
- Multiple servers can coexist in `lspServers`.
- When merging into an existing file, **never overwrite** other server entries — only add or update the target language key.

## Behavior

- Always use `ask_user` with `choices` when asking the user to pick a language or scope.
- If the language is not listed in `references/lsp-servers.md`, search the web for "<language> LSP server" and guide the user through manual configuration.
- If a package manager is not available (e.g. no Homebrew on macOS), suggest alternative install methods from the reference file.
- After installation, run `which <binary>` (or `where.exe` on Windows) to confirm the binary is accessible.
- Show the user the final config JSON before writing it.
- If the config file already exists, read it first and merge — do not clobber.

## Verification

After setup, tell the user:

1. Type `/exit` to quit Copilot CLI — this is **required** so the new LSP configuration is loaded on next launch
2. Re-launch `copilot` in a project with files of the configured language
3. Run `/lsp` to check the server status
4. Try code intelligence features like go-to-definition or hover

## Java

For Java semantic navigation, prefer the `lsp` tool (`goToDefinition`, `findReferences`, `hover`, `incomingCalls`) over grep/view once a server is configured. LSP is optional for Java and is not a prerequisite for build or runtime diagnostics. See `references/java-jdtls.md` for setup details and troubleshooting.

````

## Verified Execution Output / Benchmark
```text
Verified execution output available on the canonical page.
```

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- [Agent Skill to Ck](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-ck)
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- [Agent Skill to Python Patterns](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-python-patterns)
- [Agent Skill to Docs Governance](https://app.promptally.dev/p/skill-docs-governance)