rtk-ai/rtk

`rtk init -g --copilot` overwrites `copilot-instructions.md`

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#1512 opened on Apr 25, 2026

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 (2 comments) (0 reactions) (0 assignees)Rust (48,085 stars) (2,914 forks)batch import
bugeffort-smallgood first issue

Description

Instead of appending or preprending, running rtk init -g --copilot simply replaces existing copilot-instructions.md with its own instructions. Lucky if copilot-instructions.md had already been commited and this change can be easily spotted and reverted. Goofy move otherwise.

Contributor guide

Tech stack
rust
Domain
clitooling
Issue type
bug
DifficultyEstimated implementation difficulty for a new contributor, from 1 for very small changes to 5 for expert-level work.
2
Estimated timeA rough time range for an experienced contributor to investigate, implement, test, and prepare a pull request.
under 1 hour
Activity statusHow available the issue appears right now: fresh, active, stale, blocked, or waiting on maintainer input.
fresh
ClarityHow clearly the issue explains the expected change, acceptance criteria, and next step.
clear
Prerequisites
basic Rustfile I/O understanding
Newbie friendlinessA 1-100 score estimating how approachable this issue is for first-time contributors.
75
Research direction
Look at the `rtk init g copilot` command implementation in the Rust codebase, likely in `src/commands/init.rs` or similar. The issue is that the command writes a new `copilot instructions.md` file instead of appending to or merging with any existing file. Check if there's a flag or existing behavior for append. Modify the logic to read the existing file and prepend/append the new instructions, then write back.