feat(agents): add DT coach agent with tiered instruction loading by chaosdinosaur · Pull Request #656 · microsoft/hve-core

chaosdinosaur · 2026-02-18T02:16:49Z

Pull Request

Description

Add dt-coach.agent.md as the single conversational Design Thinking coaching agent.

Implement Think/Speak/Empower coaching philosophy governing all responses
Define tiered instruction loading: ambient (automatic), method (pattern-matched), on-demand (read_file)
Reference all four ambient-tier instruction files (identity, quality, sequencing, state)
Implement hat-switching logic for seamless method transitions
Integrate progressive hint engine with 4-level escalation
Add session management with coaching state initialization and recovery
Define method routing with non-linear iteration support
Include context refresh protocol and artifact management

Note

This PR depends on #642, #645, #650, #651, #652, #653 (Phase 1 foundation) and #654 (coaching state protocol) being merged first.

Related Issue(s)

Closes #579

Type of Change

Select all that apply:

Code & Documentation:

Bug fix (non-breaking change fixing an issue)
New feature (non-breaking change adding functionality)
Breaking change (fix or feature causing existing functionality to change)
Documentation update

Infrastructure & Configuration:

AI Artifacts:

Reviewed contribution with prompt-builder agent and addressed all feedback
Copilot instructions (.github/instructions/*.instructions.md)
Copilot prompt (.github/prompts/*.prompt.md)
Copilot agent (.github/agents/*.agent.md)
Copilot skill (.github/skills/*/SKILL.md)

Other:

Script/automation (.ps1, .sh, .py)
Other (please describe):

Testing

Checklist

Required Checks

Documentation is updated (if applicable)
Files follow existing naming conventions
Changes are backwards compatible (if applicable)
Tests added for new functionality (if applicable)

Required Automated Checks

The following validation commands must pass before merging:

Markdown linting: npm run lint:md
Spell checking: npm run spell-check
Frontmatter validation: npm run lint:frontmatter
Skill structure validation: npm run validate:skills
Link validation: npm run lint:md-links
PowerShell analysis: npm run lint:ps

Security Considerations

This PR does not contain any sensitive or NDA information
Any new dependencies have been reviewed for security issues
Security-related scripts follow the principle of least privilege

Additional Notes

🎴 Generated by Copilot

Single conversational agent implementing Think/Speak/Empower philosophy, hat-switching, progressive hint engine, and session management for the 9-method DT framework Closes microsoft#579 🎓 - Generated by Copilot

codecov-commenter · 2026-02-18T02:20:27Z

Codecov Report

✅ All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests.
✅ Project coverage is 85.82%. Comparing base (5a5be4e) to head (b0047f8).

Additional details and impacted files

@@            Coverage Diff             @@
##             main     #656      +/-   ##
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- Coverage   85.84%   85.82%   -0.03%     
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  Files          24       24              
  Lines        4769     4769              
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- Hits         4094     4093       -1     
- Misses        675      676       +1

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Copilot

Pull request overview

This PR introduces a new Design Thinking coaching agent (dt-coach.agent.md) that implements a conversational coaching workflow for guiding teams through 9 Design Thinking methods. The agent establishes a Think/Speak/Empower coaching philosophy, implements tiered instruction loading (ambient, method-tier, on-demand), and provides session management capabilities with coaching state persistence. This is part of a larger Design Thinking for HVE initiative (Phase 2 per issue #579) that depends on foundation instruction files from Phase 1.

Changes:

Add dt-coach.agent.md with coaching philosophy, session management, and method routing guidance
Define tiered instruction loading system with references to 4 ambient instruction files
Implement hat-switching, progressive hint engine, and artifact management patterns

.github/agents/dt-coach.agent.md

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot

Pull request overview

Copilot reviewed 1 out of 1 changed files in this pull request and generated 4 comments.

.github/agents/dt-coach.agent.md

…osaur/hve-core into feat/579-dt-coach-agent

…ion in DT coach agent

Copilot

Pull request overview

Copilot reviewed 4 out of 4 changed files in this pull request and generated 3 comments.

.github/agents/dt-coach.agent.md

.github/agents/design-thinking/dt-coach.agent.md

plugins/hve-core-all/README.md

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot

Pull request overview

Copilot reviewed 4 out of 4 changed files in this pull request and generated 4 comments.

.github/agents/dt-coach.agent.md

🔧 - Generated by Copilot

…clarity

Copilot

Pull request overview

Copilot reviewed 4 out of 4 changed files in this pull request and generated 1 comment.

