github / github/copilot-cli

Bug: /agent pop-up treats .github\agents\AGENTS.md as a custom agent

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area:agents area:configuration
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Description

Describe the bug

The /agent pop-up incorrectly attempts to load a repository guidance file at .github\agents\AGENTS.md as a custom agent definition. It then reports a malformed custom-agent frontmatter error, even though AGENTS.md is documented as repository instructions at https://agents.md/ and is not intended to be a custom agent file.

Observed output:

Custom Agents

The following agents failed to load:
✖ .github\agents\AGENTS.md: custom agent markdown frontmatter is malformed: missing or malformed YAML frontmatter
Affected version

Unknown; please determine from the report metadata.

Steps to reproduce the behavior
  1. Add or use a repository guidance file at .github\agents\AGENTS.md following the AGENTS.md documentation at https://agents.md/.
  2. Start Copilot CLI in the repository.
  3. Open the /agent pop-up.
  4. Observe that the file is discovered as a custom agent and fails frontmatter validation.
Expected behavior

The /agent pop-up should distinguish repository instruction files such as AGENTS.md from custom agent definitions. It should not try to parse a documented AGENTS.md file as a custom agent or report a frontmatter error for it.

Additional context
  • Platform: Windows
  • The error is shown in the /agent pop-up.
  • Documentation referenced: https://agents.md/
  • The path is displayed with Windows separators: .github\agents\AGENTS.md.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start at the /agent pop-up's custom-agent discovery and frontmatter validation flow, reproducing the report with .github\agents\AGENTS.md on Windows. Done means the repository instruction file is distinguished from custom agents, is not parsed as one, and no malformed-frontmatter error appears while custom agents remain discoverable.

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
58/100

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