March 2026 freshness updates - markdown only, no image updates in this commit

Author: ChrisHowd

learn-pr/wwl-azure/get-started-github-copilot/includes/10-examine-chat-view-features.md

@@ -6,15 +6,15 @@ The Chat view interface includes three sections: a toolbar near the top, a displ
 
 To open the Chat view, you can select the **Toggle Chat** button (Copilot icon), or use the **Ctrl+Alt+I** keyboard shortcut.
 
-## Select the Chat mode
+## Select an agent
 
-The Chat view provides the following modes:
+The Chat view provides the following built-in agents:
 
-- **Ask**: Use the ask mode to ask questions about your codebase or technology concepts. You can use the ask mode explain code, suggest revisions or fixes, or provide information related to the codebase.
-- **Edit**: Use the edit mode to make edits across multiple files in your codebase. You can use edit mode to refactor code, add comments, or make other changes to your code.
-- **Agent**: Use the agent mode to start an agentic coding workflow. You can use agent mode to run commands, execute code, or perform other tasks in your workspace.
+- **Agent**: Use the Agent to start an agentic coding workflow. You can use the Agent to autonomously edit code, run commands, and perform tasks in your workspace.
+- **Plan**: Use the Plan agent to create a structured, step-by-step implementation plan for a task. The Plan agent analyzes your request, breaks it down into discrete steps, and produces a detailed plan that can be handed off to the Agent for implementation.
+- **Ask**: Use the Ask agent to ask questions about your codebase or technology concepts. You can use the Ask agent to explain code, suggest revisions or fixes, or provide information related to the codebase.
 
-To switch modes, open the **Set Mode** menu at the bottom of the Chat view, and then select **Ask**, **Edit**, or **Agent**.
+To switch agents, open the agent picker at the bottom of the Chat view, and then select **Agent**, **Plan**, or **Ask**.
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
 > When you use the Chat view in agent mode, GitHub Copilot may make multiple premium requests to complete a single task. Premium requests can be used by user-initiated prompts and follow-up actions Copilot takes on your behalf. The total number of premium requests used is based on the complexity of the task, the number of steps involved, and the model selected.
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ When you select the **Add Context** button, a menu appears that allows you to se
 - Tools: This option allows you to add tools, for example the #fetch tool, to the chat prompt. You can select one or more tools to add as context.
 - Recent Files (list of files you have recently opened in Visual Studio Code).
 
-## Use **Ask** mode
+## Use **Ask**
 
-The ask mode is optimized for asking questions about your code projects, coding topics, and general technology concepts. Ask mode is useful when you need to gain an understanding of a codebase, brainstorm ideas, or get help with coding tasks. When you enter a prompt, the AI pair programmer responds with natural language descriptions, code snippets, and other relevant information to help you with your coding tasks. Responses are displayed in the Chat view.
+The Ask agent is optimized for asking questions about your code projects, coding topics, and general technology concepts. The Ask agent is useful when you need to gain an understanding of a codebase, brainstorm ideas, or get help with coding tasks. When you enter a prompt, the AI pair programmer responds with natural language descriptions, code snippets, and other relevant information to help you with your coding tasks. Responses are displayed in the Chat view.
 
-### Manage the ask mode's code suggestions
+### Manage the Ask agent's code suggestions
 
-When the chat response contains code blocks, you can apply them individually to the corresponding file in your workspace. Copilot performs a smart apply and inserts the changes in the right location within the file.
+When the chat response contains code blocks, you can apply them individually to the corresponding file in your workspace. GitHub Copilot performs a smart apply and inserts the changes in the right location within the file.
 
 To apply a code block to your codebase, hover over the code block and select the **Apply in Editor** button. Copilot tries to apply the proposed changes to your existing code.
 
