hve-core/docs/getting-started/methods/git-ignored.md at main · microsoft/hve-core

title

Git-Ignored Folder Installation

description

Install HVE Core in a git-ignored folder for devcontainer environments

sidebar_position

author

Microsoft

ms.date

2026-03-10

ms.topic

how-to

keywords

git-ignored

installation

github copilot

devcontainer

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Git-Ignored Folder installation places HVE Core inside your project in a .hve-core/ folder that's excluded from version control. This is ideal for solo developers using devcontainers who want a self-contained setup.

When to Use This Method

✅ Use this when:

You use local devcontainers (Docker Desktop)
You're working solo
You want HVE Core auto-updated with container rebuilds
You want a self-contained project (no external dependencies)

❌ Consider alternatives when:

Your team needs version control → Submodule
You use Codespaces → GitHub Codespaces
You want to share HVE Core across projects → Mounted Directory
You need paths that work everywhere → Multi-Root Workspace

How It Works

HVE Core is cloned into a .hve-core/ folder inside your project. The folder is added to .gitignore so it doesn't pollute your repository.

my-project/
├── .devcontainer/
│   └── devcontainer.json    # postCreateCommand clones HVE Core
├── .hve-core/               # Git-ignored, contains HVE Core
│   └── .github/
│       ├── agents/
│       ├── prompts/
│       └── instructions/
├── .gitignore               # Includes .hve-core/
├── .vscode/
│   └── settings.json        # Points to .hve-core paths
└── src/

Quick Start

Install the VS Code extension for the fastest setup. For guided setup with installation method selection and MCP configuration, install the HVE Core Installer extension and ask any agent "help me customize hve-core installation". Use the manual steps below for direct configuration.

Manual Setup

Step 1: Update .gitignore

Add the HVE Core folder to your .gitignore:

# HVE Core installation (local only)
.hve-core/

Step 2: Clone HVE Core

PowerShell

# Create folder and clone
$hveCoreFolder = ".hve-core"
if (-not (Test-Path $hveCoreFolder)) {
    git clone https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core.git $hveCoreFolder
    Write-Host "✅ Cloned HVE Core to $hveCoreFolder"
}

Bash

HVE_CORE_FOLDER=".hve-core"

if [ ! -d "$HVE_CORE_FOLDER" ]; then
    git clone https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core.git "$HVE_CORE_FOLDER"
    echo "✅ Cloned HVE Core to $HVE_CORE_FOLDER"
fi

Step 3: Update VS Code Settings

Create or update .vscode/settings.json:

{
  "chat.agentFilesLocations": {
    ".hve-core/.github/agents/ado": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/agents/data-science": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/agents/design-thinking": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/agents/github": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/agents/project-planning": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/agents/hve-core": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/agents/hve-core/subagents": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/agents/security": true
  },
  "chat.promptFilesLocations": {
    ".hve-core/.github/prompts/ado": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/prompts/design-thinking": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/prompts/github": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/prompts/hve-core": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/prompts/security": true
  },
  "chat.instructionsFilesLocations": {
    ".hve-core/.github/instructions/ado": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/instructions/coding-standards": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/instructions/design-thinking": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/instructions/github": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/instructions/hve-core": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/instructions/shared": true
  },
  "chat.agentSkillsLocations": {
    ".hve-core/.github/skills": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/skills/shared": true,
    ".hve-core/.github/skills/coding-standards": true
  }
}

Step 4: Automate with Devcontainer

Add to .devcontainer/devcontainer.json so HVE Core is cloned on container creation:

{
  // ... existing configuration ...
  
