github / github/copilot-cli

Nested agents load ALL copilot-instructions.md, not just the ones at the nested level

Open
#2,735 1 comment 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
area:agents area:context-memory
Dominant language
Shell
Stars
11.2k
Forks
1.9k
Avg merge
14h 16m
Merged PRs (30d)
6

Description

### Describe the bug

This feature was added: https://github.com/github/copilot-cli/issues/1655

However, whilst nested agents are now dispalyed, they read the `copilot-instructions.md` at ALL levels.

This is not expected behavior because it should be assumed that nested folders are sub-projects / workspaces in their own right

Solutions:
- Default to only read the copilot-instructions.md at the same level in a nested hierarchy
- Add a boolean setting to turn this behavior on / off as needed, defaulted to off

### Affected version

_No response_

### Steps to reproduce the behavior

create:
- .github/copilot-instructions.md
- nested_folder/.github/agents/test-agent.md
- nested_folder/.github/copilot-instructions.md

ask the test-agent.md to link the absolute path to all of the instructions in its context window & memory and it will link both:

Image

### Expected behavior

it should be assumed that nested folders are sub-projects / workspaces in their own right. therefore it shouldn't be loading in content that's outside the view and/or control of the hierarchy

### Additional context

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reproducing the issue with .github/copilot-instructions.md, nested_folder/.github/agents/test-agent.md, and nested_folder/.github/copilot-instructions.md. Trace the nested-agent instruction discovery entry point and any existing tests for instruction loading; done means the nested agent uses only the instruction file at its own level by default, without loading the parent file.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
shell
Domain
cli
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
55/100

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.