@@ -66,29 +66,25 @@ If a code block contains a shell command, you can run it directly in the integra
 
 ![Screenshot of a Copilot Chat code block with Insert into Terminal option visible.](../media/copilot-chat-view-run-in-terminal.png)
 
-## Use **Edit** mode
+## Use **Plan**
 
-The edit mode is optimized for making code update suggestions in your workspace. Edit mode is useful when you need to refactor code, add comments, or make other changes to your code. When you enter a prompt, the AI pair programmer responds with suggested code updates applied directly in the editor, where you can review them in-place, with the full context of the surrounding code. The response includes a description in the Chat view and can include edits across multiple files in your project.
+The Plan agent is optimized for creating structured, step-by-step implementation plans for complex tasks. The Plan agent is useful when you want to break down a large task into discrete steps before making changes. When you enter a prompt, the Plan agent analyzes your request, evaluates the codebase, and produces a detailed implementation plan with individual steps.
 
-![Screenshot of Copilot Chat in edit mode showing two updated files.](../media/github-copilot-edit-mode-updated-files.png)
-
-A detailed description of the suggested updates is displayed in the Chat view, along with a list of the updated files. The Chat view provides the option to keep all updates, **Keep**, or undo all updates, **Undo**.
-
-The updated files are opened in the editor with changes clearly highlighted. You can scroll through the suggested updates using up and down arrows, and make the decision to **Keep** or **Undo** individual updates. You can also make any other modifications as needed before accepting updates.
+Once the plan is generated, the Chat view displays the structured plan with a list of steps. You can review the plan, provide feedback, and refine the steps before proceeding. When you're satisfied with the plan, you can hand it off to the Agent for implementation.
 
 ### Revert edits
 
-After completing a series of code updates, you may decide that you need to roll back some of the changes. For example, you may want to use a different implementation strategy, or Copilot may have gone down the wrong path when generating edits.
+After completing a series of code updates, you may decide that you need to roll back some of the changes. For example, you may want to use a different implementation strategy, or GitHub Copilot may have gone down the wrong path when generating edits.
 
 You can use the **Undo Last Edit** control in the Chat view title bar to revert the last edits and return to the state before sending the last request. After you perform an undo of the last edit, you can redo those edits again by using the **Redo Last Edit** control in the Chat view title bar.
 
 ![Screenshot of the chat view showing the undo and redo last edit controls.](../media/github-copilot-chat-view-undo-redo-edits.png)
 
-## Use **Agent** mode
+## Use **Agent**
 
-The agent mode allows you to specify a high-level task, and let AI autonomously evaluate the request, plan the work needed, and apply the changes to your codebase. Agent mode uses a combination of code editing and tool invocation to accomplish the task you specified. As it processes your request, it monitors the outcome of edits and tools, and iterates to resolve any issues that arise. Code updates are made directly in the editor as iterations are processed. Task progress is monitored and updates are displayed in the Chat view.
+The Agent allows you to specify a high-level task, and let AI autonomously evaluate the request, plan the work needed, and apply the changes to your codebase. The Agent uses a combination of code editing and tool invocation to accomplish the task you specified. As it processes your request, it monitors the outcome of edits and tools, and iterates to resolve any issues that arise. Code updates are made directly in the editor as iterations are processed. Task progress is monitored and updates are displayed in the Chat view.
 
-Agent mode uses tools to accomplish specialized tasks while processing a user request. For example, listing the files in a directory, editing a file in your workspace, running a terminal command, or getting the output from the terminal
+The Agent uses tools to accomplish specialized tasks while processing a user request. For example, listing the files in a directory, editing a file in your workspace, running a terminal command, or getting the output from the terminal.
 
