Always runs 'compile' task in vscode-copilot-chat repo when other build tasks are running

[roblourens]

8cfb9af5.copilotmd

I have

### User

````md
<environment_info>
The user's current OS is: macOS
The user's default shell is: "zsh". When you generate terminal commands, please generate them correctly for this shell.
</environment_info>
<workspace_info>
The following tasks can be executed using the run_task tool if they are not already running:
<workspaceFolder path="/Users/roblou/code/vscode-copilot-chat.worktrees/some-worktree">
<task id="npm: compile">
{
"label": "compile",
"type": "npm",
"script": "compile"
}
</task>
<task id="npm: npm: watch - DO NOT USE">
{
"type": "npm",
"script": "watch",
"label": "npm: watch - DO NOT USE"
}
</task>
<task id="shell: ensure-deps">
{
"label": "ensure-deps",
"type": "shell",
"group": "build",
"isBackground": true,
"promptOnClose": false,
"command": "test -d node_modules || npm install"
}
</task>
<task id="start-watch-tasks">
{
"label": "start-watch-tasks",
"dependsOn": [
"npm: watch:tsc-extension",
"npm: watch:tsc-extension-web",
"npm: watch:tsc-simulation-workbench",
"npm: watch:esbuild"
],
"dependsOrder": "parallel",
"group": "build"
}
</task>
<task id="watch">
{
"label": "watch",
"dependsOn": [
"ensure-deps",
"start-watch-tasks"
],
"dependsOrder": "sequence",
"group": {
"kind": "build",
"isDefault": true
},
"runOptions": {
"runOn": "folderOpen"
}
}
</task>
<task id="npm: npm: watch:tsc-extension">
{
"type": "npm",
"script": "watch:tsc-extension",
"group": "build",
"isBackground": true,
"label": "npm: watch:tsc-extension"
} (This task is currently running. You can use the get_task_output tool to view its output.)
</task>
<task id="npm: npm: watch:tsc-extension-web">
{
"type": "npm",
"script": "watch:tsc-extension-web",
"group": "build",
"isBackground": true,
"label": "npm: watch:tsc-extension-web"
} (This task is currently running. You can use the get_task_output tool to view its output.)
</task>
<task id="npm: npm: watch:tsc-simulation-workbench">
{
"type": "npm",
"script": "watch:tsc-simulation-workbench",
"group": "build",
"isBackground": true,
"label": "npm: watch:tsc-simulation-workbench"
} (This task is currently running. You can use the get_task_output tool to view its output.)
</task>
<task id="npm: npm: watch:esbuild">
{
"type": "npm",
"script": "watch:esbuild",
"group": "build",
"isBackground": true,
"label": "npm: watch:esbuild"
} (This task is currently running. You can use the get_task_output tool to view its output.)
</task>
<task id="process: simulate">
{
"label": "simulate",
"type": "process",
"command": "${workspaceFolder}/script/simulate.sh",
"args": [],
"group": {
"kind": "test",
"isDefault": true
}
}
</task>

with these build tasks running all the time, but the agent constantly runs the 'compile' task to check its work

Excellent! All the compilation errors are resolved. Let me now run the build to make sure everything is working properly:
🛠️ run_task (toolu_01KJ9grvip1h6mGdcHS4EVfM) {
"workspaceFolder": "/Users/roblou/code/vscode-copilot-chat.worktrees/some-worktree",
"id": "npm: compile"
}

I don't know if we just need custom instructions pointing it at the right tasks to check, or maybe the compile task can be removed, or maybe there's something generic to get it to pay attention to the This task is currently running messages better. Using Claude a lot lately, maybe happens with other models too, I can't remember.

[meganrogge]

I think it was doing this in the vscode repo prior to @bpasero adding custom instructions to tell it explicitly to run our build task. We could do something similar for Copilot.