1.4.0

Full Changelog: 1.3.0...1.4.0

Release Notes — v1.4.0

Date: February 18, 2026
Previous: v1.3.0
Commits: 1 (50c1438)
Files changed: 2 (+186 / -108)

Highlights

• Orchestrator + Sub-Agents pattern formalized as the default workflow architecture, replacing the previous "workflow manager with handoffs" model.
• Handoffs are now opt-in only — orchestrators no longer include handoffs by default; they must be explicitly requested by the user.
• Sub-agents prohibited from defining handoffs — handoff buttons are only rendered for user-facing agents.
• Three distinct agent templates — documentation now provides separate format templates for user-facing agents, orchestrators, and sub-agents.

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Breaking Changes

• The term "workflow manager" has been replaced with "orchestrator" throughout all documentation and templates. Existing workflow manager agents remain functional but should be updated to follow the new naming convention.
• Handoffs removed from default orchestrator template. Previously, workflow templates included handoff configuration by default. Handoffs are now only added when explicitly requested by the user.

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Agent Changes: ai-builder

Orchestrator Pattern (renamed from "Workflow Manager")

• All references to "workflow manager" updated to "orchestrator" across the agent definition, examples, templates, and validation checklist.
• Workflow description updated: "An orchestrator + sub-agents pattern" is now the explicitly stated default.
• New directive: "Do not add handoffs unless the user explicitly requests them."

Three Distinct Agent Format Templates

The single agent format template has been split into three role-specific templates:

Template	File Pattern	Key Characteristics
User-Facing Agent	.agent.md	user-invokable: true, standard interactive agent
Orchestrator	.agent.md	user-invokable: true, requires agent tool, defines agents list, manages sub-agent invocations
Sub-Agent	.subagent.agent.md	user-invokable: false, no handoffs, scoped instructions only

Orchestrator Template Details

• Must include 'agent' in the tools list to enable #runSubagent invocations.
• Defines agents: ['*'] (or specific list) to control which sub-agents it can call.
• Instructions describe workflow order and sub-agent coordination (not direct code editing).
• Handoffs section only included when user explicitly requests them.

Sub-Agent Restrictions Clarified

• Sub-agents must not include handoffs — handoff buttons are only rendered for user-facing agents.
• Sub-agents cannot communicate with the user directly; they return output (including questions) to the orchestrator.

Handoff Configuration Section Removed from Default

• The previous "Handoff Configuration" section with send: true/false guidance has been removed from the default documentation flow.
• Handoff design questions ("Where should humans review?", "send: true/false appropriateness") removed from the design considerations.

Updated Design Flow Diagram

[Orchestrator (Descriptive Name)] --#runSubagent--> [Sub-Agent A: Planning]
         │
         ▼  (receives output, relays questions if any)
[Orchestrator] --#runSubagent--> [Sub-Agent B: Implementation]
         │
         ▼
[Orchestrator] --#runSubagent--> [Sub-Agent C: Review]

Validation Checklist Updates

• "Workflow manager" → "Orchestrator" in all checklist items
• Removed: "Handoff points align with natural review/decision points"
• Removed: "send: true/false is appropriate for each transition"
• Added: "Handoffs are present only if explicitly requested by the user"
• Added: Sub-agents must have no handoffs

Workflow Rules Updated

• "ALWAYS create a descriptively named orchestrator agent (user-invokable)"
• "All phase agents must be sub-agents with user-invokable: false and no handoffs"
• "Do NOT add handoffs to the orchestrator unless the user explicitly requests them"

Minor Updates

• agents field example reverted to ['*'] with cleaner comment syntax
• Example description wording: "A multi-agent workflow with handoffs" → "An orchestrator + sub-agents workflow"

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Skill Changes: agent-file-specs

references/AGENTS.md

• Added three separate agent format sections: User-Facing Agent, Orchestrator / Workflow Manager Agent, and Sub-Agent — each with its own template and description.
• Sub-agent guidance strengthened from "should" to "must": user-invokable: false is now mandatory, not recommended.
• New callout block: "Sub-agents must not define handoffs. Handoff buttons are only rendered for user-facing agents."
• Example agent renamed from "Planning Agent" to "Planning Agent (user-facing)" for clarity.

