[FEATURE]- Add copilot instructions and claude.md file to repository

[ngenovese11]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

We currently don’t have any repository-specific AI assistant guidance (GitHub Copilot instructions) or a claude.md file. This can lead to inconsistent AI-generated changes (coding style and project conventions in particular).

Describe the solution you'd like

Add two repo-level guidance files focused on current, stable conventions:

1. Copilot instructions

• Add a Copilot instructions file so Copilot Chat/Agent has clear repo conventions to follow.
• Suggested location: .github/copilot-instructions.md (or whichever location the maintainers prefer).

2. Claude instructions

• Add claude.md at the repository root to provide similar guidance for Claude-based tooling and contributors.

For now, both files could include:

• Code style conventions (naming, formatting, common patterns used in this repo)
• Architecture conventions (where code should live, how to structure new components/modules, and preferred patterns within Essentials)

Describe alternatives you've considered

• Maintain guidance only in the README/wiki.
• Add guidance in a CONTRIBUTING.md file instead (or in addition).
• Add only one of the two files (Copilot instructions or claude.md) and expand later if needed.

Additional context

• Please confirm preferred locations/names:
  • Copilot instructions: .github/copilot-instructions.md (suggested) vs other.
  • Claude: root claude.md.
• Since some decisions are still evolving, we can keep these files intentionally lightweight and update them over time as conventions solidify.