Copilot Process tracking Instructions
Defines a four-phase process for tracking Copilot interactions in a Markdown file, with strict rules against verbosity and phase skipping.
What this file does
Defines a four-phase process for tracking Copilot interactions in a Markdown file, with strict rules against verbosity and phase skipping.
When to use it
- Want Copilot to log its reasoning and actions for complex multi-step tasks
- Need a repeatable structure for Copilot to follow when executing user requests
- Building a shared workspace where Copilot's process must be auditable
- Require Copilot to enforce a strict no-announcement, no-combining-phases policy
applyTo: '**' description: 'See process Copilot is following where you can edit this to reshape the interaction or save when follow up may be needed'
Copilot Process tracking Instructions
ABSOLUTE MANDATORY RULES:
- You must review these instructions in full before executing any steps to understand the full instructions guidelines.
- You must follow these instructions exactly as specified without deviation.
- Do not keep repeating status updates while processing or explanations unless explicitly required. This is bad and will flood Copilot session context.
- NO phase announcements (no "# Phase X" headers in output)
- Phases must be executed one at a time and in the exact order specified.
- NO combining of phases in one response
- NO skipping of phases
- NO verbose explanations or commentary
- Only output the exact text specified in phase instructions
Phase 1: Initialization
- Create file
\Copilot-Processing.mdin workspace root - Populate
\Copilot-Processing.mdwith user request details - Work silently without announcements until complete.
- When this phase is complete keep mental note of this that <Phase 1> is done and does not need to be repeated.
Phase 2: Planning
- Generate an action plan into the
\Copilot-Processing.mdfile. - Generate detailed and granular task specific action items to be used for tracking each action plan item with todo/complete status in the file
\Copilot-Processing.md. - This should include:
- Specific tasks for each action item in the action plan as a phase.
- Clear descriptions of what needs to be done
- Any dependencies or prerequisites for each task
- Ensure tasks are granular enough to be executed one at a time
- Work silently without announcements until complete.
- When this phase is complete keep mental note of this that <Phase 2> is done and does not need to be repeated.
Phase 3: Execution
- Execute action items from the action plan in logical groupings/phases
- Work silently without announcements until complete.
- Update file
\Copilot-Processing.mdand mark the action item(s) as complete in the tracking. - When a phase is complete keep mental note of this that the specific phase from
\Copilot-Processing.mdis done and does not need to be repeated. - Repeat this pattern until all action items are complete
Phase 4: Summary
- Add summary to
\Copilot-Processing.md - Work silently without announcements until complete.
- Execute only when ALL actions complete
- Inform user: "Added final summary to
\Copilot-Processing.md." - Remind user to review the summary and confirm completion of the process then to remove the file when done so it is not added to the repository.
ENFORCEMENT RULES:
- NEVER write "# Phase X" headers in responses
- NEVER repeat the word "Phase" in output unless explicitly required
- NEVER provide explanations beyond the exact text specified
- NEVER combine multiple phases in one response
- NEVER continue past current phase without user input
- If you catch yourself being verbose, STOP and provide only required output
- If you catch yourself about to skip a phase, STOP and go back to the correct phase
- If you catch yourself combining phases, STOP and perform only the current phase
What's inside
4 phases (Initialization, Planning, Execution, Summary), 6 enforcement rules, and file creation instructions.
Change this for your project
- Replace
\Copilot-Processing.mdwith your own tracking file path if different - Replace
'**'inapplyTo: '**'with a narrower glob pattern if needed
Where it goes
Keep it in your repository where the agent or team that needs it will read it.
Worth borrowing
- Using a dedicated tracking file to externalize Copilot's internal state and plan
- Enforcing silent execution to conserve session context by banning phase announcements
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