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Add @copilot coding agent as a Squad member type#13

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bradygaster merged 33 commits intobradygaster:mainfrom
spboyer:feature/copilot-coding-agent-member
Feb 11, 2026
Merged

Add @copilot coding agent as a Squad member type#13
bradygaster merged 33 commits intobradygaster:mainfrom
spboyer:feature/copilot-coding-agent-member

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@spboyer spboyer commented Feb 11, 2026

Closes #12

Summary

Adds the GitHub Copilot coding agent (@copilot) as a first-class member type in Squad, alongside AI agents (✅) and humans (👤). When enabled, the team Lead can triage issues to @copilot and the coding agent picks them up autonomously — creating branches, writing code, and opening draft PRs.

What's new

🤖 Coding Agent member type

  • New 🤖 Coding Agent badge distinguishes from ✅ Active (AI) and 👤 Human
  • @copilot is always named "@copilot" — exempt from universe casting (like Scribe)
  • Three-tier capability profile (🟢 good fit / 🟡 needs review / 🔴 not suitable) in team.md
  • Lead evaluates issues against the profile during triage

Enable paths

  1. Conversation (recommended): "I want to add copilot to the squad", "hire copilot to the squad", "add team member copilot"
  2. Init-time question: Squad asks during init if you want to include the coding agent
  3. CLI fallback: npx squad copilot / copilot --auto-assign / copilot --off

Auto-assign workflow

  • When squad:copilot label is added to an issue, the workflow:
    1. Posts a routing comment (via GITHUB_TOKEN)
    2. Assigns copilot-swe-agent[bot] to the issue (via COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN PAT)
    3. Coding agent picks up the issue and opens a draft PR
  • Dynamically detects the repo's default branch (works with main, master, etc.)

copilot-instructions.md

  • Template providing autonomous coding context: team roster, routing rules, capability self-check, branch naming
  • Auto-created when @copilot is enabled, refreshed on upgrade

Init-time question

  • Squad asks during init if you want to include the coding agent
  • Adds to roster with default capability profile

Setup requirements

COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN (required for auto-assign)

The auto-assign workflow requires a classic Personal Access Token with repo scope:

  1. Create at https://github.com/settings/tokens/new — check repo scope
  2. Add as repo secret: gh secret set COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN

Why? The default GITHUB_TOKEN cannot assign copilot-swe-agent[bot]. Fine-grained PATs also fail (403). Only a classic PAT with repo scope works.

Copilot coding agent must be enabled

  • Repository must have coding agent enabled in Settings → Copilot
  • copilot-setup-steps.yml must exist in .github/

Files changed

New files

File Purpose
templates/copilot-instructions.md Template for .github/copilot-instructions.md
docs/features/copilot-coding-agent.md Feature documentation

Modified files

File Change
index.js copilot subcommand, upgrade early-exit fix, copilot-instructions.md copy, PAT setup guidance
.github/agents/squad.agent.md Init question, casting exemption, Coding Agent Member section, routing signals
templates/roster.md Coding Agent section template
templates/routing.md @copilot routing entries, squad:copilot label, Lead triage guidance
templates/workflows/squad-issue-assign.yml squad:copilot detection, copilot-swe-agent[bot] assignment via PAT, dynamic default branch
templates/workflows/squad-triage.yml Capability profile parsing, @copilot triage routing
templates/workflows/sync-squad-labels.yml Creates squad:copilot label when coding agent on roster
test/index.test.js 11 new tests for copilot subcommand
README.md What's New entry, squad:copilot label
docs/scenarios/upgrading.md copilot-instructions.md upgrade row

Upgrade safety

  • upgrade does NOT touch .ai-team/team.md — your team roster, members, and decisions are preserved
  • Only squad-owned files are refreshed: squad.agent.md, workflows, templates, and copilot-instructions.md (if enabled)
  • Existing workflows for other members (non-copilot) are unaffected

Bugs fixed

  1. Upgrade early-exit bug: isAlreadyCurrent path called process.exit(0) before reaching workflow/agent copy code. Now refreshes all squad-owned files even when version matches.
  2. Dynamic default branch: agent_assignment.base_branch was hardcoded to main. Now fetches the repo's default_branch via API.

