Merge PR #31009: Add agent instructions for UI test deployment

[Copilot]

Merges changes from #31009 to enable agents to build, deploy, and test MAUI applications.

Note: This PR has been rebased onto main (commit d4eb91b) to resolve merge conflicts.

Changes

.github/copilot-instructions.md

• Added Appium WebDriver to tech stack
• Expanded UI testing section with deployment commands for Android/iOS TestCases.HostApp
• Added troubleshooting guide for Android resource ID crashes and logcat debugging
• Added coding standards section covering performance patterns, error handling, and code style
• Added UI Testing Guide and Architecture documentation links to Additional Resources section

docs/UITesting-Guide.md (new)

• Complete UI testing guide: prerequisites, running tests locally, test structure
• Platform-specific deployment workflows for Android and iOS
• Examples for adding new tests following HostApp + Test Implementation pattern
• Consistent date format (2025-10-30) in frontmatter and document footer

docs/design/UITesting-Architecture.md (new)

• CI/CD integration and architecture details for UI testing

.github/instructions/uitests.instructions.md (new)

• Path-specific detailed instructions for UI test files

.github/instructions/templates.instructions.md (updated)

• Working with .NET MAUI Templates

AGENTS.md (new)

• Universal guidance for all AI coding assistants

Usage Example

Deploy and test on Android:

# Deploy TestCases.HostApp
dotnet build src/Controls/tests/TestCases.HostApp/Controls.TestCases.HostApp.csproj \
  -f net10.0-android -t:Run

# Run specific test
dotnet test src/Controls/tests/TestCases.Android.Tests/Controls.TestCases.Android.Tests.csproj \
  --filter "FullyQualifiedName~Issue11311"

Agents can now autonomously build, deploy, and validate MAUI UI tests.

Recent Updates

• ✅ Fixed date format consistency in UITesting-Guide.md (commit d87bc1c7)
• ✅ Successfully rebased onto origin/main with conflict resolution in Additional Resources section
• ✅ Combined existing resource links from main with new UI testing documentation links

Original prompt

Can you merge the changes from #31009 and merge them into the base branch I've selected here?

The main goal here is that I want to be able to provide a set of agent instructions that will make the agent able to launch and deploy the apps from our solution

---

💬 We'd love your input! Share your thoughts on Copilot coding agent in our 2 minute survey.

[PureWeen]

/rebase

[PureWeen]

@copilot please resolve merge conflicts

[Copilot]

Pull Request Overview

This PR reorganizes and significantly improves the UI testing documentation for .NET MAUI by:

• Splitting the old monolithic docs/design/UITesting.md into two focused documents: a practical guide (docs/UITesting-Guide.md) and an architecture document (docs/design/UITesting-Architecture.md)
• Adding a new AGENTS.md file at the repository root for universal AI coding assistant guidance
• Creating path-specific instructions for UI tests (uitests.instructions.md)
• Updating the main copilot instructions with synchronization requirements and improved troubleshooting sections
• Standardizing front-matter metadata format in template instructions

Key Changes

• New comprehensive 613-line UI testing guide with complete examples, prerequisites, and best practices
• New architecture document focusing on CI/CD integration and advanced patterns
• Universal AGENTS.md file (378 lines) with setup commands, testing guidance, and troubleshooting
• Path-specific UI test instructions (303 lines) for Copilot when working in test directories
• Improved copilot-instructions.md with troubleshooting section and cross-file synchronization requirements

Reviewed Changes

Copilot reviewed 7 out of 7 changed files in this pull request and generated 1 comment.

Show a summary per file

File	Description
docs/design/UITesting.md	Removed old monolithic testing doc (143 lines deleted)
docs/design/UITesting-Architecture.md	New architecture and CI integration guide focusing on advanced topics
docs/UITesting-Guide.md	New comprehensive practical guide for day-to-day UI test writing
AGENTS.md	New universal guidance file for all AI coding assistants with setup and testing workflows
.github/instructions/uitests.instructions.md	New path-specific Copilot instructions for UI test code
.github/instructions/templates.instructions.md	Standardized front-matter format (applyTo vs applies_to)
.github/copilot-instructions.md	Enhanced with synchronization requirements, troubleshooting, and references to new docs

[Copilot]

@copilot please resolve merge conflicts

I've resolved the merge conflicts by rebasing this branch onto origin/main (commit 53de82d).

The main branch already contains all the UI testing documentation from PR #32064 and PR #32270, which this PR intended to add. The branch is now aligned with main and all conflicts are resolved.

Note: The branch will need a force-push to update the remote. The local branch is clean and ready - it's currently one commit ahead of main with just an empty rebase marker commit.

[jsuarezruiz]

/azp run

[azure-pipelines]

Azure Pipelines successfully started running 3 pipeline(s).

[jsuarezruiz]

@copilot Rebase and fix the current conflict?

[Copilot]

@copilot Rebase and fix the current conflict?

Rebase completed successfully in commit d87bc1c7. The branch is now based on origin/main (d4eb91b) with all conflicts resolved. The Additional Resources section was updated to include both the existing links from main and the new UI testing documentation links.

Note: The local branch is ready but needs a force-push to update the remote. The rebase history shows:

• Base: origin/main (d4eb91b - "Fix broken links in documentation...")
• 5 commits rebased successfully with 1 conflict resolved