 ### Confirm tool invocations and terminal commands
 
@@ -100,4 +96,4 @@ Use the **Continue** button's dropdown options to automatically confirm the spec
 
 ## Summary
 
-The Chat view in Visual Studio Code is used to manage chat conversations between you and the AI pair programmer. The Chat view interface includes three sections: a toolbar near the top, a display area in the center, and an input and control menu at the bottom. The Chat view provides three modes: Ask, Edit, and Agent. You can add context to your chat session by specifying context within your prompts, using chat variables, or using the **Add Context** button. The ask mode is optimized for asking questions about your code projects, coding topics, and general technology concepts. The edit mode is optimized for making code update suggestions in your workspace. The agent mode allows you to specify a high-level task and let AI autonomously evaluate the request, plan the work needed, and apply the changes to your codebase.
+The Chat view in Visual Studio Code is used to manage chat conversations between you and the AI pair programmer. The Chat view interface includes three sections: a toolbar near the top, a display area in the center, and an input and control menu at the bottom. The Chat view provides three built-in agents: Agent, Plan, and Ask. You can add context to your chat session by specifying context within your prompts, using chat variables, or using the **Add Context** button. The Ask agent is optimized for asking questions about your code projects, coding topics, and general technology concepts. The Plan agent is optimized for creating structured, step-by-step implementation plans for complex tasks. The Agent allows you to specify a high-level task and let AI autonomously evaluate the request, plan the work needed, and apply the changes to your codebase.

learn-pr/wwl-azure/get-started-github-copilot/includes/11-examine-inline-chat-smart-actions-quick-chat.md

@@ -1,18 +1,18 @@
-In addition to the Chat view, GitHub Copilot Chat provides several other ways to interact with the AI pair programmer. These include inline chat, smart actions, and quick chat.
+In addition to the Chat view, GitHub Copilot Chat provides several other ways to interact with the AI pair programmer. These include inline chat and smart actions.
 
 ## Inline chat
 
 One of GitHub Copilot Chat's key features is answering questions inline as you're coding. This allows you to harness the power of AI directly within your code editor, with minimal interruption to your development workflow.
 
 The inline chat feature is only accessible when a file is open in the editor. There are several ways to open an inline chat session:
 
-- Select **Editor Inline Chat** from the Copilot Chat menu.
+- Select **Editor Inline Chat** from the GitHub Copilot Chat menu.
 - Use a keyboard shortcut: **Ctrl+I**.
 - Right-click inside the code editor, select **Copilot** from the context menu, and then select **Editor Inline Chat**.
 
-![Screenshot showing how to access the inline chat from the Copilot menu in Visual Studio Code.](../media/inline-chat-1.png)
+![Screenshot showing how to access the inline chat from the GitHub Copilot menu in Visual Studio Code.](../media/inline-chat-1.png)
 
-You can use an inline chat session to ask Copilot questions as you write or iterate your code.
+You can use an inline chat session to ask GitHub Copilot questions as you write or iterate your code.
 
 When you open an inline chat session, the following interface is presented in the Editor.
 
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ If you like the proposed code updates, you can select **Accept** and continue co
 
 ![Screenshot showing suggested update from inline chat in Visual Studio Code.](../media/inline-chat-3.png)
 
-If you don't like the proposed updates, you can ask Copilot Chat to generate another suggestion by selecting the **Rerun...** icon. The Rerun icon is displayed as a circular arrow that appears below the prompt textbox.
+If you don't like the proposed updates, you can ask GitHub Copilot Chat to generate another suggestion by selecting the **Rerun...** icon. The Rerun icon is displayed as a circular arrow that appears below the prompt textbox.
 
-If you rerun the prompt and still don't get the results you need, try updating your prompt with additional context. Copilot Chat generates better suggestions when the prompt is clear, succinct, and accurate. You can choose **Discard** to close the inline chat without making any changes.
+If you rerun the prompt and still don't get the results you need, try updating your prompt with additional context. GitHub Copilot Chat generates better suggestions when the prompt is clear, succinct, and accurate. You can choose **Discard** to close the inline chat without making any changes.
 
