microsoft · walbourn · Jun 3, 2026 · Jun 3, 2026 · Jun 3, 2026 · Jun 3, 2026
diff --git a/.github/copilot-instructions.md b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ These instructions define how GitHub Copilot should assist with this project. Th
 
 ## File Structure
 
-```txt
+```plaintext
 .azuredevops/ # Azure DevOps pipeline configuration and policy files.
 .github/      # GitHub Actions workflow files and linter configuration files.
 .nuget/       # NuGet package configuration files.
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ Audio/        # DirectX Tool Kit for Audio implementation files.
 Inc/          # Public header files.
 Src/          # Implementation header and source files.
   Shaders/    # HLSL shader files.
+skills/       # Published CoPilot skills for use by developers.
 Tests/        # Tests are designed to be cloned from a separate repository at this location.
 wiki/         # Local clone of the GitHub wiki documentation repository.
 ```
@@ -330,25 +331,4 @@ When reviewing documentation, do the following:
 
 ## Release Process
 
-1. Ensure all changes are merged into the `main` branch and that all tests pass.
-2. Git pull the local repository to ensure it is up to date with the `main` branch.
-3. Run the PowerShell script `build\preparerelease.ps1` which will generate a topic branch for the release, update the version number in `CMakeLists.txt`, the `README.md` file, the release notes in the nuspec files, and create a stub in the `CHANGELOG.md` file for the new release.
-4. Edit the `CHANGELOG.md` file to update it with a summary of changes.
-5. Submit the topic branch for review and merge into `main` once approved. Allow the GitHub Actions workflows and the Azure DevOps pipelines to complete successfully before proceeding.
-6. Run the PowerShell script `build\completerelease.ps1` which will set a tag on the project repo and the test repo, and create a release on GitHub with the release notes from `CHANGELOG.md`. Ensure you have set up GPG signing for your GitHub account so that the tags will be verified.
-7. Git pull the local repository to ensure it is up to date with the `main` branch. Be sure to include `--tags`.
-8. Push the `main` branch to the MSCodeHub mirror repository. Be sure to include `--tags`.
-9. Create a PR on MSCodeHub from the `main` branch to the `release` branch.
-10. Merge the PR on MSCodeHub to update the release branch, which will trigger the Azure DevOps pipeline to build the NuGet packages.
-11. Edit the GitHub release and upload the signed binaries from the matching DirectXTK release to the release assets.
-12. Download the GitHub source .zip archive from the release. Unzip and compare to the local repo to ensure it matches — keep in mind there may be some CR/LF differences. Run minisign on the .zip to generate a signature file, and upload the signature file to the release assets.
-13. Validate the NuGet packages with <https://github.com/walbourn/directxtk-tutorials> by pushing the NuGet packages to a local Packages Source folder, and refreshing the NuGet packages from that folder. Then build using BuildAllSolutions.targets.
-14. Run the PowerShell script `build\promotenuget.ps1` with the `-Release` parameter to promote the version to the Release view on the project-scoped ADO feed.
-15. Run the MSCodeHub pipeline to publish the NuGet packages to nuget.org. The pipeline will automatically push the most recent package promoted to the Release view to nuget.org.
-16. Git pull a local repository of VCPKG to `d:\vcpkg` in sync with the `main` branch of the VCPKG repository.
-17. Run the PowerShell script `build\updatevcpkg.ps1` to update the DirectXTK12 port in VCPKG with the new release version. This will edit the files in `ports\directxtk12`.
-18. Test the VCPKG port using all appropriate triplets and features.
-19. Run `.\vcpkg --x-add-version directxtk12` to update the VCPKG versioning history.
-20. Submit a PR to the VCPKG repository to update the DirectXTK12 port back to the main GitHub repo. The PR will be reviewed and merged by the VCPKG maintainers.
-
-> When fully completed, be sure to update the GitHub release with links to the matching NuGet packages, the VCPKG port, and the winget manifests for the tools.
+The release process is documented in the [release skill](.github/skills/release/SKILL.md). Invoke the `release` skill for step-by-step guidance when performing a release.
diff --git a/.github/skills/release/SKILL.md b/.github/skills/release/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+---
+name: release
+description: Guide for performing the DirectX Tool Kit for DirectX 12 release process. Use this skill when asked to help with releasing a new version, publishing packages, or updating ports.
+---
+
+# Release Process
+
+## Prerequisites
+
+- All changes merged into the `main` branch with all tests passing.
+- GPG signing configured for your GitHub account (for verified tags).
+- Access to the MSCodeHub mirror repository and Azure DevOps pipelines.
+- Local repository:
+  - VCPKG at `d:\vcpkg` (synced with `main` branch)
+- PATs will be needed for scripts that access GitHub and ADO.
+
+<!-- markdownlint-disable MD029 -->
+## Steps
+
+### Phase 1: Prepare the Release
+
+1. Git pull the local repository to ensure it is up to date with the `main` branch.
+2. Run the PowerShell script `build\preparerelease.ps1` which will generate a topic branch for the release, update the version number in `CMakeLists.txt`, the `README.md` file, the release notes in the nuspec files, and create a stub in the `CHANGELOG.md` file for the new release.
