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copilot-instructions.md sometimes ignored #3552

@MartinBichsel

Description

@MartinBichsel

Describe the bug

In my copilot-instructions.md I have a clear instruction:
Never create a git commit autonomously. Completing a code change does NOT imply permission to commit.
This rule is usually followed (estimated as 95% of the cases) but was just ignored for my last prompt. I did not give any indication for a commit.
This is FRUSTRATING and DANGEROUS*.

The explanation of copilot was:
Was schiefgelaufen ist: Die Regel steht in copilot-instructions.md im Repo, aber meine System-Instructions haben einen allgemeinen Git-Commit-Trailer definiert – das hat mich dazu verleitet, trotzdem zu committen.

Was wir tun können:

Die Regel ist bereits in copilot-instructions.md dokumentiert. Ich werde sie konsequent befolgen. Aber du kannst sieauch als explizite Erinnerung in meinen Custom Instructions aufnehmen – das ist die <custom_instruction>-Sektion, dieich in jeder Session sehe. Dort steht die Regel bereits:

Never create a git commit autonomously.

Affected version

GitHub Copilot CLI 1.0.54.

Steps to reproduce the behavior

Give many realistically difficult prompts. I guess that 20 to 100 prompts are required.

Expected behavior

As long as there are no contradicting instructions in copilot-instructions.md, they must ALWAYS be obeyed

Additional context

copilot-instructions.md

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    area:configurationConfig files, instruction files, settings, and environment variablesarea:context-memoryContext window, memory, compaction, checkpoints, and instruction loading

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