.github/agents/design-thinking/dt-coach.agent.md

Move dt-coach.agent.md to .github/agents/design-thinking/ to align with collection-based directory organization per microsoft#643. Update collection YAML path and regenerate plugin outputs. 🔀 - Generated by Copilot

…agent - align with writing-style.instructions.md conventions - use colons for explanations and periods for emphasis ✏️ - Generated by Copilot

… documentation

Removed the 'dt-coach' entry from the README, which described a Design Thinking coach.

…pdate related documentation

…osaur/hve-core into feat/579-dt-coach-agent

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

WilliamBerryiii · 2026-02-18T20:19:58Z

Thank you for your contribution, @chaosdinosaur. We restructured the PR description to follow the project's pull request template. Please review the updated description and check any additional boxes that apply to your changes.

…te related documentation

.github/agents/design-thinking/dt-coach.agent.md

# Conflicts: # collections/design-thinking.collection.md # collections/hve-core-all.collection.yml # plugins/hve-core-all/README.md

🔍 - Generated by Copilot

#657) # Pull Request ## Description Add `dt-start-project.prompt.md` as the entry point for starting new Design Thinking coaching projects. - Create prompt file delegating to `dt-coach` agent - Define input variables for project name and optional context - Specify state directory initialization requirements - Include frozen/fluid classification and Method 1 entry - Add activation instruction for coaching kickoff > [!NOTE] > This PR depends on #656 (dt-coach agent) being merged first. ## Related Issue(s) Closes #580 ## Type of Change Select all that apply: **Code & Documentation:** - [ ] Bug fix (non-breaking change fixing an issue) - [x] New feature (non-breaking change adding functionality) - [ ] Breaking change (fix or feature causing existing functionality to change) - [ ] Documentation update **Infrastructure & Configuration:** - [ ] GitHub Actions workflow - [ ] Linting configuration (markdown, PowerShell, etc.) - [ ] Security configuration - [ ] DevContainer configuration - [ ] Dependency update **AI Artifacts:** - [ ] Reviewed contribution with `prompt-builder` agent and addressed all feedback - [ ] Copilot instructions (`.github/instructions/*.instructions.md`) - [x] Copilot prompt (`.github/prompts/*.prompt.md`) - [ ] Copilot agent (`.github/agents/*.agent.md`) - [ ] Copilot skill (`.github/skills/*/SKILL.md`) **Other:** - [ ] Script/automation (`.ps1`, `.sh`, `.py`) - [ ] Other (please describe): ## Testing  ## Checklist ### Required Checks - [x] Documentation is updated (if applicable) - [x] Files follow existing naming conventions - [x] Changes are backwards compatible (if applicable) - [ ] Tests added for new functionality (if applicable) ### Required Automated Checks The following validation commands must pass before merging: - [ ] Markdown linting: `npm run lint:md` - [ ] Spell checking: `npm run spell-check` - [ ] Frontmatter validation: `npm run lint:frontmatter` - [ ] Skill structure validation: `npm run validate:skills` - [ ] Link validation: `npm run lint:md-links` - [ ] PowerShell analysis: `npm run lint:ps` ## Security Considerations - [x] This PR does not contain any sensitive or NDA information - [x] Any new dependencies have been reviewed for security issues - [x] Security-related scripts follow the principle of least privilege ## Additional Notes 🚀 Generated by Copilot --------- Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com> Co-authored-by: Allen Greaves <allengreaves@microsoft.com>

