Disable compile watch mode in automated environments

.github/aw/instructions.md

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ If a rule conflicts, this repository overlay takes precedence.
 
 Add your repository-specific standards here, for example:
 
-- **CRITICAL INVARIANT:** After **any** modification to agentic workflow markdown files (`.github/workflows/*.md`), you **must** run `gh aw compile` (or `gh aw compile --watch` while iterating) before stopping. Treat this as mandatory.
+- **CRITICAL INVARIANT:** After **any** modification to agentic workflow markdown files (`.github/workflows/*.md`), you **must** run a one-shot `gh aw compile` before stopping. Agents must not use `--watch`, because watch mode does not terminate automatically.
 - Required shared include(s) for new workflows
 - Standard frontmatter defaults
 - Frontmatter ordering/style conventions

.github/aw/maintainer.md

@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ Build the workflow in stages:
 5. **Configure triggers and pressure valves.** Add a fuzzy schedule, optional manual or slash-command entrypoint, concurrency, and an open-PR guard.
 6. **Configure least privilege and safe outputs.** Derive tools, permissions, network access, allowlists, protected files, and per-run caps from the chosen portfolio.
 7. **Write the execution contract.** State the selected-task input, quality bar, stop conditions, contributor etiquette, validation policy, reporting format, and memory update requirement.
-8. **Compile and inspect generated Actions.** Run `gh aw compile --watch` while iterating, then compile once more before committing.
+8. **Compile and inspect generated Actions.** Agents must run one-shot `gh aw compile` commands and must not use `--watch`, because watch mode does not terminate automatically.
 9. **Roll out gradually.** Begin with low cadence and conservative caps. Review early runs before increasing scope or frequency.
 
 Do not transplant Repo Assist's exact weights, labels, stale threshold, open-PR ceiling, or output maxima without measuring the target repository. These are policy choices, not universal defaults.

pkg/cli/ci.go

@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ func IsRunningInCI() bool {
 		"CI",
 		"CONTINUOUS_INTEGRATION",
 		"GITHUB_ACTIONS",
+		"COPILOT_AGENT_SESSION_ID",
 	}
 
 	for _, v := range ciVars {

pkg/cli/ci_test.go

@@ -38,6 +38,13 @@ func TestIsRunningInCI(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 			expected: true,
 		},
+		{
+			name: "running in Copilot coding agent",
+			envVars: map[string]string{
+				"COPILOT_AGENT_SESSION_ID": "session-id",
+			},
+			expected: true,
+		},
 		{
 			name: "running in CI - multiple env vars set",
 			envVars: map[string]string{
@@ -67,7 +74,7 @@ func TestIsRunningInCI(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			// Clear all CI-related env vars first
-			ciVars := []string{"CI", "CONTINUOUS_INTEGRATION", "GITHUB_ACTIONS"}
+			ciVars := []string{"CI", "CONTINUOUS_INTEGRATION", "GITHUB_ACTIONS", "COPILOT_AGENT_SESSION_ID"}
 			for _, v := range ciVars {
 				t.Setenv(v, "")
 			}

pkg/cli/compile_orchestrator.go

@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ func CompileWorkflows(ctx context.Context, config CompileConfig) ([]*workflow.Wo
 	default:
 	}
 
+	if config.Watch && IsRunningInCI() {
+		return nil, errors.New("watch mode cannot be used in CI or Copilot coding agent environments")
+	}
+
 	if os.Getenv("GH_HOST") == "" { //nolint:osgetenvlibrary
 		if detectedHost := getHostFromOriginRemote(); detectedHost != "github.com" && detectedHost != "" {
 			compileOrchestratorLog.Printf("Auto-detected GHES host from git remote: %s", detectedHost)

pkg/cli/compile_watch_environment_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+//go:build !integration
+
+package cli
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestCompileWorkflowsRejectsWatchInAutomatedEnvironments(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name     string
+		envVar   string
+		envValue string
+	}{
+		{name: "CI", envVar: "CI", envValue: "true"},
+		{name: "Copilot coding agent", envVar: "COPILOT_AGENT_SESSION_ID", envValue: "session-id"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			for _, envVar := range []string{"CI", "CONTINUOUS_INTEGRATION", "GITHUB_ACTIONS", "COPILOT_AGENT_SESSION_ID"} {
+				t.Setenv(envVar, "")
+			}
+			t.Setenv(tt.envVar, tt.envValue)
+
+			_, err := CompileWorkflows(context.Background(), CompileConfig{Watch: true})
+			if err == nil {
+				t.Fatal("expected watch mode to be rejected")
+			}
+			if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "watch mode cannot be used in CI or Copilot coding agent environments") {
+				t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}