Instruction file imported from MunyayLLC/jubilant-disco (.github/instructions/general.instructions.md). Copyright stays with the author.

General Coding Agent Instructions

Project Overview

This repository contains a Random Joke Generator web application. Please refer to .github/copilot-instructions.md for comprehensive project-specific instructions.

General Guidelines for All Agents

Code Quality Standards

• Minimal Changes: Make the smallest possible changes to achieve the goal
• Preserve Functionality: Never break existing working code unless absolutely necessary
• Test Thoroughly: Always validate changes using the manual testing protocol in copilot-instructions.md

Development Workflow

1. Read Project Instructions: Always consult .github/copilot-instructions.md first
2. Install Dependencies: Run npm install (takes ~1 second)
3. Start Development Server: Use python3 -m http.server 8080
4. Test Changes: Manually validate all functionality in browser
5. Validate HTML: Ensure GitHub Actions will pass

File Structure Understanding

• index.html: Single-page application with embedded CSS and JavaScript
• package.json: Only dependency is @primer/css
• .github/workflows/: Auto-assignment and HTML validation
• No build process required

Testing Requirements

• Manual Testing Required: No automated test suite exists
• Browser Validation: Test joke generation functionality
• Responsive Design: Verify mobile layout works
• Error Handling: Confirm API fallback to demo jokes

Security Considerations

• HTML escaping implemented for user-facing content
• External API integration with graceful degradation
• No sensitive data handling required

Agent-Specific Notes

• See AGENTS.md for detailed agent behavior guidelines
• See CLAUDE.md for Claude-specific instructions
• See GEMINI.md for Gemini-specific instructions

Quick Reference

# Setup
npm install && python3 -m http.server 8080

# Test URL
http://localhost:8080

# Key validation: Click "Get a Joke" button multiple times