Create AI coding agent instructions for OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation #14770

Copilot · 2025-09-23T18:35:19Z

Updated the agent instructions to follow the agents.md format standard to generalize for any AI coding agent, not just GitHub Copilot.

Plan

Completed Work

Analyzed repository structure: 500+ modules across ~649 lines in settings.gradle.kts
Validated build timings through testing actual Gradle commands
Documented Java 21 requirement and multi-JVM testing matrix
Measured configuration phase (60-90 seconds) and full build times (20-45 minutes)
Tested code quality tools and muzzle functionality
Renamed file from copilot-instructions.md to agents.md to follow standard format
Addressed PR feedback:
- Updated telemetry collection to use ci-collect.sh for better parallelism
- Removed unnecessary removeJarVersionNumbers configuration
- Updated ./gradlew test description and added ./gradlew check command
- Removed -Ddev=true flag from test commands where not needed
- Emphasized use of AssertJ and JUnit 5 testing frameworks
- Updated environment variable usage guidance
Created comprehensive instructions covering:
- Build and test workflows with accurate timing estimates
- Repository navigation for 500+ instrumentation modules
- Development workflows for instrumentations
- Critical timeout warnings to prevent premature cancellation
- Common troubleshooting scenarios and network limitations
- Extension development patterns
- CI/CD integration patterns

Key Features

Agent-agnostic format following agents.md standard
Accurate build time estimates based on actual testing
"NEVER CANCEL" warnings with specific timeout recommendations
Step-by-step instrumentation development workflow
Common command patterns with validated syntax
Repository structure guidance for navigating 500+ modules
Network limitation documentation for sandboxed environments
Updated testing guidance emphasizing AssertJ and JUnit 5

The instructions are now generalized to work with any AI coding agent, not just GitHub Copilot, while maintaining all the technical accuracy and comprehensive guidance. All feedback from reviewers has been addressed.

Fixes #14769.

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jaydeluca · 2025-09-23T18:38:28Z

@copilot use the agents.md format (https://agents.md/) in your output as to generalize for any agent, not just copilot

…va Instrumentation Co-authored-by: jaydeluca <[email protected]>

Co-authored-by: jaydeluca <[email protected]>

Copilot · 2025-09-23T19:00:28Z

@copilot use the agents.md format (https://agents.md/) in your output as to generalize for any agent, not just copilot

Converted to agents.md format as requested. Renamed the file from copilot-instructions.md to agents.md and the content is now agent-agnostic, suitable for any AI coding agent. Commit: 717ea0a

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses (expand for details)

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

agents.md
- Triggering command: curl -s REDACTED (dns block)
- Triggering command: curl -s --max-time 10 REDACTED (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to the custom allowlist in this repository's Copilot coding agent settings (admins only)

.github/agents.md

otelbot-java-instrumentation · 2025-09-23T19:18:01Z

🔧 The result from generateLicenseReport was committed to the PR branch.

laurit · 2025-09-24T05:29:16Z

.github/agents.md

+  - `./gradlew assemble` -- builds the complete Java agent. NEVER CANCEL. Build takes 20-45 minutes. Set timeout to 60+ minutes.
+  - `./gradlew check javadoc sourcesJar -x spotlessCheck -PskipTests=true` -- builds with checks but skips tests for faster iteration
+  - The Java agent artifact will be at: `javaagent/build/libs/opentelemetry-javaagent-<version>.jar`
+- For faster local development, add `removeJarVersionNumbers=true` to `~/.gradle/gradle.properties` to keep consistent jar names


that shouldn't be necessary

@copilot remove this item

Removed the unnecessary removeJarVersionNumbers configuration item. Commit: b2e326d

laurit · 2025-09-24T05:29:55Z

.github/agents.md

+  - The Java agent artifact will be at: `javaagent/build/libs/opentelemetry-javaagent-<version>.jar`
+- For faster local development, add `removeJarVersionNumbers=true` to `~/.gradle/gradle.properties` to keep consistent jar names
+- Run tests:
+  - `./gradlew test` -- runs all tests. NEVER CANCEL. Takes 60-120 minutes across multiple Java versions. Set timeout to 180+ minutes.