Testing

  • 44 tests passing (11 new for copilot subcommand)
  • Tested end-to-end on spboyer/slidemaker:
    • squad:copilot label → workflow fires → comment posted → agent assigned → agent starts working

spboyer added 30 commits February 10, 2026 20:00
@spboyer
feat: add @copilot coding agent as squad member type
0890e3a 
- New member type: 🤖 Coding Agent with three-tier capability profile
- Init Mode asks if user wants @copilot on the team
- Configurable auto-assign via <!-- copilot-auto-assign --> in team.md
- Lead evaluates issues against capability profile during triage
- copilot-instructions.md template for autonomous coding agent context
- Upgrade updates copilot-instructions.md when @copilot is enabled
- squad:copilot label synced automatically
- Workflows: triage routes to @copilot, issue-assign auto-assigns
- Intercept rule ensures 'Enable @copilot' is not treated as greeting
- Docs: feature guide, README, upgrading docs updated
- Tests: 5 new tests (38 total, all passing)
@spboyer
fix: stronger intercept rule for 'Enable @copilot' command
6b254cb 
Move @copilot command detection to a mandatory pre-check table
at the very top of Team Mode, before any routing or interpretation.
Explicit STOP instructions prevent the coordinator from treating
the command as a file reference or session greeting.
@spboyer
fix: rename triggers from '@copilot' to 'coding-agent'
c896eb3 
Typing '@copilot' in Copilot chat triggers IDE file-tagging,
preventing the coordinator from seeing the command text.
Changed all trigger phrases to use 'coding-agent' which is
unambiguous and won't collide with file/folder names.
@spboyer
fix: use 'hire copilot' / 'squad enable copilot' as triggers
325743b 
'@copilot' triggered IDE file-tagging, 'coding-agent' triggered
Azure MCP tools (azd coding-agent config). New triggers use
squad-prefixed phrases or 'hire copilot' which are unambiguous.
@spboyer
fix: move copilot command check above Team Mode, use 'add copilot to …
bc1e40b 
…squad'