Update Agent & Skills

Full Changelog: 1.2.0...1.3.0

Release Notes — v1.3.0

Date: February 12, 2026
Previous: v1.2.0
Commits: 4
Files changed: 9 (+1,442 / -487)

Highlights

• Refactored skill architecture — The monolithic copilot-file-specs skill has been replaced with a modular agent-file-specs skill using progressive disclosure via dedicated reference documents.
• Question Relay Protocol — New sub-agent communication model ensuring workflow managers properly relay questions between sub-agents and users.
• Comprehensive reference documentation — Six new standalone reference documents covering agents, skills, prompts, instructions, file locations, and VS Code settings.

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Breaking Changes

• Skill renamed: copilot-file-specs → agent-file-specs. The old skill file (.github/skills/copilot-file-specs/SKILL.md) has been removed and replaced with the new modular structure under .github/skills/agent-file-specs/.

---

New: Agent File Specs Skill (modular architecture)

The previous monolithic copilot-file-specs/SKILL.md (476 lines) has been replaced with a lightweight hub (agent-file-specs/SKILL.md, 97 lines) plus six dedicated reference documents:

Reference	Description
references/AGENTS.md	Custom agent file format, attributes, sub-agents, handoff workflows
references/SKILLS.md	Agent skill directory structure, SKILL.md format, progressive disclosure
references/PROMPTS.md	Prompt file structure and slash command usage
references/INSTRUCTIONS.md	Instruction files, applyTo patterns, organization-level instructions
references/FILE-LOCATIONS.md	Provider folder mapping, directory structure, naming conventions
references/SETTINGS.md	VS Code settings for customization file discovery and behavior

The hub includes a File Type Selection Guide decision tree and a Quick Reference table for fast navigation. This follows the Agent Skills open standard progressive disclosure model to keep context loading efficient.

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Agent Changes: ai-builder

• Question Relay Protocol — New section documenting the critical rule that sub-agents cannot communicate directly with users:

  • Sub-agents must NOT use #askQuestions — they return unanswered questions as structured output under a ## Questions for User section
  • The workflow manager relays sub-agent questions to the user via #askQuestions
  • The workflow manager NEVER answers sub-agent questions itself or fabricates information
  • Loop continues until sub-agent has no remaining blockers

• Sub-agent templates updated — All sub-agent definitions now include the "Important: You are a sub-agent" guidance block

• Skill reference updated — Now points to skills/agent-file-specs/SKILL.md instead of the old copilot-file-specs

• Minor updates:

  • runSubagent references changed from backtick-wrapped to #runSubagent tool syntax
  • Default model updated from Claude Sonnet 4 to Claude Opus 4.6
  • Workflow validation checklist expanded with Question Relay compliance checks
  • Agents field example clarified (agents: ['My Agent'] with updated comment)

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SKILL.md Format Guidance

• Clarified that SKILL.md files should be kept lightweight and within token limits for efficient context loading, following the progressive disclosure model.

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Files Changed

File	Change
.github/agents/ai-builder.md	Modified (+52 lines)
.github/skills/agent-file-specs/SKILL.md	New (97 lines)
.github/skills/agent-file-specs/references/AGENTS.md	New (227 lines)
.github/skills/agent-file-specs/references/FILE-LOCATIONS.md	New (162 lines)
.github/skills/agent-file-specs/references/INSTRUCTIONS.md	New (289 lines)
.github/skills/agent-file-specs/references/PROMPTS.md	New (226 lines)
.github/skills/agent-file-specs/references/SETTINGS.md	New (106 lines)
.github/skills/agent-file-specs/references/SKILLS.md	New (294 lines)
.github/skills/copilot-file-specs/SKILL.md	Removed (476 lines)

Multiple Provider Support

• Support generating for multiple providers such as claude, open code and codex.
• Update to support new features of VS Code Copilot 1.109

Full Changelog: 1.1.0...1.2.0

Sub-agent Support

Added support for complex workflows, including sub agents.

Full Changelog: 1.0.0...1.1.0

Initial

Initial release.