github / github/copilot-cli

'No copilot-instructions.md found' notice is misleading when global config exists

Closed
#3,409 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
area:configuration
Dominant language
Shell
Stars
11.2k
Forks
1.9k
Avg merge
14h 16m
Merged PRs (30d)
6

Description

### Describe the bug

When opening the Copilot CLI outside of a git repository, the notice `No copilot-instructions.md found. Run /init to generate.` is misleading. it implies no instructions file was found at all, even when a global `~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md` exists and is being used.

### Affected version

GitHub Copilot CLI 1.0.49.

### Steps to reproduce the behavior

1. Create a global instructions file at `~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md`
2. Open Copilot CLI from a directory that is not a git repository
3. Observe the notice: `No copilot-instructions.md found. Run /init to generate.`

### Expected behavior

1. Create a global instructions file at `~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md`
2. Open Copilot CLI from a directory that is not a git repository
3. Observe the notice: `No repository-level copilot-instructions.md found. Run /init to generate.`

### Additional context

_No response_

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Assessment

This issue has not been assessed yet.

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.