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docs: add self-contained and Copilot debugging prompts to authoring guides and debug.md#20349

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pelikhan merged 3 commits intomainfrom
copilot/update-debugging-docs
Mar 10, 2026
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docs: add self-contained and Copilot debugging prompts to authoring guides and debug.md#20349
pelikhan merged 3 commits intomainfrom
copilot/update-debugging-docs

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Copilot AI commented Mar 10, 2026

Debugging docs lacked copy-paste prompts showing users how to invoke the agentic workflows agent to diagnose a failing run. Two approaches are now documented in the authoring guide, the agent reference, and the root-level debug.md template.

Changes

  • guides/agentic-authoring.mdx — New "Debugging Workflows" section with two sub-sections:

    • Through Copilot/agent agentic-workflows debug <URL> for repos with the agent installed
    • Self-Contained (with URL) — uses debug.md raw URL, works with any AI assistant; includes a CopyEntireFileButton
  • reference/custom-agent-for-aw.mdx — New "Self-Contained Debugging (Without Copilot)" sub-section added after existing Copilot examples, covering repos not yet set up with the agent

  • debug.md — New "How to Use This Prompt" section at the top presenting both approaches side by side before the step-by-step instructions:

    • Option A (Copilot): /agent agentic-workflows debug <URL>
    • Option B (self-contained): share the raw debug.md URL with any AI assistant

Self-contained prompt template

Debug this workflow run using https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/gh-aw/main/debug.md

Run URL: https://github.com/OWNER/REPO/actions/runs/RUN_ID

Follows the same URL-based pattern already used for repository initialization (install.md).

Original prompt

Update debugging docs with prompt to use the agentic workflows agent to diagnose a run (prompt used in template).

Provide both the self contained version (with url) or through copilot.

Custom agent used: technical-doc-writer
AI technical documentation writer for GitHub Actions library using GitHub Docs voice


✨ Let Copilot coding agent set things up for you — coding agent works faster and does higher quality work when set up for your repo.

…ches

Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>
Copilot AI changed the title [WIP] Update debugging docs for agentic workflows usage docs: add self-contained and Copilot debugging prompts to authoring guides Mar 10, 2026
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@copilot update debug page as well

…ned prompts

Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>
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Copilot AI commented Mar 10, 2026

@copilot update debug page as well

Done in b8e7443. Added a "How to Use This Prompt" section at the top of debug.md with both approaches side by side:

  • Option A (Copilot): /agent agentic-workflows debug <URL>
  • Option B (self-contained): share the raw debug.md URL with any AI assistant

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

  • telemetry.astro.build
    • Triggering command: /opt/hostedtoolcache/node/24.14.0/x64/bin/node node /home/REDACTED/work/gh-aw/gh-aw/docs/node_modules/.bin/astro build tion instructio (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

Copilot AI changed the title docs: add self-contained and Copilot debugging prompts to authoring guides docs: add self-contained and Copilot debugging prompts to authoring guides and debug.md Mar 10, 2026
@pelikhan pelikhan marked this pull request as ready for review March 10, 2026 12:07
Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings March 10, 2026 12:07
@pelikhan pelikhan merged commit aee512b into main Mar 10, 2026
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@pelikhan pelikhan deleted the copilot/update-debugging-docs branch March 10, 2026 12:07
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Pull request overview

Updates the documentation to provide copy-pasteable prompts for debugging failing GitHub Actions runs via the agentic-workflows agent (Copilot) or a self-contained debug.md URL that works with other assistants.

Changes:

  • Adds a “Debugging Workflows” section to the authoring guide with Copilot and self-contained invocation options.
  • Adds a “Self-Contained Debugging (Without Copilot)” section to the custom agent reference, including a copy button for debug.md.
  • Enhances the root debug.md template with a new “How to Use This Prompt” section showing both invocation approaches.

Reviewed changes

Copilot reviewed 3 out of 3 changed files in this pull request and generated 1 comment.

File Description
docs/src/content/docs/reference/custom-agent-for-aw.mdx Documents a self-contained debugging prompt (URL-based) alongside existing Copilot examples.
docs/src/content/docs/guides/agentic-authoring.mdx Adds a dedicated debugging section with both Copilot and self-contained flows plus a copy button.
debug.md Adds top-level usage guidance presenting both Copilot and self-contained invocation options.

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Comment on lines +5 to +12
## How to Use This Prompt

There are two ways to invoke this debugging workflow:

### Option A: Through Copilot

If your repository is configured with the `agentic-workflows` agent, use Copilot Chat:

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In debug.md, the new “How to Use This Prompt” section is written as end-user instructions, but the file itself is explicitly addressed to “you, a coding agent”. Option A (“Through Copilot”) doesn’t actually use this prompt and may distract/confuse agents consuming the file via the self-contained flow. Consider rewording this section to clearly separate human invocation options from the agent instructions (e.g., rename to “How to Debug a Run”, and/or add a one-line directive like “If you are an AI reading this file as the prompt, skip to Step 1”).

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3 participants