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+---
+description: Imports, shared components, import-schema, and gh aw add/update for GitHub Agentic Workflows
+---
+
+# Imports & Reusability
+
+Shared components eliminate duplication of tool configs, prompt instructions, MCP servers, and safe-output jobs across multiple workflows. Each consumer gets updates automatically when the shared file changes.
+
+---
+
+## Merged Fields
+
+Only these frontmatter fields are merged when a file is imported:
+
+| Field | Merge behaviour |
+|---|---|
+| `tools:`, `mcp-servers:`, `safe-outputs:`, `network:`, `permissions:`, `runtimes:`, `services:`, `cache:`, `features:` | Deep-merged |
+| `env:` | Merged; duplicate keys → compile error |
+| `github-app:`, `on.github-app:` | First-wins across imports |
+| `steps:`, `pre-steps:`, `pre-agent-steps:`, `post-steps:` | Appended in import order |
+| Markdown body | Appended as prompt instructions |
+
+All other fields (`on:`, `engine:`, `timeout-minutes:`, …) are ignored in imported files.
+
+---
+
+## `imports:` Field
+
+```yaml
+# String form
+imports:
+  - shared/reporting.md
+  - shared/mcp/tavily.md
+  - copilot-setup-steps.yml   # merges copilot-setup-steps job steps
+
+# Object form — pass values to import-schema:
+imports:
+  - uses: shared/repo-memory-standard.md
+    with:
+      branch-name: "memory/issue-triage"
+      description: "Issue triage historical data"
+  - path: shared/tool-setup.md
+    with:
+      environment: staging
+    env:
+      MY_OVERRIDE: "value"   # env vars for the import's context
+    checkout: main            # ref to check out for this import
+```
+
+`with:` values are accessed inside the shared file as `${{ github.aw.import-inputs.<name> }}`.
+
+---
+
+## `import-schema:` Field
+
+Declare typed parameters consumers must (or may) supply:
+
+```yaml
+---
+import-schema:
+  branch-name:
+    type: string
+    required: true
+    description: "Branch name for storage (e.g. memory/my-workflow)"
+  max-items:
+    type: number
+    default: 50
+    description: "Maximum items to retain"
+  environment:
+    type: choice
+    options: [dev, staging, prod]
+    required: true
+
+tools:
+  repo-memory:
+    branch-name: ${{ github.aw.import-inputs.branch-name }}
+---
+```
+
+### Input types
+
+| Type | Notes |
+|---|---|
+| `string` | Free-form text |
+| `number` | Integer or float |
+| `boolean` | `true` / `false` |
+| `choice` | Enumerated; must supply `options:` |
+| `array` | List of values |
+| `object` | Sub-fields via `${{ github.aw.import-inputs.<name>.<subkey> }}` |
+
+---
+
+## Refactoring Patterns
+
+### 1 — Extract shared MCP server / tool config
+
+Create `.github/workflows/shared/mcp/tavily.md`:
+
+```markdown
+---
+mcp-servers:
+  tavily:
+    url: "https://mcp.tavily.com/mcp/"
+    env:
+      TAVILY_API_KEY: "${{ secrets.TAVILY_API_KEY }}"
+    allowed: [search, extract]
+---
+```
+
+Each workflow imports it with one line:
+
+```yaml
+imports:
+  - shared/mcp/tavily.md
+```
+
+### 2 — Extract shared prompt instructions
+
+```markdown
+<!-- shared/keep-it-short.md -->
+---
+---
+
+Keep all output concise. Use bullet points, not paragraphs.
+Never repeat information already visible in the GitHub UI.
+```
+
+### 3 — Parameterise with `import-schema:`
+
+```markdown
+<!-- shared/jira-mcp.md -->
+---
+import-schema:
+  project-key:
+    type: string
+    required: true
+    description: "Jira project key (e.g. ENG, INFRA)"
+
+mcp-servers:
+  jira:
+    container: "mcp/jira"
+    version: "latest"
+    env:
+      JIRA_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.JIRA_TOKEN }}"
+      JIRA_PROJECT: ${{ github.aw.import-inputs.project-key }}
+    allowed: [search_issues, get_issue, list_sprints]
+---
+```
+
+```yaml
+imports:
+  - uses: shared/jira-mcp.md
+    with:
+      project-key: "ENG"
+```
+
+### 4 — Compose multiple imports
+
+```yaml
+---
+on:
+  schedule: weekly on monday
+imports:
+  - shared/mcp/tavily.md
+  - shared/gh.md
+  - shared/reporting.md
+  - uses: shared/repo-memory-standard.md
+    with:
+      branch-name: "memory/weekly-research"
+      description: "Weekly research snapshots"
+---
+
+Conduct weekly research on ${{ github.repository }} dependencies...