- Moved trigger check to top-level (before Init/Team Mode split)
  so it runs before any routing or interpretation
- Primary trigger: 'add copilot to squad' - unambiguous, won't
  trigger IDE file-tagging (@) or Azure tools (coding-agent)
- Previous triggers failed: '@copilot' (IDE intercept),
  'coding-agent' (Azure MCP), 'hire copilot' (confused with
  existing team hiring language)
@spboyer
fix: use 'add copilot agent' to avoid cast member confusion
118bac8 
'add copilot to squad' was interpreted as adding a new cast
member named Copilot. Adding 'agent' disambiguates — it's
clearly about the GitHub Copilot coding agent, not a person.
Also added explicit 'NOT a new cast member' warnings in the
command check and routing table.
@spboyer
feat: replace chat triggers with CLI copilot subcommand
a7fc6ad 
- Add 'squad copilot' subcommand (--auto-assign, --off flags)
- Remove unreliable agent instruction triggers
- CLI directly modifies team.md and copies copilot-instructions.md
- Update agent.md to reference CLI instead of chat commands
- Rewrite tests for copilot subcommand (44/44 passing)
- Update feature docs with CLI usage
@spboyer
feat: add conversational trigger 'add team member copilot'
f51df10 
- Primary flow: coordinator handles in conversation during init or team mode
- Routing signal: 'add team member copilot' maps to Copilot Coding Agent Member section
- CLI subcommand kept as backup option
- Updated docs to show conversation-first, CLI-second approach
@spboyer
fix: add copilot guards in casting and human triggers
bd25936 
- Add @copilot exemption in Name Allocation (like Scribe)
- Add 'add team member copilot' guard in Human Team Members triggers
- Both redirect to Copilot Coding Agent Member section
- Prevents coordinator from casting copilot as a universe character
@spboyer
fix: settle on init + CLI for adding @copilot
3795700 
- Remove unreliable mid-session chat triggers (7 failed attempts)
- Keep init-time question (conversational, works in setup flow)
- Keep CLI subcommand for existing teams
- Keep casting exemption for @copilot (like Scribe)
- Clean up docs to reflect actual working flows
@spboyer
feat: add 'squad add-copilot' as top-level trigger phrase
fef7224 
- Place check at the very top of the agent file (line 21-24)
- Before Team Mode, before project context loading
- Exact phrase match avoids collision with project copilot code
- 'squad' prefix makes it command-like, not a name to cast
- Falls through to Team Mode if phrase doesn't match
@spboyer
feat: use /squad-bot as trigger phrase
8a58367 
- Slash-command syntax signals 'this is a command, not a work request'
- 'bot' has zero semantic overlap with project copilot code
- Placed at line 21 with explicit STOP instructions
- Prevents file scanning, name casting, project analysis
@spboyer
fix: always assign @copilot when squad:copilot label is applied
22efc6f 
- squad:copilot label now always assigns @copilot (no roster lookup needed)
- Assignment happens immediately in the copilot branch, not conditionally
- Simplified comment (removed auto-assign conditional)
- Removed redundant auto-assign block
@spboyer
fix: upgrade early-exit path now updates workflows and agent.md
c9d572c 
- 'Already up to date' path was skipping workflow and agent copies
- Now always refreshes squad-owned files even when version matches
- Fixes issue where re-running upgrade didn't pick up workflow changes
@spboyer
fix: use gh CLI to assign @copilot instead of REST API
83210a5 
- REST API addAssignees doesn't work for @copilot (special entity)
- Use 'gh issue edit --add-assignee @copilot' which is the documented approach
- Script step sets output, follow-up step runs gh CLI conditionally
@spboyer
fix: assign @copilot inline via gh CLI in github-script
bb4e4f4 
- Use execSync with gh issue edit --add-assignee inside the script step
- Pass GH_TOKEN via env to the step
- Removes separate step that wasn't executing (output issue)
@spboyer
fix: match official gh CLI pattern for copilot assignment
c3f9743 
- Use --add-assignee copilot (no @)
- Use --repo GITHUB_REPOSITORY
- Use secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN per official docs
@spboyer
fix: use REST API instead of gh CLI for @copilot assignment
79dde58 
The gh CLI 'add-assignee copilot' fails with 'copilot not found' in
workflow context. Switch to github.rest.issues.addAssignees() which
properly recognizes the Copilot coding agent bot user.
@spboyer
fix: don't auto-assign @copilot from workflow, guide user instead
00d1cf2 
The REST API addAssignees silently ignores 'copilot' - it returns 201
but doesn't actually assign. The coding agent can only be assigned
through the GitHub UI or an authenticated user's CLI session.

The workflow now posts a comment with the gh CLI command for the team
lead to assign @copilot manually.
@spboyer
fix: use copilot-swe-agent[bot] with agent_assignment API for auto-as…
2bc6aad 
…sign

Per GitHub docs, the coding agent assignee is 'copilot-swe-agent[bot]'
(not 'copilot') and requires the agent_assignment payload in the REST
API call. Uses SQUAD_TOKEN (PAT) if available, falls back to
GITHUB_TOKEN.
@spboyer
fix: use github.request() with COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN PAT for assignment
eab2e33 
Match the exact pattern from GitHub docs: separate step using
github-token with a PAT secret (COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN), calling
github.request() with copilot-swe-agent[bot] assignee and
agent_assignment payload.
@spboyer
fix: simplify copilot assignment - use copilot-swe-agent with addAssi…
1424bff 
…gnees

