# copilot-goal-skill

Runs a task in a loop: one subagent builds, a second judges the result with fresh context until the goal is met.

- plugin · `type=plugin` · GitHub Copilot · ★ 17
- Author: Gaetan Semet
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/gsemet/copilot-goal-skill/tree/HEAD/plugins/copilot-goal-skill
- Updated: 2026-10-01
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/plugins/copilot-goal-skill

## What it does

The plugin ships a `goal` skill that keeps working until the goal is reached. It interviews you with clarifying questions until the goal has measurable acceptance criteria, then explores the repo for conventions, quality gates and commit rules. The result is an immutable `goal.md` that acts as the single source of truth.

The loop itself: a Builder subagent implements and commits, then a separate Inspector on a different model with fresh context verifies the work against the goal. On FAIL the Builder gets the feedback and tries again. Every iteration lands in git, so you can read the history of coder and inspector decisions. When the Inspector returns PASS, you get a summary plus a ready squash command.

Default models are GPT-5.6 Luna (copilot) for the Builder and GPT-6.1 Sol (copilot) for the Inspector; the skill itself runs on GPT-6 Luna (copilot). Models live in `goal-builder.agent.md` and `goal-inspector.agent.md`. There is no iteration cap, though a soft warning appears at 5. Copilot YOLO mode is what makes this usable — without it the loop keeps stopping for approvals.

Artifacts go to `.goals/<id>/`: `goal.md`, `status.json` for iteration tracking and resumability, `inspector-feedback-01.md` and later rounds, and `summary.md` after PASS.

## Install

### GitHub Copilot (native platform)

**Command from the source**
```bash
copilot plugin install copilot-goal-skill@awesome-copilot
```

## When to use it
- finish a task without approving every step by hand
- get an independent verdict instead of the same agent grading itself
- turn a vague request into measurable acceptance criteria
- trace a failed iteration through git history
- resume an interrupted loop from `status.json`

## Example prompts
- /copilot-goal-skill:goal Add retry logic to the API client
- /copilot-goal-skill:goal Finish the migration to the new config format
- /copilot-goal-skill:goal Fix the failing tests in the payments module

## Source text · copilot-goal-skill · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: ede70dcdaab2b30a.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE ede70dcdaab2b30a
````text
# Goal Skill for GitHub Copilot

**Verified autonomous task completion** — an orchestrator that bounces
between a Builder (does the work) and an Inspector (judges the result)
until the goal is met.

> [!TIP]
> You need to enable [Copilot YOLO mode](vscode://settings/chat.tools.global.autoApprove)
> to use this skill efficiently.

![Goal Skill Workflow](images/goal-loop.svg)

## Important: Why Not Just Autopilot?

[Autopilot](https://code.visualstudio.com/updates/v1_124#_autopilot-preview) is a similar feature
directly provided by Copilot. It used to use hardcoded rules to find out if a task is done,
which was not reliable.

> [!IMPORTANT]
>
> Starting [VS Code 1.124](https://code.visualstudio.com/updates/v1_124#_autopilot-preview),
> **Autopilot CAN be configured to use an utility model to evaluate to completion of the task**,
> instead of relying on custom rules.
>
> For that you need to set [chat.autopilot.advanced.enabled](vscode://settings/chat.autopilot.advanced.enabled)
> to `true` in your VS Code settings.
>
> However, **this skill is not deprecated** by Autopilot if you care about the following:
>
> - the `goal.md` is clearly defined, written in your repository
> - Use a smarter model for inspector (Autopilot uses a small utility model)
> - Git audit trail (you can see in the history the different review, retry, ...)

## How It Works

1. **Relentless interview** — asks clarifying questions until it can
   write a clear goal with measurable acceptance criteria
2. **Project discovery** — explores your repo for conventions, quality
   gates, commit rules
3. **Writes a goal file** — immutable `goal.md` with acceptance criteria
   that becomes the single source of truth
4. **Builder → Inspector loop** — the Builder implements and commits;
   a separate Inspector (different model, fresh context) independently
   verifies against the goal; if FAIL, the Builder gets feedback and
   tries again
5. **Git commit trail** — each iteration is committed,
   so you can review the history of coder and inspector decisions
6. **Summary and squash** — when the Inspector says PASS, you get a
   summary and a ready-to-use squash command

## Architecture

Run the Goal skill with **GPT-6 Luna (copilot)**. The default subagent models are:

| Agent         | Model                  | Role                   |
| ------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------------- |
| **Builder**   | GPT-5.6 Luna (copilot) | Implements the goal    |
| **Inspector** | GPT-6.1 Sol (copilot)  | Verifies independently |

The Inspector runs on a separate model with fresh context by design —
it forces clear, verifiable acceptance criteria. If the Inspector
can't tell whether the goal is met, the goal was poorly defined.

## Installation

### Marketplace

Install this project as Marketplace in [VS code settings](vscode://settings/chat.plugins.marketplaces):

```raw
https://github.com/gsemet/copilot-goal-skill.git
```

### Manual

Clone this repo and point VS Code at it as a Copilot plugin:

```jsonc
// .vscode/settings.json
{
  "github.copilot.chat.agent-plugins": [
    "/path/to/copilot-goal-skill/plugins/copilot-goal-skill"
  ]
}
```

Or install from the marketplace if your setup supports
`marketplace.json`-based plugins.

## Usage

Invoke the skill through Copilot chat:

```raw
/copilot-goal-skill:goal Add retry logic to the API client
```

The skill will:

1. Ask you clarifying questions until the goal is clear
2. Write `.goals/<id>/goal.md`
3. Start the Builder → Inspector loop
4. Show a summary and squash command when done

## Skill documentation

Read [`docs/goal.md`](docs/goal.md) for an explanation of the workflow, its
artifacts, verification boundaries, and the value it brings to users.

## File Structure

When the skill runs, it creates in your project:

```raw
.goals/<id>/
├── goal.md                     # What must be achieved (immutable)
├── status.json                 # Iteration tracking + resumability
├── inspector-feedback-01.md    # First iteration feedback
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE ede70dcdaab2b30a

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the ede70dcdaab2b30a tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 4054 of 5229 bytes. © Gaetan Semet · MIT · https://github.com/gsemet/copilot-goal-skill/tree/HEAD/plugins/copilot-goal-skill

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