feat: add "Optimize token consumption" section to agent failure issues when a guardrail triggers by Copilot · Pull Request #39069 · github/gh-aw

Copilot · 2026-06-13T11:49:32Z

Agent failure issues caused by guardrail limits (max-ai-credits, max-daily-ai-credits, max-tool-denials, max-turns/timeout) previously only offered a "Debug" path. This adds an "Optimize token consumption" details section inserted before the debug section, giving a direct path to reduce costs rather than just re-investigate the failure.

New files

optimize.md — Root-level self-contained loader (mirrors debug.md): installs gh aw, then delegates to .github/aw/optimize-agentic-workflow.md
.github/aw/optimize-agentic-workflow.md — Optimization prompt with guardrail-specific entry points (max-ai-credits, max-daily-ai-credits, max-tool-denials, max-turns/timeout), a structured analysis plan (measure → identify top cost drivers → quick wins → sub-agents → experiment → validate), and editing workflow
.github/skills/optimize-agentic-workflow/SKILL.md — Proper skill (with name: + description: frontmatter) exposing the same optimization guidance; referenced by the agentic-workflows router for "Optimize token usage and cost" tasks
actions/setup/md/optimize_token_consumption_context.md — Template rendered into the issue section:

<details>
<summary>Optimize token consumption</summary>

This failure was triggered by a guardrail limit (max-ai-credits). Use this prompt with any coding agent...

Optimize the agentic workflow token consumption using https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/gh-aw/main/optimize.md