 ## Smart actions
 
@@ -68,12 +68,12 @@ Some tasks are so common that they can be automated. GitHub Copilot Chat include
 The following smart actions are available:
 
 - **Explain**: The `Explain` action generates a natural language description of the selected code. This can be useful for understanding the purpose and functionality of a code snippet. The `Explain` action is especially useful if you're working with unfamiliar code or need to explain the code to others.
-- **Fix**: The `Fix` action suggests a fix for the selected code. This can be helpful if you encounter an error or issue in your code and need guidance on how to resolve it. Copilot Chat can suggest changes to variables, control structures, or function calls that might resolve the issue.
+- **Fix**: The `Fix` action suggests a fix for the selected code. This can be helpful if you encounter an error or issue in your code and need guidance on how to resolve it. GitHub Copilot Chat can suggest changes to variables, control structures, or function calls that might resolve the issue.
 - **Review and Comment**: The `Review and Comment` action provides a code review of the selected code. This can be useful for identifying potential issues, improving code quality, and ensuring best practices are followed. The `Review and Comment` action can help you identify bugs, performance bottlenecks, and security vulnerabilities in your code.
 - **Generate Docs**: The `Generate Docs` action creates documentation for the selected code. This can be useful for documenting your codebase, especially if you're working on a project with multiple contributors or need to share your code with others.
 - **Generate Tests**: The `Generate Tests` action creates unit tests for the selected code. This can be helpful for ensuring the correctness and reliability of your code, especially if you're working on a project with complex logic or critical functionality.
 
-To access the smart actions, right-click on a code snippet in the editor and select the desired action from the Copilot context menu.
+To access the smart actions, right-click on a code snippet in the editor and select the desired action from the GitHub Copilot context menu.
 
 ![Screenshot showing how to access smart actions in Visual Studio Code.](../media/smart-actions-1.png)
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ You can use the **Review This** smart action to check code selections. To use th
 
 1. Select a code snippet that needs review. In this case, the code that generates the list of random numbers.
 
-1. Select **Review This** from the Copilot context menu.
+1. Select **Review This** from the GitHub Copilot context menu.
 
 1. Review the suggested updates and select **Accept** to apply the changes.
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ Fortunately, you can use the **Fix** smart action to correct the error. To use t
 
 1. Right-click on the code snippet that needs to be fixed. In this case, the code underlined in red.
 
-1. Select **Fix** from the Copilot context menu.
+1. Select **Fix** from the GitHub Copilot context menu.
 
 1. Review the suggested fix and select **Accept** to apply the changes.
 
@@ -160,18 +160,8 @@ int sum = addPrimeNumbersInNumericList(numbers.ToList());
 Console.WriteLine(sum);
 ```
 
-As always, review the suggestion provided by Copilot Chat. There may better solutions. You can select **Accept** to update your code with the proposed fix.
-
-## Quick Chat
-
-The third option that GitHub Copilot Chat provides for chat interactions is Quick Chat.
-
-You can use the Quick Chat feature of GitHub Copilot Chat when you want to have a quick, interactive conversation with the AI. This can be useful when you're trying to solve a problem, need help with understanding a piece of code, or want to brainstorm ideas. It's designed to feel like you're chatting with a fellow developer, making it a great tool for collaborative problem-solving.
-
-To open a Quick Chat window, you can press **Ctrl+Shift+Alt+L** in the Visual Studio Code editor, or you can open Quick Chat from the Copilot Chat menu.
-
-![Screenshot showing how to access the Quick Chat in Visual Studio Code.](../media/quick-chat-1.png)
+As always, review the suggestion provided by GitHub Copilot Chat. There may better solutions. You can select **Accept** to update your code with the proposed fix.
 
 ## Summary
 
-GitHub Copilot Chat provides several ways to interact with the AI pair programmer, including inline chat, smart actions, and Quick Chat. These features allow you to ask questions, get code suggestions, and perform common coding tasks quickly and easily.
+GitHub Copilot Chat provides several ways to interact with the AI pair programmer, including inline chat and smart actions. These features allow you to ask questions, get code suggestions, and perform common coding tasks quickly and easily. Inline chat enables you to ask GitHub Copilot questions directly in the editor without switching context. Smart actions provide predefined operations like explaining code, fixing errors, generating tests, and reviewing code that you can run with a single click from the context menu.