VS Code Copilot: Fixing Folder Context In Ask Mode

Hey guys! Today, we're diving into a specific issue with the VS Code CopilotDiscussion, focusing on the folder context when using Ask Mode. If you've been scratching your head about this, you're in the right place. Let's break it down and see what's going on.

The Issue: Folder Context in Ask Mode

The core problem lies in how VS Code Copilot handles folder context differently between Agent Mode and Ask Mode. In Agent Mode, attaching context and selecting a folder works seamlessly. You pick a folder, Copilot understands, and everyone's happy. However, in Ask Mode, things get a bit tricky. Instead of being able to select a folder and pass it as context directly, you're forced to select each file individually – think page.tsx, layout.tsx, default.tsx, and so on. This can be a real pain, especially when you're working with projects that have a lot of files within a folder. Imagine having to click through dozens of files just to give Copilot the context it needs! It's not exactly the most efficient way to work, is it?

This limitation makes the workflow in Ask Mode significantly less convenient compared to Agent Mode. The goal here is to make Copilot as intuitive and user-friendly as possible, and having to select individual files when a folder should suffice definitely throws a wrench in the gears. We want a smooth, streamlined experience where you can quickly provide context and get the assistance you need, without unnecessary clicks and hassle. So, let's dig a little deeper into why this might be happening and what can be done about it.

Why is This Happening?

It's tough to say for sure without being in the minds of the VS Code Copilot development team, but we can make some educated guesses. One possibility is that the underlying mechanism for handling context in Ask Mode simply wasn't designed to handle folders directly. It might have been initially conceived as a way to focus on specific files, with the folder context functionality being added later in Agent Mode. This could explain why the two modes behave differently.

Another potential reason could be performance considerations. Processing an entire folder at once might be more resource-intensive than processing individual files. In Ask Mode, where quick responses are crucial, the developers might have opted for the more lightweight approach of file-by-file selection. However, with modern hardware and optimization techniques, this seems like a hurdle that could be overcome.

Whatever the reason, the current situation is less than ideal. The inconsistency between Agent Mode and Ask Mode can lead to confusion and frustration, and the extra steps required to provide context in Ask Mode can slow down your workflow. The good news is that this issue has been identified, and hopefully, a fix is on the horizon. Let’s move on to the specifics of the reported bug and the environment it was encountered in.

Bug Report Details

Let's look at the specifics of the bug report. The user encountered this issue while running VS Code version 1.105.1 on a Linux x64 system (specifically, Fedora 42). This version of VS Code was released on October 14, 2025, so this isn't a brand-new issue. The operating system was running the 6.17.5-200.fc42.x86_64 kernel, and the desktop environment was Hyprland, a Wayland compositor. These details are important because they help developers narrow down the potential causes of the bug. Sometimes, issues are specific to certain operating systems, VS Code versions, or even desktop environments.

The user's system is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 8-Core Processor with 16 threads, clocked at 4761 MHz. They have 15.53GB of system memory, with about 4.46GB free at the time of the report. The GPU status indicates that most features are enabled, including hardware acceleration for rendering. This suggests that the issue is unlikely to be related to hardware limitations or graphics drivers. It's always a good idea to rule out these possibilities, though.

The bug report also includes a list of installed extensions, which is another crucial piece of information. The user had 68 extensions installed, including popular ones like ESLint, Prettier, GitLens, and, of course, Copilot and Copilot Chat. Extensions can sometimes conflict with each other or with VS Code itself, leading to unexpected behavior. Identifying the installed extensions helps developers determine if any of them might be contributing to the problem. In this case, the presence of both Copilot and Copilot Chat is noteworthy, as these extensions interact closely with each other. However, it's unlikely that these official extensions are the sole cause of the issue, given the nature of the problem.

System Information Deep Dive

Delving deeper into the system information, we can see the CPU is an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, which is a powerful processor. This suggests that performance bottlenecks are unlikely to be the primary cause of the issue. The system load average was reported as 1, 1, 1, which indicates a relatively low load on the system. This further supports the idea that the problem isn't due to the system being overloaded.

