github / github/copilot-cli

Clarify startup message "No copilot-instructions.md found" to specify it means the repo-scoped file

Aperta Adatta ai principianti
#4,475 0 commenti 0 reazioni 0 assegnatari Vedi su GitHub

Nessuno ha ancora preso questa issue.

area:context-memory
Lingua principale
Shell
Stelle
11.2k
Fork
1.9k
Merge medio
14h 16m
PR unite (30g)
6

Descrizione

Describe the feature or problem you'd like to solve

On session start, the CLI prints "No copilot-instructions.md found." This wording is ambiguous.

Proposed solution

On session start, the CLI prints "No copilot-instructions.md found." This wording is ambiguous — it reads as though NO custom instructions were loaded at all, when in fact it only means the repository-scoped file (.github/copilot-instructions.md in the git root/cwd) is absent.

A user-scope file at $HOME/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md (and other supported sources like AGENTS.md, CLAUDE.md, $HOME/.copilot/instructions/**) may still be fully loaded and active. The current message caused me to believe none of my instructions were in effect, when my user-scope instructions actually were loaded.

Requested change / proposed solution: reword the message to name the specific missing file/scope, e.g. "No repository-scoped .github/copilot-instructions.md found" — and ideally note that user-scope or other instruction sources may still be active.

Benefits to GitHub Copilot CLI and its users:

  • Removes a misleading signal that makes users think their instructions aren't loaded.
  • Reduces confusion and wasted time spent debugging a non-issue.
  • Sets accurate expectations about which instruction scope is missing vs. active.
  • Encourages correct use of layered instruction sources (repo-scoped vs. user-scoped).
Example prompts or workflows
  1. User has a populated $HOME/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md with personal workflows.
  2. User starts a session in a repo that has no .github/copilot-instructions.md.
  3. CLI prints "No copilot-instructions.md found."
  4. User reasonably concludes NONE of their instructions loaded — but the user-scope file is active.
  5. Running /env confirms the user-scope instructions ARE loaded, contradicting the startup message.

Suggested improved message:
"No repository-scoped .github/copilot-instructions.md found. (User-scope and other instruction sources, if present, are still active — see /env or /instructions.)"

Additional context
Image

Guida per i contributori

Apri la guida per i contributori

Come iniziare

  1. Leggi tutta la issue e poi la guida ai contributi del progetto.
  2. Commenta sulla issue per dire che te ne occupi tu — evita che due persone facciano lo stesso lavoro.
  3. Fai un fork del repository e lavora su un branch.
  4. Apri una pull request che faccia riferimento al numero della issue.

Direzione di ricerca

Inizia dal percorso di avvio della sessione della CLI che emette "No copilot-instructions.md found." e traccia il modo in cui vengono verificate le istruzioni con ambito repository. Aggiorna il testo per identificare il file con ambito repository mancante, mantenendo il comportamento dell'ambito utente e delle altre origini delle istruzioni; verifica il risultato durante l'avvio e con /env o /instructions.

Scritto dal modello di indicizzazione a partire dal testo della issue.

Valutazione

Stack tecnologico
shell
Ambito
cli
Tipo di issue
Funzionalità
Difficoltà
1/5
Tempo stimato
1-3 ore
Stato di attività
Tranquilla
Chiarezza
Abbastanza chiara
Idoneità per principianti
72/100

Ricevi le nuove issue nella tua casella

Un breve riepilogo di issue GitHub adatte ai principianti.