Improve default Copilot agent thoroughness checks

[github-actions]

Summary

• updated .github/agents/copilot-coding-agent.md to add an explicit pre-completion checklist
• require the default agent to re-read the issue/request, double-check changed files + command output, and prefer complete verified outcomes
• kept this as a repository-level instruction update (not hyper-specific runtime settings)

Validation

• make compile
• make lint

Both commands completed successfully in this workspace.

• Fixes Encourage copilot agent to be more thorough #284

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What is this? | From workflow: Issue Assistant

Give us feedback! React with 🚀 if perfect, 👍 if helpful, 👎 if not. for issue #284

Summary by CodeRabbit

• Documentation
  • Added a “Before finishing” pre-completion checklist to contributor guidance in two strategic places to improve verification and final-response quality.
  • Introduced a project pull-request template with sections for summary, validation steps, and a pre-completion checklist to standardize PR submissions.

[coderabbitai]

Caution

Review failed

The pull request is closed.

📝 Walkthrough

Walkthrough

Adds a "Before finishing:" pre-completion checklist to the copilot coding agent documentation (inserted in two mirrored locations) and adds a repository PR template file with a Pre-Completion Checklist section referencing standard validation steps and placeholders.

Changes

Cohort / File(s)	Summary
Copilot agent doc .github/agents/copilot-coding-agent.md	Inserts a new "Before finishing:" checklist (4 bullets) in two locations: after the initial action guidance and after the "Verify Changes" section; only content additions, no logic changes.
Repository PR template .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md	Adds a new PR template with sections for Summary, Validation (suggested commands like make compile, make lint), and a Pre-Completion Checklist for verification and alignment with the issue.

Estimated code review effort

🎯 1 (Trivial) | ⏱️ ~3 minutes

Possibly related PRs

• Improve default Copilot agent thoroughness checks #289 — Adds a similar "Before finishing:" checklist to the same Copilot agent documentation, sharing placement and nearly identical content.

Poem

🐰 I hopped through lines and checked each part,
I skimmed the issue twice before to start,
A checklist tucked in, neat and bright,
I nudge the agent to double-check tonight,
Hooray — small steps to get it right! 🥕

🚥 Pre-merge checks | ✅ 5

✅ Passed checks (5 passed)

Check name	Status	Explanation
Description Check	✅ Passed	Check skipped - CodeRabbit’s high-level summary is enabled.
Title check	✅ Passed	The title clearly and specifically summarizes the main change: adding thoroughness checks to the Copilot agent instructions.
Linked Issues check	✅ Passed	The PR fully addresses issue #284 by adding explicit pre-completion checklist instructions requiring the agent to review the issue, verify changes, and prefer complete solutions.
Out of Scope Changes check	✅ Passed	All changes are directly related to improving agent thoroughness as specified in issue #284; no out-of-scope modifications detected.
Docstring Coverage	✅ Passed	No functions found in the changed files to evaluate docstring coverage. Skipping docstring coverage check.

_{✏️ Tip: You can configure your own custom pre-merge checks in the settings.}

✨ Finishing Touches

🧪 Generate unit tests (beta)

• Create PR with unit tests
• Post copyable unit tests in a comment
• Commit unit tests in branch main-58f683a1eb5a1564

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_{Comment @coderabbitai help to get the list of available commands and usage tips.}

[strawgate]

@copilot let's create a simple PR template that includes these items and let's also tell copilot to read the PR template and file the PR using that template

[Copilot]

@strawgate I've opened a new pull request, #290, to work on those changes. Once the pull request is ready, I'll request review from you.