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rtk init -g --copilot writes to wrong global path for Copilot CLI #2242
Description
Bug Description
rtk init -g --copilot writes copilot-instructions.md to ~/.github/copilot-instructions.md, but Copilot CLI reads global custom instructions from ~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md.
This means the RTK instructions are never loaded by Copilot CLI.
Steps to Reproduce
rtk init -g --copilotOutput:
[ok] Added Copilot instructions to ./.github/copilot-instructions.md
File created at ~/.github/copilot-instructions.md — Copilot CLI does not read this path.
Expected Behavior
RTK should write to ~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md (the path Copilot CLI actually reads for global user-level instructions).
Reference: Copilot CLI docs list these instruction sources:
$HOME/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md ← global user-level
.github/copilot-instructions.md ← project-level (git root)
Additional Context
rtk-rewrite.jsonin~/.github/hooks/is also ineffective since Copilot CLI has noPreToolUsehook mechanism (unlike Claude Code).- The only way RTK can work with Copilot CLI is via prompt instructions, so getting the file path right is critical.
- RTK version: 0.42.0
- OS: macOS (Apple Silicon)
Workaround
Manually append RTK instructions:
cat ~/.github/copilot-instructions.md >> ~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md
Activity
pszymkowiak commentedon Jun 3, 2026
🔍 Automated Triage
bughighSummary
rtk init -g --copilot writes to wrong path (~/.github/ instead of ~/.copilot/) making Copilot CLI never load the instructions; fix the global path constant.
📁 Relevant files
src/init.rssrc/cli/init.rsTriaged automatically by wshm · This is an automated analysis, not a human review.
ConorLindsay94 commentedon Jun 11, 2026
To get this working in VSCode:
rtk init -gchat.useHooksUse Claude Hookslmmzss-jk commentedon Jun 11, 2026
The scenario I use most often is the CLI.
KuSh commentedon Sep 13, 2026
Fixed by #2101, shipped in v0.42.3:
rtk init -g --copilotnow writes ~/.copilot/copilot-instructions.md (plus ~/.copilot/hooks/rtk-rewrite.json) instead of ~/.github, so Copilot CLI picks the instructions up. Verified on the current branch with HOME pointed at a scratch directory. If the CLI still misses them on the latest version, comment here and we'll reopen.