doesn't run all tests, suites are attached to check

@copilot update the description for ./gradlew test accordingly. add another row that ./gradlew check will run all the tests

Updated ./gradlew test description to clarify it runs tests (not all), and added ./gradlew check which runs all tests and checks. Commit: b2e326d

laurit · 2025-09-24T05:32:01Z

.github/agents.md

+- Build validation scenario: After successful build, verify the Java agent jar exists at `javaagent/build/libs/opentelemetry-javaagent-*.jar`
+- Test validation scenarios:
+  - Run specific instrumentation tests: `./gradlew :instrumentation:<INSTRUMENTATION_NAME>:test --tests <TEST_CLASS>`
+  - Always test with `./gradlew test -Ddev=true -x spotlessCheck -x checkstyleMain` to ignore warnings during development


Does -Ddev=true work at all? Probably should be -Pdev=true. I'm not sure this should be used.

it sets a system property - see

opentelemetry-java-instrumentation/conventions/src/main/kotlin/otel.java-conventions.gradle.kts

Line 78 in bbc55b5

if (System.getProperty("dev") != "true") {

@copilot please update the line to remove that flag

Suggested change

- Always test with `./gradlew test -Ddev=true -x spotlessCheck -x checkstyleMain` to ignore warnings during development

- Always test with `./gradlew test -x spotlessCheck -x checkstyleMain`

Removed the -Ddev=true flag from the test command as requested. Commit: b2e326d

zeitlinger · 2025-09-26T10:38:31Z

.github/agents.md

+- Use `./gradlew build --scan` for detailed build analysis (may fail due to network restrictions)
+- IntelliJ users: Use module unloading to reduce resource consumption with 500+ modules
+
+### Testing Patterns


use assertj, junit 5

@copilot can you please update this to emphasize our existing testing strategies? We use assertj and junit 5

Updated the testing patterns section to emphasize the use of AssertJ and JUnit 5 as the primary testing frameworks. Commit: b2e326d

jaydeluca · 2025-09-26T16:56:24Z

.github/agents.md

+  - `./gradlew assemble` -- builds the complete Java agent. NEVER CANCEL. Build takes 20-45 minutes. Set timeout to 60+ minutes.
+  - `./gradlew check javadoc sourcesJar -x spotlessCheck -PskipTests=true` -- builds with checks but skips tests for faster iteration
+  - The Java agent artifact will be at: `javaagent/build/libs/opentelemetry-javaagent-<version>.jar`
+- For faster local development, add `removeJarVersionNumbers=true` to `~/.gradle/gradle.properties` to keep consistent jar names


@copilot remove this item

jaydeluca · 2025-09-26T16:59:26Z

.github/agents.md

+  - The Java agent artifact will be at: `javaagent/build/libs/opentelemetry-javaagent-<version>.jar`
+- For faster local development, add `removeJarVersionNumbers=true` to `~/.gradle/gradle.properties` to keep consistent jar names
+- Run tests:
+  - `./gradlew test` -- runs all tests. NEVER CANCEL. Takes 60-120 minutes across multiple Java versions. Set timeout to 180+ minutes.


@copilot update the description for ./gradlew test accordingly. add another row that ./gradlew check will run all the tests

jaydeluca · 2025-09-26T17:01:17Z

.github/agents.md

+- Build validation scenario: After successful build, verify the Java agent jar exists at `javaagent/build/libs/opentelemetry-javaagent-*.jar`
+- Test validation scenarios:
+  - Run specific instrumentation tests: `./gradlew :instrumentation:<INSTRUMENTATION_NAME>:test --tests <TEST_CLASS>`
+  - Always test with `./gradlew test -Ddev=true -x spotlessCheck -x checkstyleMain` to ignore warnings during development


@copilot please update the line to remove that flag

Suggested change

- Always test with `./gradlew test -Ddev=true -x spotlessCheck -x checkstyleMain` to ignore warnings during development