🤖 I have created a release *beep* *boop* --- ## [3.0.0](hve-core-v2.3.10...hve-core-v3.0.0) (2026-02-20) ### ⚠ BREAKING CHANGES * **skills:** migrate PR reference generation to self-contained skill ([#669](#669)) * restructure RPI collection to HVE Core naming convention ([#668](#668)) ### ✨ Features * **agents:** add agile-coach agent ([#562](#562)) ([de8d86c](de8d86c)) * **agents:** add DT coach agent with tiered instruction loading ([#656](#656)) ([206d3a7](206d3a7)) * **agents:** add product manager advisor and UX/UI designer agents ([#627](#627)) ([539eb8a](539eb8a)) * **agents:** add system architecture reviewer for design trade-offs and ADR creation ([#626](#626)) ([de5cfd6](de5cfd6)) * **build:** pin devcontainer image and align tool parity ([#704](#704)) ([6258b1c](6258b1c)) * **design-thinking:** add manufacturing industry context template ([#682](#682)) ([ce864bf](ce864bf)) * **instructions:** add DT coaching state protocol for session persistence ([#654](#654)) ([5a5be4e](5a5be4e)) * **instructions:** add dt-coaching-identity ambient instruction ([#642](#642)) ([6209a0d](6209a0d)) * **instructions:** add dt-method-01-deep for advanced scope conversation techniques ([#673](#673)) ([cc92ef9](cc92ef9)) * **instructions:** add dt-method-03-deep for advanced input synthesis techniques ([#676](#676)) ([0079a4f](0079a4f)) * **instructions:** add dt-method-09-deep instructions for Method 9 advanced coaching ([#703](#703)) ([150b2a6](150b2a6)) * **instructions:** add dt-method-sequencing ambient instruction ([#650](#650)) ([e465b2f](e465b2f)) * **instructions:** add dt-quality-constraints and design-thinking collection ([#645](#645)) ([17002bd](17002bd)) * **instructions:** add DT-to-RPI handoff contract specification ([#679](#679)) ([87f9962](87f9962)) * **instructions:** add energy industry context template ([#687](#687)) ([41088d8](41088d8)) * **instructions:** add healthcare industry context template ([#686](#686)) ([b2d5281](b2d5281)) * **instructions:** add Method 1 Scope Conversations coaching knowledge ([#651](#651)) ([93e2d48](93e2d48)) * **instructions:** add Method 2 Design Research coaching knowledge ([#652](#652)) ([30f7f3b](30f7f3b)) * **instructions:** add Method 3 Input Synthesis coaching knowledge ([#653](#653)) ([1efdb7d](1efdb7d)) * **instructions:** add Method 7 High-Fidelity Prototypes coaching instruction ([#666](#666)) ([9233eab](9233eab)) * **instructions:** add pull request instructions for PR generation workflow ([#706](#706)) ([73d23eb](73d23eb)) * **instructions:** create DT curriculum content (9 modules) ([#690](#690)) ([9f7378f](9f7378f)), closes [#617](#617) * **instructions:** create dt-method-02-deep.instructions.md ([#700](#700)) ([4d4d0ca](4d4d0ca)) * **instructions:** create dt-method-06-lofi-prototypes.instructions.md ([#684](#684)) ([4d5f757](4d5f757)) * **instructions:** create dt-method-07-deep.instructions.md ([#678](#678)) ([d3ec70d](d3ec70d)) * **instructions:** Create dt-method-08-deep.instructions.md ([#683](#683)) ([d9e1115](d9e1115)) * **instructions:** create dt-method-08-testing.instructions.md ([#681](#681)) ([3008ad8](3008ad8)) * **instructions:** create dt-method-09-iteration.instructions.md ([#685](#685)) ([9d7f4f5](9d7f4f5)) * **instructions:** create dt-rpi-research-context.instructions.md ([#689](#689)) ([34c7b89](34c7b89)) * **instructions:** create manufacturing reference learning scenario ([#692](#692)) ([1bd3994](1bd3994)) * **instructions:** Design Thinking Method 4 brainstorming instruction file ([#664](#664)) ([06f90b0](06f90b0)) * **prompts:** add DT start-project prompt for coaching initialization ([#657](#657)) ([ce583d5](ce583d5)) * **prompts:** add dt-resume-coaching prompt for session recovery ([#665](#665)) ([11b93cb](11b93cb)) * **prompts:** create dt-handoff-problem-space.prompt.md ([#688](#688)) ([277963d](277963d)) * **scripts:** add collection-level maturity field with validation, gating, and notices ([#697](#697)) ([7b1c8e8](7b1c8e8)) * **scripts:** add per-violation CI annotations and colorized console output ([#637](#637)) ([bd7d512](bd7d512)) * **skills:** edit SKILL frontmatter schema, add CI validation, and documentation ([#625](#625)) ([0138a78](0138a78)) * **skills:** mandate unit testing and document language support ([#636](#636)) ([9263617](9263617)) * **skills:** migrate PR reference generation to self-contained skill ([#669](#669)) ([cf8805f](cf8805f)) ### 🐛 Bug Fixes * **collections:** migrate artifacts into collection-based subdirectories ([#658](#658)) ([dfa5261](dfa5261)) * **instructions:** optimize Phase 1 DT token budgets and close [#564](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/564)/[#565](https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/issues/565) gaps ([#675](#675)) ([4f42f00](4f42f00)) * **scripts:** add CI annotations and step summary to copyright header check ([#638](#638)) ([5fa6328](5fa6328)) * **scripts:** add grouped link-lang console diagnostics and failure summary ([#661](#661)) ([4d6871f](4d6871f)) * **scripts:** add per-violation Write-Host and Write-CIAnnotation output to Test-DependencyPinning ([#640](#640)) ([9d3b71d](9d3b71d)) * **scripts:** align agent frontmatter schema with VS Code spec ([#469](#469)) ([254d445](254d445)) * **scripts:** optimize PSScriptAnalyzer linting performance in WSL2 ([#667](#667)) ([f120b93](f120b93)) * **scripts:** stabilize YAML display key ordering in collection manifest ([#701](#701)) ([73c0d2c](73c0d2c)) * **scripts:** use text stubs for plugin links when symlinks unavailable ([#695](#695)) ([d7650a3](d7650a3)) * **skills:** fix powershell test coverage in pr-reference skill ([#699](#699)) ([408e6b7](408e6b7)) ### 📚 Documentation * **dt:** add Method 5 Concepts and Method 6 Lo-Fi Prototypes instructions ([#693](#693)) ([cfdcf11](cfdcf11)) * **hve-guide:** add role-based guides and project lifecycle documentation ([#663](#663)) ([17a85da](17a85da)) ### ♻️ Refactoring * restructure RPI collection to HVE Core naming convention ([#668](#668)) ([120dde0](120dde0)) * **scripts:** consolidate duplicate logging into shared SecurityHelpers module ([#655](#655)) ([627a877](627a877)) * **scripts:** use shared SecurityHelpers and CIHelpers modules in security scripts ([#705](#705)) ([3a0baa7](3a0baa7)) ### 🔧 Maintenance * **deps-dev:** bump markdownlint-cli2 from 0.20.0 to 0.21.0 in the npm-dependencies group ([#609](#609)) ([1486dd7](1486dd7)) --- This PR was generated with [Release Please](https://github.com/googleapis/release-please). See [documentation](https://github.com/googleapis/release-please#release-please). Co-authored-by: hve-core-release-please[bot] <254602402+hve-core-release-please[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