The workflow run is at {run_url}

</details>
```

### Modified files

- **`agent_failure_issue.md`** — Adds `{optimize_token_consumption_context}` placeholder before the "Debug with any coding agent" section
- **`handle_agent_failure.cjs`** — Adds `buildOptimizeTokenConsumptionContext({ maxAICreditsExceeded, hasDailyAICExceeded, hasToolDenialsExceeded, isTimedOut, runUrl })` — returns empty string when no guardrail was triggered; wired into the issue template context only (not the comment)
- **`handle_agent_failure.test.cjs`** — 6 new tests covering the no-op case, each guardrail label, and priority ordering
- **`agentic_workflows_fallback_aw_files.json`** — Syncs `optimize-agentic-workflow.md` into the fallback file list
- **`.github/skills/agentic-workflows/SKILL.md`** — Routes "Optimize token usage and cost" tasks to the new `.github/skills/optimize-agentic-workflow/SKILL.md` skill

…for guardrail failures Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>

Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot

Pull request overview

Adds an “Optimize token consumption” path to guardrail-triggered agent failure issues, so users can reduce AI cost/turn usage directly (instead of only debugging). This extends the agent-failure issue template, adds a rendered details block template, and introduces new optimization prompt/skill content that can be loaded via fallback files.

Changes:

Add an optimize_token_consumption_context details section (template + renderer) and wire it into agent-failure issue creation when guardrails trigger.
Introduce new optimization prompt content (optimize.md, .github/aw/optimize-agentic-workflow.md) and a dedicated skill (.github/skills/optimize-agentic-workflow/SKILL.md).
Sync the new .github/aw/optimize-agentic-workflow.md into the fallback file list and reference it from the router skill.

Show a summary per file

File	Description
pkg/cli/data/agentic_workflows_fallback_aw_files.json	Adds `optimize-agentic-workflow.md` to the fallback `.github/aw` file set.
optimize.md	New root-level loader prompt that installs `gh aw` and delegates to the optimization prompt.
actions/setup/md/optimize_token_consumption_context.md	New issue-template snippet rendered when a guardrail triggers.
actions/setup/md/agent_failure_issue.md	Inserts `{optimize_token_consumption_context}` before the existing debug section.
actions/setup/js/handle_agent_failure.cjs	Adds `buildOptimizeTokenConsumptionContext(...)` and threads it into issue template context.
actions/setup/js/handle_agent_failure.test.cjs	Adds unit tests for `buildOptimizeTokenConsumptionContext` guardrail rendering and priority.
.github/skills/optimize-agentic-workflow/SKILL.md	New skill describing a guardrail-aware token/cost optimization workflow.
.github/skills/agentic-workflows/SKILL.md	Adds `.github/aw/optimize-agentic-workflow.md` to the router’s load list.
.github/aw/optimize-agentic-workflow.md	New optimization prompt with guardrail entry points and a structured improvement plan.

Copilot's findings

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Files reviewed: 9/9 changed files
Comments generated: 3

 - `.github/aw/messages.md`
 - `.github/aw/network.md`
+- `.github/aw/optimize-agentic-workflow.md`
 - `.github/aw/patterns.md`


+- GitHub CLI (`gh`) is installed and authenticated
+- The installation script completed without errors
+- `~/.local/share/gh/extensions` is in your PATH


+After measuring token usage, produce a prioritized plan:
+
+1. **Measure** — run `gh aw audit <run-id>` and summarize AI Credits and per-call token breakdown
+2. **Identify top cost drivers** — list the three most expensive phases/tool calls
+3. **Apply quick wins first** — DataOps pre-steps, `gh-proxy`, `cli-proxy`, prompt trimming


pelikhan · 2026-06-13T13:40:54Z

 **Assign this issue to an agent** to debug and fix the issue.

-<details>
+{optimize_token_consumption_context}<details>


@copilot must have a new line

Fixed in the latest commit — {optimize_token_consumption_context} now occupies its own line before the <details> block.

Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>

feat: add optimize token consumption section to agent failure issues …

44b757a

…for guardrail failures Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot AI assigned Copilot and pelikhan Jun 13, 2026

Copilot AI changed the title ~~feat: add "Optimize token consumption" section to agent failure issues for guardrail failures~~ feat: add "Optimize token consumption" section to agent failure issues when a guardrail triggers Jun 13, 2026

Copilot created this pull request from a session on behalf of pelikhan June 13, 2026 11:50 View session

Copilot finished work on behalf of pelikhan June 13, 2026 11:50

Copilot AI requested a review from pelikhan June 13, 2026 11:50

pelikhan reviewed Jun 13, 2026

View reviewed changes

Comment thread .github/aw/optimize-agentic-workflow.md

Copilot started work on behalf of pelikhan June 13, 2026 12:30 View session

Copilot AI and others added 2 commits June 13, 2026 12:37

plan: refactor optimize-agentic-workflow.md as a skill

2f12fb4

Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>

feat: refactor optimize-agentic-workflow.md as a proper skill

efb4bd8

Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of pelikhan June 13, 2026 12:47

Copilot AI requested a review from pelikhan June 13, 2026 12:47

github-actions Bot mentioned this pull request Jun 13, 2026

[PR Triage Report] PR Triage Report - 2026-06-13 (Run 27467268452) #39074

Closed

pelikhan marked this pull request as ready for review June 13, 2026 13:14

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings June 13, 2026 13:14

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of pelikhan June 13, 2026 13:14 View session

Copilot AI reviewed Jun 13, 2026

View reviewed changes

pelikhan reviewed Jun 13, 2026

View reviewed changes

Copilot started work on behalf of pelikhan June 13, 2026 13:41 View session

fix: add newline between optimize context placeholder and debug details

7626e21

Co-authored-by: pelikhan <4175913+pelikhan@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot finished work on behalf of pelikhan June 13, 2026 13:51

Copilot AI requested a review from pelikhan June 13, 2026 13:51

pelikhan merged commit 350dfb3 into main Jun 13, 2026

pelikhan deleted the copilot/update-agent-failure-message-template branch June 13, 2026 13:58

This was referenced Jun 13, 2026

[PR Triage Report] PR Triage Report — 2026-06-13 (Run #27475627987) #39136

Closed

[docs] Update documentation for features from 2026-06-14 #39214

Merged

[blog] Weekly blog post – 2026-06-15 #39318

Merged

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feat: add "Optimize token consumption" section to agent failure issues when a guardrail triggers#39069

feat: add "Optimize token consumption" section to agent failure issues when a guardrail triggers#39069
pelikhan merged 4 commits into
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copilot/update-agent-failure-message-template

Copilot AI commented Jun 13, 2026 •

edited

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Pull request overview

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Copilot AI commented Jun 13, 2026 •

edited

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