The report also mentions that a screen reader is not in use, ruling out potential accessibility-related conflicts. The system is running in a virtual machine environment (VM) at 0% utilization, so virtualization isn't a contributing factor either. The desktop session is Hyprland, a tiling Wayland compositor, which is a less common environment than X11 or GNOME. This could potentially be a factor, as Wayland compositors sometimes have compatibility issues with certain applications or extensions. However, given that the issue is specific to VS Code Copilot's Ask Mode, it's more likely that the problem lies within the extension itself.

Moving on, the A/B Experiments section provides insights into the user's VS Code configuration. These experiments are used by Microsoft to test new features and gather feedback from users. The presence of experiments related to Copilot (e.g., dwcopilot:31170013, copilot_t_ci:31333650) suggests that the user is participating in Copilot-related testing. It's possible that one of these experiments is interacting with Ask Mode in an unexpected way, leading to the folder context issue. This is something that the VS Code team would need to investigate further.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

Okay, so we've identified the problem and looked at the bug report details. What can we do about it? While we wait for an official fix from Microsoft, there are a few potential workarounds you can try.

Workaround 1: Use Agent Mode

This might seem obvious, but if you need to provide folder context, switch to Agent Mode. It's the mode where folder selection works as expected. This isn't a perfect solution, especially if you prefer the interaction style of Ask Mode, but it's a temporary way to get the context you need to Copilot.

Workaround 2: Create a Workspace

If you're working on a project, make sure you've opened it as a VS Code workspace (File > Open Folder...). This can sometimes help Copilot better understand the project structure and context. While it might not directly solve the folder selection issue in Ask Mode, it could improve Copilot's overall performance and understanding of your code.

Workaround 3: Manually Select Files (Ugh!)

Yes, this is the tedious one we're trying to avoid, but it's still a workaround. If you absolutely need to use Ask Mode with folder context, you'll have to manually select each file within the folder. It's time-consuming, but it will get the job done in a pinch. Maybe put on some music or a podcast to make the process a little less painful?

Workaround 4: Use Glob Patterns in the Prompt

This is a more advanced workaround, but it could be helpful in some cases. You can try using glob patterns in your prompt to specify the files you want Copilot to consider. For example, if you want Copilot to look at all .tsx files in a folder, you could include something like folder/**/*.tsx in your prompt. This might not always work perfectly, but it's worth a shot.

Workaround 5: File an Issue and Contribute to the Community

Beyond the user who initially reported the issue, if you encounter this, make sure to file a bug report on the VS Code or Copilot GitHub repository. The more reports, the more visibility the issue gets. You can also contribute to the community by sharing your experiences and workarounds on forums and social media. The collective knowledge and effort can often lead to faster solutions.

Workaround 6: Downgrade VS Code or Copilot (Use with Caution)

As a last resort, you could try downgrading your VS Code installation or the Copilot extension to a previous version. This might resolve the issue if it was introduced in a recent update. However, use this workaround with caution, as older versions might have other bugs or security vulnerabilities. Make sure to back up your VS Code configuration before downgrading.

What's Next? (The Hope for a Fix)

The most important thing now is for Microsoft to address this issue in a future update to VS Code Copilot. The inconsistency between Agent Mode and Ask Mode is a clear usability problem, and a fix would significantly improve the workflow for many developers. We can hope that the VS Code team is already aware of the issue and working on a solution.

In the meantime, the workarounds mentioned above can help mitigate the problem. Remember, software development is an iterative process, and bugs are a part of life. The key is to identify them, find ways to work around them, and report them to the developers so they can be fixed.

Community Engagement and Support

It’s also important for the community to engage with these issues. Sharing your experiences, discussing workarounds, and providing feedback to the VS Code team can help prioritize bug fixes and feature improvements. If you’ve found a particularly effective workaround or have additional insights into the problem, don’t hesitate to share them!

Conclusion

The folder context issue in VS Code Copilot's Ask Mode is a frustrating bug, but it's not the end of the world. By understanding the problem, exploring workarounds, and staying engaged with the community, we can continue to make the most of Copilot and contribute to its improvement. Hopefully, a fix is on the way, and we'll soon be able to seamlessly use folder context in both Agent Mode and Ask Mode. Keep coding, guys, and stay tuned for updates!