Simplify agentic task description format and add conversational summarization

[Copilot]

The ChatGPT instructions for agentic task descriptions were overly prescriptive with rigid phase structures and acceptance criteria sections. This update streamlines the format and improves conversational flow.

Changes

• Removed phase-based organization: Eliminated Phase 0-4 structure in favor of simple step lists
• Removed acceptance criteria section: Dropped from task description template
• Added conversational summarization: Agent now summarizes user's previous updates on each turn instead of re-reading entire content unless explicitly requested

Updated Template Structure

Before:

## Phases
### Phase 0: Setup
### Phase 1: [Phase Name]
...
## Acceptance Criteria

After:

## Steps
- [Step 1]
- [Step 2]
- [Step 3]

Interaction Flow Enhancement

Added guideline requiring the agent to summarize updates from the previous message on each conversational turn, preventing unnecessary re-processing of full markdown content.

File modified: .github/instructions/agentic-chat.instructions.md (34 lines changed: 8 additions, 26 deletions)

Original prompt

Update the ChatGPT instructions and remove prompting for Phases and Acceptance criteria.

Also the conversation flow should go be updated as follows:

On each chat turn, the agent should provide a summary of the updates provided in the last round by the user. And only read the entire markdown when explicitely asked by the user.

---

💬 We'd love your input! Share your thoughts on Copilot coding agent in our 2 minute survey.

[Copilot]

Pull Request Overview

This PR simplifies the agentic chat instructions by replacing a complex phase-based task decomposition structure with a more streamlined step-based approach.

Key Changes:

• Removed the rigid 5-phase structure (Phase 0-4) in favor of simpler step-based decomposition
• Updated the task description template to use "Steps" instead of "Phases" and removed "Acceptance Criteria" section
• Added guidance for the assistant to summarize user updates on subsequent conversation turns

---

💡 Add Copilot custom instructions for smarter, more guided reviews. Learn how to get started.

[github-actions]

✨ Clean Code Review - No Nitpicks Found!

I've completed a thorough review of this PR and found zero nitpicks. This is excellent work! 🎉

What Makes This PR Great

✅ Consistent Simplification

• Removed the rigid Phase 0-4 structure in favor of flexible step lists
• Terminology updated consistently throughout (e.g., "phases" → "steps")
• Template structure simplified without losing clarity

✅ Improved User Experience

• Added conversational flow guidance (summarize updates on each turn)
• Maintains focus on actionable steps rather than prescriptive structure
• Clear, well-organized markdown formatting

✅ Good Documentation Practices

• Changes align with the goal of reducing prescriptiveness
• Examples and interaction flow updated to match new structure
• No leftover references to removed concepts

Review Summary

• Files Changed: 1
• Lines Modified: 34 (8 additions, 26 deletions)
• Nitpick Count: 0
• Code Quality: Excellent

This PR successfully simplifies the agentic task description format while maintaining clarity and improving the conversational interaction model. Ready to merge! ✅

AI generated by PR Nitpick Reviewer 🔍 for #3430