No PAT needed. Use github.rest.issues.addAssignees with
'copilot-swe-agent' (no [bot] suffix) and default GITHUB_TOKEN.
Single step, no separate secrets required.
@spboyer
fix: use COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN PAT for copilot-swe-agent assignment
4a44343 
GITHUB_TOKEN (app token) silently fails to assign copilot-swe-agent.
GitHub docs require a user token (PAT) for coding agent assignment.
Falls back to GITHUB_TOKEN if COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN not configured.
@spboyer
fix: split into two steps - GITHUB_TOKEN for comments, PAT for assign…
d7bef44 
…ment

The PAT can't post comments (Resource not accessible). Use default
GITHUB_TOKEN for routing/comments step, and COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN
PAT only for the copilot-swe-agent assignment step.
@spboyer
fix: use github.request with agent_assignment payload and fallback
9cbd61c 
Try copilot-swe-agent[bot] with agent_assignment payload first (per
GitHub docs), fall back to copilot-swe-agent without. Wrapped in
try/catch so routing comment still posts even if assignment fails.
May require classic PAT with repo scope.
@spboyer
fix: detect default branch dynamically instead of hardcoding main
57a50fa 
Slidemaker uses 'master' not 'main'. The agent_assignment base_branch
was hardcoded to 'main' causing a ruleset-like error. Now fetches
the repo's default_branch via API.
@spboyer
docs: add COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN PAT setup instructions
5d3fbd1
@spboyer
feat: show COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN setup instructions when enabling copilot
8e256ac 
When running 'npx squad copilot', the CLI now tells the user to
create a classic PAT and set it as COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN repo secret.
This is required for the auto-assign workflow to work.
@spboyer
docs: rewrite copilot feature doc with clear setup guide
1e40c9c 
- Added Prerequisites section with repo requirements
- Added Quick Start with step-by-step commands
- Added dedicated COPILOT_ASSIGN_TOKEN section explaining why classic
  PAT is required (fine-grained fails, GITHUB_TOKEN silently ignores)
- Removed unreliable /squad-bot conversation trigger
- CLI is the recommended enable path
- Updated README prerequisites with PAT requirement
- CLI now shows PAT setup instructions when enabling copilot
@spboyer
fix: remove /squad-bot trigger — CLI is the only enable path
07a099f
@bradygaster bradygaster merged commit 2deea1a into bradygaster:main Feb 11, 2026
bradygaster added a commit that referenced this pull request Feb 11, 2026
@bradygaster
merge: bring PR #13 (CCA as Squad member) from main into dev
c10c4d8
This was referenced Feb 13, 2026
Closed
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bradygaster added a commit that referenced this pull request Feb 13, 2026
@bradygaster
feat: project board + v0.4.0 docs (#6)
b915015 
Session: 2026-02-13-v040-boards-and-docs
Requested by: Brady

Changes:
- Created Squad Backlog project board (#13)
- Fenster: Phase 1 foundation — skill, proposal 006a, gate decision
- McManus: Blog post, README/guide.md updates
- Closed spikes: #22, #32, #33, #34, #35
- Merged decisions from inbox
- Logged session
joniba pushed a commit to joniba/squad that referenced this pull request Mar 26, 2026
@jbenami
squad: coffee-ratings issues + clean-chat directive
1fbab0f 
Orchestration: Gandalf completed coffee-ratings squad-infra audit + reviewer hire planning.

Changes:
- Created 7 GitHub issues (bradygaster#7-bradygaster#13) with dependency chains:
  * Squad-infra audit: Elrond research → Bilbo docs → Gandalf decide → Gimli port → Bilbo template
  * Reviewer hire: Elrond study Bobbie patterns → Gandalf hire new Reviewer
- Merged decision inbox: clean-chat directive + coffee-port-plan
- Updated gandalf history.md with learnings

Labels created: squad:elrond (blue), squad:bilbo (green), squad:gandalf (yellow)

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
This was referenced Apr 5, 2026
Closed
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@Ljosmann Ljosmann mentioned this pull request Apr 22, 2026
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Add @copilot coding agent as a Squad member type

2 participants

@spboyer @bradygaster