feat(agents): add DT coach agent with tiered instruction loading

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Single conversational agent implementing Think/Speak/Empower philosophy, hat-switching, progressive hint engine, and session management for the 9-method DT framework Closes microsoft#579 🎓 - Generated by Copilot

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chaosdinosaur added 2 commits February 17, 2026 18:47

Merge branch 'feat/579-dt-coach-agent' of https://github.com/chaosdin…

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…osaur/hve-core into feat/579-dt-coach-agent

Add handoff options for learning, research, planning, and implementat…

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…ion in DT coach agent

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chaosdinosaur added 2 commits February 17, 2026 19:10

chore(build): regenerate plugin outputs for table format compliance

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feat(prompts): add DT start-project prompt for coaching initialization #657

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chaosdinosaur changed the base branch from main to epic/design-thinking-coaching February 18, 2026 16:59

chaosdinosaur and others added 7 commits February 18, 2026 09:06

refactor(agents): move dt-coach agent to design-thinking subfolder

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Move dt-coach.agent.md to .github/agents/design-thinking/ to align with collection-based directory organization per microsoft#643. Update collection YAML path and regenerate plugin outputs. 🔀 - Generated by Copilot

style(agents): replace em dashes with colons and periods in dt-coach …

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…agent - align with writing-style.instructions.md conventions - use colons for explanations and periods for emphasis ✏️ - Generated by Copilot

feat(design-thinking): add Design Thinking coaching agent and related…

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… documentation

Remove 'dt-coach' entry from README

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Removed the 'dt-coach' entry from the README, which described a Design Thinking coach.

feat(design-thinking): integrate Design Thinking coaching agent and u…

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…pdate related documentation

Merge branch 'feat/579-dt-coach-agent' of https://github.com/chaosdin…

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…osaur/hve-core into feat/579-dt-coach-agent

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chaosdinosaur changed the base branch from epic/design-thinking-coaching to main February 18, 2026 21:49

chaosdinosaur added 2 commits February 18, 2026 13:54

feat(design-thinking): add DT coaching identity instructions and upda…

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…te related documentation

Merge branch 'main' into feat/579-dt-coach-agent

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feat(coaching): clarify hat-switching concept in coaching philosophy

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Merge remote-tracking branch 'origin/main' into feat/579-dt-coach-agent

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# Conflicts: # collections/design-thinking.collection.md # collections/hve-core-all.collection.yml # plugins/hve-core-all/README.md

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agreaves-ms merged commit 206d3a7 into microsoft:main Feb 19, 2026
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chore(main): release hve-core 3.0.0 #644

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feat(agents): add DT coach agent with tiered instruction loading#656

feat(agents): add DT coach agent with tiered instruction loading#656
agreaves-ms merged 24 commits intomicrosoft:mainfrom
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Pull Request

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