github / github/copilot-cli

Plugin cache_path stored as absolute path breaks in Docker/multi-HOME environments

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area:configuration area:plugins
Dominant language
Shell
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Description

## Description

When a plugin is installed, `cache_path` in `config.json` is hardcoded to an absolute path
rooted at the install-time `$HOME`. If `~/.copilot` is volume-mounted into Docker (where
`$HOME` differs), the path doesn't exist and `sessionStart` hooks silently never fire.

I'm mounting my host ~/.copilot into the active user's home folder in Docker, and that seems
to work for most things, but evidently not plugins. Any help greatly appreciated.

## Root Cause

config.json stores:
"cache_path": "/Users/josh/.copilot/installed-plugins/_direct/my-plugin"

Inside Docker ($HOME = /home/deployer), that path doesn't exist.

## Expected Behavior

cache_path should be $HOME-relative so it works across environments sharing ~/.copilot.

## Workaround

sudo mkdir -p /Users/josh && sudo ln -sfn /home/deployer/.copilot /Users/josh/.copilot
(must be recreated each container start)

## Environment
- CLI: 1.0.59
- Host: macOS /Users/josh
- Container: Linux /home/deployer
- ~/.copilot shared via Docker volume mount

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by locating the plugin installation code that writes cache_path to config.json, then trace how sessionStart hooks resolve that path. Reproduce the issue with ~/.copilot mounted under a different HOME, and consider the work complete when the stored path works in both environments and the hook fires.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
docker, shell
Domain
cli
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
52/100

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