Hooks in config.json are not preserved across session starts
- Dominant language
- Shell
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Description
## Bug
The `hooks` field in `~/.copilot/config.json` is documented as the location for user-level hooks (`copilot help config` states: "In global config.json these act as user-level hooks").
However, Copilot CLI **overwrites `config.json` on every session start**, dropping any `hooks` key that was previously written there. This makes it impossible for external tools (like [cmux](https://github.com/manaflow-ai/cmux)) to install persistent user-level hooks.
## Steps to Reproduce
1. Install cmux session restore hooks: `cmux hooks copilot install`
2. Verify `~/.copilot/config.json` now contains a `"hooks"` key with SessionStart, SessionEnd, etc.
3. Start a new `copilot` session
4. Check `~/.copilot/config.json` — the `"hooks"` key is gone
## Expected Behavior
The `hooks` field should be preserved when Copilot CLI rewrites `config.json` (e.g., when updating `expAssignmentsCache` or other managed state).
## Additional Context
- Copilot CLI version: 1.0.49
- Hooks in `settings.json` do **not** fire as user-level hooks (despite being a recognized config location)
- The file header says `// User settings belong in settings.json` but `copilot help config` says hooks go in `config.json`
- macOS, cmux latest
## Workaround
Currently none for global user-level hooks. Repo-level hooks (`.github/hooks/*.json`) work but require per-repo setup.
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by locating the code that rewrites ~/.copilot/config.json and reproduce the session-start behavior with a hooks entry installed by cmux. The fix is complete when managed state updates no longer remove the hooks field; verify this with the documented reproduction steps.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- cli, shell
- Domain
- cli
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 62/100