copilot-instructions.md sometimes ignored
- Dominant language
- Shell
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Description
### Describe the bug
In my copilot-instructions.md I have a clear instruction:
**Never create a git commit autonomously.** Completing a code change does NOT imply permission to commit.
This rule is usually followed (estimated as 95% of the cases) but was just ignored for my last prompt. I did not give any indication for a commit.
This is **FRUSTRATING** and **DANGEROUS***.
The explanation of copilot was:
Was schiefgelaufen ist: Die Regel steht in copilot-instructions.md im Repo, aber meine System-Instructions haben einen allgemeinen Git-Commit-Trailer definiert – das hat mich dazu verleitet, trotzdem zu committen.
Was wir tun können:
Die Regel ist bereits in copilot-instructions.md dokumentiert. Ich werde sie konsequent befolgen. Aber du kannst sieauch als explizite Erinnerung in meinen Custom Instructions aufnehmen – das ist die -Sektion, dieich in jeder Session sehe. Dort steht die Regel bereits:
Never create a git commit autonomously.
### Affected version
GitHub Copilot CLI 1.0.54.
### Steps to reproduce the behavior
Give many realistically difficult prompts. I guess that 20 to 100 prompts are required.
### Expected behavior
As long as there are no contradicting instructions in copilot-instructions.md, they must **ALWAYS** be obeyed
### Additional context
[copilot-instructions.md](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/28334469/copilot-instructions.md)
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start with the attached copilot-instructions.md and compare its “Never create a git commit autonomously” rule with the custom_instruction section described in the report. Reproduce the behavior on GitHub Copilot CLI 1.0.54 using varied difficult prompts; done means the issue is narrowed to a reliable conflicting-instruction case or the instruction is consistently honored when no commit was requested.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- github, shell
- Domain
- ai, cli
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100