+```
+
+### 5 — Shared safe-output job
+
+```markdown
+<!-- shared/slack-notify.md -->
+---
+import-schema:
+  channel:
+    type: string
+    required: true
+
+safe-outputs:
+  jobs:
+    send-slack-notification:
+      description: "Post a message to Slack"
+      runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+      output: "Slack notification sent"
+      inputs:
+        message:
+          description: "Message text"
+          required: true
+          type: string
+      permissions:
+        contents: read
+      steps:
+        - name: Post to Slack
+          uses: actions/github-script@v7
+          env:
+            SLACK_TOKEN: "${{ secrets.SLACK_TOKEN }}"
+            CHANNEL: ${{ github.aw.import-inputs.channel }}
+          with:
+            script: |
+              // post message to channel
+---
+```
+
+```yaml
+imports:
+  - uses: shared/slack-notify.md
+    with:
+      channel: "#engineering-alerts"
+```
+
+---
+
+## External Imports
+
+### `gh aw add` — Install a remote shared component
+
+```bash
+gh aw add https://github.com/org/agentics/blob/main/workflows/shared/reporting.md
+```
+
+Downloaded files are stored under `.github/aw/imports/org/agentics/<sha>/`. Reference them in `imports:` by that local path. The `source:` field in the file tracks the origin for future updates.
+
+MCP equivalent: `Use the add tool with url: "<url>"`
+
+### `gh aw update` — Refresh all external imports
+
+```bash
+gh aw update
+```
+
+Re-fetches every file under `.github/aw/imports/` using its `source:` field. Follows `redirect:` and rewrites `source:` automatically.
+
+MCP equivalent: `Use the update tool`
+
+### Fields for publishable shared components
+
+```yaml
+---
+source: "org/agentics/workflows/shared/my-component.md@main"
+redirect: "org/agentics/workflows/shared/my-component-v2.md@main"
+resources:
+  - shared/mcp/dependency.md   # fetched alongside this file
+private: false                 # true → prevent gh aw add from sharing
+import-schema:
+  # ...
+---
+```
+
+---
+
+## Recommended Directory Layout
+
+```
+.github/
+└── workflows/
+    ├── my-workflow.md
+    ├── my-workflow.lock.yml        # auto-generated
+    └── shared/
+        ├── mcp/
+        │   ├── tavily.md
+        │   ├── notion.md
+        │   └── github-mcp-app.md
+        ├── reporting.md
+        ├── gh.md
+        ├── keep-it-short.md
+        └── repo-memory-standard.md
+.github/aw/
+└── imports/                        # installed via gh aw add
+    └── org/repo/<sha>/
+        └── workflows_shared_component.md
+```
+
+---
+
+## Compile-Time Behaviour
+
+- Imports are resolved at **compile time**; the `.lock.yml` loads shared `.md` bodies at **runtime** — edits to shared files take effect on the next run without recompilation.
+- **`inlined-imports: true`** — bundles all imported content at compile time (required for workflows used as repository ruleset status checks). Cannot be combined with `.github/agents/` file imports.
+- Any change to the `imports:` list in frontmatter requires recompilation: `gh aw compile <workflow-name>`.
+- Editing only the *body* of a shared `.md` file (not its frontmatter) does **not** require recompilation.
+
+---
+
+## Quick Checklist: Extracting a Shared Component
+
+1. Identify the repeated frontmatter block or prompt section
+2. Create `.github/workflows/shared/<name>.md` with the extracted content
+3. Add `import-schema:` if values differ per consuming workflow
+4. Replace the duplicated block in each workflow with an `imports:` entry
+5. Recompile: `gh aw compile` (or `gh aw compile <name>`)
+6. Verify: `gh aw compile --strict`