  "postCreateCommand": "[ -d .hve-core ] || git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core.git .hve-core"
}

Step 5: Validate Installation

Rebuild your devcontainer (Ctrl+Shift+P → "Dev Containers: Rebuild Container")
Open GitHub Copilot Chat (Ctrl+Alt+I)
Click the agent picker dropdown
Verify HVE Core agents appear (task-planner, task-researcher, prompt-builder)

Complete Devcontainer Example

{
  "name": "My Project with HVE Core",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:ubuntu",
  
  "postCreateCommand": "[ -d .hve-core ] || git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core.git .hve-core",
  
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "settings": {
        "chat.agentFilesLocations": {
          ".hve-core/.github/agents/ado": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/agents/data-science": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/agents/design-thinking": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/agents/github": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/agents/project-planning": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/agents/hve-core": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/agents/hve-core/subagents": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/agents/security": true
        },
        "chat.promptFilesLocations": {
          ".hve-core/.github/prompts/ado": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/prompts/design-thinking": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/prompts/github": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/prompts/hve-core": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/prompts/security": true
        },
        "chat.instructionsFilesLocations": {
          ".hve-core/.github/instructions/ado": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/instructions/coding-standards": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/instructions/design-thinking": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/instructions/github": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/instructions/hve-core": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/instructions/shared": true
        },
        "chat.agentSkillsLocations": {
          ".hve-core/.github/skills": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/skills/shared": true,
          ".hve-core/.github/skills/coding-standards": true
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Updating HVE Core

Manual update

cd .hve-core
git pull

Auto-update on container rebuild

The postCreateCommand re-clones on each container creation. To update, rebuild the container.

Auto-update with version check

{
  "postCreateCommand": {
    "clone-or-update": "[ -d .hve-core ] && (cd .hve-core && git pull) || git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core.git .hve-core"
  }
}

Troubleshooting

Agents Not Appearing

Check the folder exists

ls .hve-core/.github/agents

Check settings are applied

Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
Type "Preferences: Open Workspace Settings (JSON)"
Verify the paths are correct

Folder Not Ignored by Git

Check your .gitignore includes .hve-core/:

cat .gitignore | grep hve-core

If missing, add it:

echo ".hve-core/" >> .gitignore

Clone Fails in Devcontainer

If postCreateCommand fails, check:

Network connectivity in the container
Git is available (git --version)
GitHub is accessible (curl -I https://github.com)

Container Rebuild Doesn't Update

The clone only happens if the folder doesn't exist. To force update:

{
  "postCreateCommand": "rm -rf .hve-core && git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core.git .hve-core"
}

Warning: This deletes any local changes to HVE Core on every rebuild.

Limitations

Aspect	Status
Devcontainers	✅ Designed for this
Codespaces	⚠️ Works but not optimal (use Codespaces method)
Team sharing	⚠️ Each developer clones separately
Portable paths	✅ Relative paths work
Version pinning	⚠️ Manual (modify clone command)
Disk usage	⚠️ Per-project copy
Setup complexity	✅ Simple

Next Steps

Your First Workflow - Try HVE Core with a real task
Multi-Root Workspace - Share across local + Codespaces
Submodule - Add version control for teams

🤖 Crafted with precision by ✨Copilot following brilliant human instruction, then carefully refined by our team of discerning human reviewers.

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When to Use This Method

How It Works

Quick Start

Manual Setup

Step 1: Update .gitignore

Step 2: Clone HVE Core

PowerShell

Bash

Step 3: Update VS Code Settings

Step 4: Automate with Devcontainer

Step 5: Validate Installation

Complete Devcontainer Example

Updating HVE Core

Manual update

Auto-update on container rebuild

Auto-update with version check

Troubleshooting

Agents Not Appearing

Check the folder exists

Check settings are applied

Folder Not Ignored by Git

Clone Fails in Devcontainer

Container Rebuild Doesn't Update

Limitations

Next Steps

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git-ignored.md

Latest commit

History

git-ignored.md

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When to Use This Method

How It Works

Quick Start

Manual Setup

Step 1: Update .gitignore

Step 2: Clone HVE Core

PowerShell

Bash

Step 3: Update VS Code Settings

Step 4: Automate with Devcontainer

Step 5: Validate Installation

Complete Devcontainer Example

Updating HVE Core

Manual update

Auto-update on container rebuild

Auto-update with version check

Troubleshooting

Agents Not Appearing

Check the folder exists

Check settings are applied

Folder Not Ignored by Git

Clone Fails in Devcontainer

Container Rebuild Doesn't Update

Limitations

Next Steps