Copilot Chat (Agents): allow starting a new chat with no workspace folder context
- Dominant language
- TypeScript
- Stars
- 193k
- Forks
- 42.4k
- PR merge metrics
- PR metrics pending
Description
## Problem
Starting a new Copilot Chat/Agents session from the folder picker currently requires selecting a local folder/repository.
There is no way in that flow to start a chat with no workspace context (global/empty-window style).
## Repro Steps
1. Start a new Copilot Chat/Agents session.
2. In the folder/repository picker, try to continue without selecting a folder.
## Actual Behavior
A folder selection is required.
## Expected Behavior
One of the following should be available:
1. A No folder option in the picker.
2. A Start without workspace context toggle.
3. A command/setting to default new Agents chats to no-folder mode.
## Related
Adjacent to, but distinct from, default folder selection behavior in #326520.
## Environment
- VS Code: 1.102.0
- Copilot Chat: Agents mode
- OS: macOS
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start from the Copilot Chat/Agents folder or repository picker flow and compare it with existing no-workspace or empty-window behavior. Review related issue #326520 for adjacent folder-selection behavior; done means a new Agents session can continue without a folder while normal folder-based sessions still work.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- typescript
- Domain
- desktop-dev, developer-experience
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 52/100