+3. Edit the `CHANGELOG.md` file to update it with a summary of changes.
+4. Submit the topic branch for review and merge into `main` once approved. Allow the GitHub Actions workflows and the Azure DevOps pipelines to complete successfully before proceeding.
+
+### Phase 2: Tag and Create GitHub Release
+
+5. Run the PowerShell script `build\completerelease.ps1` which will set a tag on the project repo and the test repo, and create a release on GitHub with the release notes from `CHANGELOG.md`. Ensure you have set up GPG signing for your GitHub account so that the tags will be verified.
+6. Git pull the local repository to ensure it is up to date with the `main` branch. Be sure to include `--tags`.
+
+### Phase 3: MSCodeHub and Signed Binaries
+
+7. Push the `main` branch to the MSCodeHub mirror repository. Be sure to include `--tags`.
+8. Create a PR on MSCodeHub from the `main` branch to the `release` branch.
+9. Merge the PR on MSCodeHub to update the release branch, which will trigger the Azure DevOps pipeline to build the NuGet packages.
+10. Edit the GitHub release and upload the signed binaries from the matching DirectXTK release to the release assets (`xwbtool.exe`, `xwbtool_arm64.exe`, and `MakeSpriteFont.exe`).
+
+### Phase 4: Source Archive Signing
+
+11. Download the GitHub source .zip archive from the release. Unzip and compare to the local repo to ensure it matches — keep in mind there may be some CR/LF differences.
+12. Run minisign on the .zip to generate a signature file, and upload the signature file to the release assets.
+
+### Phase 5: NuGet Validation and Publishing
+
+13. Validate the NuGet packages with <https://github.com/walbourn/directxtk-tutorials> by pushing the NuGet packages to a local Packages Source folder, and refreshing the NuGet packages from that folder. Then build using BuildAllSolutions.targets.
+14. Run the PowerShell script `build\promotenuget.ps1 -Version <version> -Release` to promote the version to the Release view on the project-scoped ADO feed. The `-Version` parameter is required and should match the NuGet package version (e.g., `2026.6.2.1`).
+15. Run the MSCodeHub pipeline to publish the NuGet packages to nuget.org. The pipeline will automatically push the most recent package promoted to the Release view to nuget.org.
+
+### Phase 6: VCPKG Port Update
+
+16. Git pull a local repository of VCPKG to `d:\vcpkg` in sync with the `main` branch of the VCPKG repository.
+17. Run the PowerShell script `build\updatevcpkg.ps1` to update the DirectXTK12 port in VCPKG with the new release version. This will edit the files in `ports\directxtk12`.
+18. Test the VCPKG port using the script at `assets/vcpkgdxtk12.cmd` (in this skill folder). Copy it to `d:\vcpkg` and run from there after bootstrapping VCPKG.
+19. Run `.\vcpkg x-add-version directxtk12` to update the VCPKG versioning history.
+20. Submit a PR to the VCPKG repository to update the DirectXTK12 port back to the main GitHub repo. The PR will be reviewed and merged by the VCPKG maintainers.
+
+### Phase 7: Finalize
+
+When fully completed, be sure to update the GitHub release with links to the matching NuGet packages, the VCPKG port, and the winget manifests for the tools.
+
+## Key Scripts
+
+| Script | Purpose |
+| --- | --- |
+| `build\preparerelease.ps1` | Creates topic branch, updates version numbers and changelog stub |
+| `build\completerelease.ps1` | Sets tags, creates GitHub release from changelog |
+| `build\promotenuget.ps1` | Promotes NuGet package to Release view on ADO feed |
+| `assets\vcpkgdxtk12.cmd` | Tests VCPKG port across all triplets and features |
+| `build\updatevcpkg.ps1` | Updates DirectXTK12 VCPKG port files |
diff --git a/.github/skills/release/assets/vcpkgdxtk12.cmd b/.github/skills/release/assets/vcpkgdxtk12.cmd
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+@set VCPKG_BINARY_SOURCES=clear
+@set VCPKG_ROOT=%cd%
+@if %1.==xbox. goto xbox
+@if %1.==clang. goto clang
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[core]:x86-windows
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2-9]:x86-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x86-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xinput]:x86-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[spectre]:x86-windows-static-md --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x86-windows-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x86-windows-static-md
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x86-windows-static-md --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[core]:x64-windows
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:x64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2-9]:x64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xinput]:x64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[gameinput]:x64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[spectre]:x64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-windows-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-windows-static-md
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[gameinput]:x64-windows-static-md --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x64-windows-static-md --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[core]:arm64-windows
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:arm64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xinput]:arm64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:arm64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[spectre]:arm64-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:arm64-windows-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:arm64-windows-static-md
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:arm64-windows-static-md --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[core]:arm64ec-windows
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:arm64ec-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:arm64ec-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[spectre]:arm64ec-windows --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x86-uwp
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-uwp
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:arm64-uwp
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+@where /Q x86_64-w64-mingw32-g++.exe
+@if errorlevel 1 goto skipgcc64
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-mingw-dynamic
