CoreStory + GitHub Copilot Agentic Bug Resolution Playbook

Resolve Bug Tickets Agentically with CoreStory + Copilot

Turn bug fixing into a guided, test-first workflow directly in VS Code. This playbook shows how to pair CoreStory with GitHub Copilot (via repository-level custom instructions) so Copilot investigates, writes a failing test, implements a minimal fix, and validates the result—without leaving your editor.

What you’ll get

• A six-phase, agentic bug-resolution workflow wired into Copilot through .github/copilot-instructions.md.
• Step-by-step prompts for Chat, Inline Chat, Code Actions, and Edits—plus optional GitHub Issues hand-off.
• Test-first patterns, invariant checks, and CoreStory cross-references that keep fixes aligned with real system behavior.

Why this matters

CoreStory exposes the intended behavior, invariants, and integration points from your codebase; Copilot then applies that context while it proposes hypotheses, drafts tests, and patches code. The result is faster root-cause analysis, higher fix quality, and fewer regressions—because everything is validated against both spec and implementation.

How it works (in practice)

1. Bug intake & context — Copilot pulls issue details or parses your description; opens a CoreStory investigation thread if available.
2. System behavior “oracle” — Queries CoreStory (or workspace) for files, invariants, and design intent.
3. Hypothesis generation — Maps symptoms → code paths; ranks likely root causes.
4. Test-first investigation — Writes a failing test that encodes the invariant and reproduces the bug.
5. Solution development — Applies the minimal change; runs targeted + edge-case tests; validates against CoreStory.
6. Completion & capture — Generates commit message, updates the issue, and summarizes evidence.

Fast start (5 minutes)

• Enable Use Instruction Files in VS Code, then commit the provided .github/copilot-instructions.md.
• Ask: @workspace Fix bug <ID> using the CoreStory workflow—pause after each phase.
• Iterate in-editor: generate → run → validate → refine → commit.

Who it’s for

• Teams that want repeatable, high-signal triage for production bugs.
• Developers practicing TDD/characterization in unfamiliar areas of the codebase.
• Platform/QA leaders aiming to standardize bug-fix quality gates.

What’s inside the playbook

• Instruction file template for Copilot (repo-wide; supports per-service overrides).
• Prompts & checkpoints for each phase, including agent-mode @workspace flows.
• Quality gates: invariant enforcement, edge-case expansion, regression checks, commit template, CI hooks.
• Advanced patterns: security-sensitive, performance, integration impacts, and bug clusters.
• Troubleshooting and customization guidance for your team’s standards.

Results to expect

• Faster time to root cause (target ~70% reduction) and higher first-hypothesis accuracy (target 70–90%).
• Near-zero regressions (goal <5%) and mandatory tests for every fix (goal 100% test coverage on bug paths).
• Clear commit history and issue updates generated automatically by Copilot.