🐛 Copilot agent-host sessions: `#` cannot reference tools (parity gap with Local chat)
- Dominant language
- TypeScript
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Description
- Copilot Chat Extension Version: 0.41 (2026-03-25)
- VS Code Version: 1.139.0-insider (Universal)
- OS Version: macOS 15.7.7 (24G720)
- Feature (e.g. agent/edit/ask mode): Chat input `#` completions — Copilot (agent-host) vs Local
- Selected model (e.g. GPT 4.1, Claude 3.7 Sonnet): any
- Logs:
## Summary
Agent-host Copilot sessions (e.g. `agent-host-copilotcli`) do not support `#tool` completions in the chat input. Local sessions do. `#file` still works on Copilot because the agent host has its own file completion provider; there is no equivalent tool completion provider.
## Expected
Type `#` in a Copilot session → tool completions appear (same as Local).
## Actual
Type `#` → No tools at all.
## Root cause (from source)
1. Built-in `ToolCompletions` short-circuits for agent-host widgets:
```ts
// src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/widget/input/editor/chatInputCompletions.ts
if (isAgentHostBackedWidget(widget)) {
// Agent-host sessions delegate completions to the host via AgentHostInputCompletions.
return null;
}
```
2. The agent host registers file / chat / skill / slash / rename providers, but **no tool provider**:
```ts
// src/vs/platform/agentHost/node/agentHostContributions.ts
completions.registerProvider(new AgentHostFileCompletionProvider(...)); // handles @ and # for files
// no AgentHostToolCompletionProvider
```
3. Session capabilities omit `supportsToolAttachments`:
```ts
// src/vs/workbench/contrib/chat/browser/agentSessions/agentHost/agentHostChatContribution.ts
capabilities: {
supportsCheckpoints: true,
supportsPromptAttachments: true,
supportsImageAttachments: true,
// supportsToolAttachments missing
}
```
## Parity table
| | Local | Copilot (agent-host) |
|---|---|---|
| `#file` | built-in `BuiltinDynamicCompletions` | host `AgentHostFileCompletionProvider` |
| `#tool` | built-in `ToolCompletions` | **missing** |
## Suggested fix
Add an `AgentHostToolCompletionProvider` (mirroring `AgentHostFileCompletionProvider`) and/or set `supportsToolAttachments: true` on agent-host session capabilities.
## Related
- #319827 — added `#` as file completion trigger for agent host (files only)
- #288502 — `#tool:` references in skills (similar gap, different surface)
---
## Steps to Reproduce
1. Open Chat, switch session target to Copilot (agent-host).
2. Type `#` in the input → no tool completions.
3. Switch target to Local → type `#` → tool completions appear.
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