- Always test with `./gradlew test -x spotlessCheck -x checkstyleMain`

jaydeluca · 2025-09-26T17:06:14Z

.github/agents.md

+- Use `./gradlew build --scan` for detailed build analysis (may fail due to network restrictions)
+- IntelliJ users: Use module unloading to reduce resource consumption with 500+ modules
+
+### Testing Patterns


@copilot can you please update this to emphasize our existing testing strategies? We use assertj and junit 5

jaydeluca · 2025-09-26T17:06:48Z

.github/agents.md

+- `TESTCONTAINERS_DOCKER_SOCKET_OVERRIDE` - Docker socket location
+- `TESTCONTAINERS_HOST_OVERRIDE` - Container-to-container communication host
+- `USE_LINUX_CONTAINERS=1` - Force Linux containers on Windows
+- Set `-Ddev=true` for development to ignore warnings in tests


Suggested change

- Set `-Ddev=true` for development to ignore warnings in tests

- Set `-Ddev=true` for development to ignore warnings in tests - only when necessary

Updated the environment variable description to clarify -Ddev=true should only be used when necessary. Commit: b2e326d

… emphasize testing framework Co-authored-by: jaydeluca <[email protected]>

Initial plan

46bbb04

Copilot AI assigned Copilot and jaydeluca Sep 23, 2025

Copilot started work on behalf of jaydeluca September 23, 2025 18:35 View session

Create comprehensive GitHub Copilot instructions for OpenTelemetry Ja…

b5bfba4

…va Instrumentation Co-authored-by: jaydeluca <[email protected]>

Copilot AI changed the title ~~[WIP] Set up Copilot instructions~~ Create comprehensive GitHub Copilot instructions for OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation Sep 23, 2025

Copilot AI requested a review from jaydeluca September 23, 2025 18:57

Copilot finished work on behalf of jaydeluca September 23, 2025 18:57

Copilot started work on behalf of jaydeluca September 23, 2025 18:57 View session

Rename copilot-instructions.md to agents.md for agent-agnostic format

717ea0a

Co-authored-by: jaydeluca <[email protected]>

Copilot AI changed the title ~~Create comprehensive GitHub Copilot instructions for OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation~~ Create comprehensive AI coding agent instructions for OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation Sep 23, 2025

Copilot finished work on behalf of jaydeluca September 23, 2025 19:01

jaydeluca reviewed Sep 23, 2025

View reviewed changes

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Update .github/agents.md

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jaydeluca changed the title ~~Create comprehensive AI coding agent instructions for OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation~~ Create AI coding agent instructions for OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation Sep 23, 2025

./gradlew generateLicenseReport

7667390

jaydeluca marked this pull request as ready for review September 23, 2025 20:03

jaydeluca requested a review from a team as a code owner September 23, 2025 20:03

jaydeluca approved these changes Sep 23, 2025

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laurit reviewed Sep 24, 2025

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zeitlinger reviewed Sep 26, 2025

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jaydeluca reviewed Sep 26, 2025

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Copilot started work on behalf of jaydeluca September 26, 2025 17:07 View session

Address PR feedback: update test commands, remove unnecessary config,…

b2e326d

… emphasize testing framework Co-authored-by: jaydeluca <[email protected]>

Copilot AI requested a review from jaydeluca September 26, 2025 17:11

Copilot finished work on behalf of jaydeluca September 26, 2025 17:11

	- Always test with `./gradlew test -Ddev=true -x spotlessCheck -x checkstyleMain` to ignore warnings during development
	- Always test with `./gradlew test -x spotlessCheck -x checkstyleMain`

	- Set `-Ddev=true` for development to ignore warnings in tests
	- Set `-Ddev=true` for development to ignore warnings in tests - only when necessary

Create AI coding agent instructions for OpenTelemetry Java Instrumentation #14770

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Plan

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Key Features

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jaydeluca commented Sep 23, 2025

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Copilot AI commented Sep 23, 2025 •

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