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x64-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[gameinput]:x64-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:x64-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-mingw-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x64-mingw-static --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xinput]:x64-mingw-static --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[gameinput]:x64-mingw-static --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:x64-mingw-static --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+:skipgcc64
+@where /Q i686-w64-mingw32-g++.exe
+@if errorlevel 1 goto skipgcc32
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x86-mingw-dynamic
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x86-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xinput]:x86-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x86-mingw-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x86-mingw-static --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+:skipgcc32
+goto finish
+:xbox
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-xbox-scarlett
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-xbox-scarlett-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-xbox-xboxone
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-xbox-xboxone-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+@goto finish
+:clang
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[core]:x64-clangcl-dynamic
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:x64-clangcl-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2-9]:x64-clangcl-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x64-clangcl-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-clangcl-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[core]:arm64-clangcl-dynamic
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:arm64-clangcl-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:arm64-clangcl-dynamic --recurse
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:arm64-clangcl-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-clangcl-uwp
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:arm64-clangcl-uwp
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+@if "%GXDKLatest%."=="." goto finish
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-clangcl-scarlett
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-clangcl-scarlett-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-clangcl-xboxone
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+.\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-clangcl-xboxone-static
+@if errorlevel 1 goto error
+:finish
+@echo SUCCEEDED
+@if %1.==xbox. goto eof
+@if %1.==clang. goto eof
+@where /Q x86_64-w64-mingw32-g++.exe
+@if NOT errorlevel 1 goto gcc64
+@echo .
+@echo . Run for MinGW64
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-mingw-dynamic
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x64-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12[gameinput]:x64-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:x64-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12:x64-mingw-static
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x64-mingw-static --recurse
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12[gameinput]:x64-mingw-static --recurse
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12[tools]:x64-mingw-static --recurse
+:gcc64
+@where /Q i686-w64-mingw32-g++.exe
+@if NOT errorlevel 1 goto gcc32
+@echo .
+@echo . Run for MinGW32
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12:x86-mingw-dynamic
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x86-mingw-dynamic --recurse
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12:x86-mingw-static
+@echo .   .\vcpkg install directxtk12[xaudio2redist]:x86-mingw-static --recurse
+:gcc32
+@goto eof
+:error
+@echo FAILED
+:eof
diff --git a/.github/workflows/codeql.yml b/.github/workflows/codeql.yml
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ jobs:
       - uses: ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@0b201ec74fa43914dc39ae48a89fd1d8cb592756 # v1.13.0
 
       - name: Initialize CodeQL
-        uses: github/codeql-action/init@7211b7c8077ea37d8641b6271f6a365a22a5fbfa # v3.29.5
+        uses: github/codeql-action/init@7211b7c8077ea37d8641b6271f6a365a22a5fbfa # v4.36.0
         with:
           languages: c-cpp
           build-mode: manual
@@ -75,6 +75,6 @@ jobs:
         run: cmake --build out\build\x64-Debug
 
       - name: Perform CodeQL Analysis
-        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@7211b7c8077ea37d8641b6271f6a365a22a5fbfa # v3.29.5
+        uses: github/codeql-action/analyze@7211b7c8077ea37d8641b6271f6a365a22a5fbfa # v4.36.0
         with:
           category: "/language:c-cpp"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/msvc.yml b/.github/workflows/msvc.yml
@@ -78,6 +78,6 @@ jobs:
 
       # Upload SARIF file to GitHub Code Scanning Alerts
       - name: Upload SARIF to GitHub
-        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@7211b7c8077ea37d8641b6271f6a365a22a5fbfa # v3.29.5
+        uses: github/codeql-action/upload-sarif@7211b7c8077ea37d8641b6271f6a365a22a5fbfa # v4.36.0
         with:
           sarif_file: ${{ steps.run-analysis.outputs.sarif }}
diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
@@ -30,3 +30,4 @@ Bin
 /CMakeUserPresets.json
 /build/vcpkg_installed
 /build/obj
+!**/skills/**
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -58,12 +58,28 @@ These components are designed to work without requiring any content from the leg
 
   * Contains miscellaneous build files and scripts.
 
+* ``skills\``
+
+  * Contains published CoPilot skills for use by developers.
+
 > MakeSpriteFont and XWBTool can be found in the [DirectX Tool Kit for DirectX 11](https://github.com/microsoft/DirectXTK). Audio, GamePad, Keyboard, Mouse, and SimpleMath are identical between both versions of the toolkit.
 
 ## Documentation
 
 Documentation is available on the [GitHub wiki](https://github.com/Microsoft/DirectXTK12/wiki).
 
+## CoPilot Usage
+
+For CoPilot CLI assistance with using DirectX Tool Kit, try:
+
+```bash
+winget install GitHub.Copilot
+winget install GitHub.cli
+gh skill install microsoft/directxtk12
+copilot
+/skills list
+```
+
 ## Notices
 
 All content and source code for this package are subject to the terms of the [MIT License](https://github.com/microsoft/DirectXTK12/blob/main/LICENSE).