Files
zitadel/.github/instructions/terminology.instructions.md
T
4586708c06 chore: add terminology Markdown catalog for Copilot review (#11764)
## Problem

ZITADEL has inconsistent naming across docs, UI, and API
([#5888](https://github.com/zitadel/zitadel/issues/5888)). We want
contributors and Copilot code-review agents to flag discouraged terms
and suggest canonical replacements automatically.

## Solution

Add a **Markdown terminology catalog** that Copilot agents read
natively.

### What's added

- **`TERMINOLOGY.md`** (repo root) — full ~35-term canonical table from
issue #5888 with:
- Action legend: `keep` / `replace` / `remove` / `internal` / `proposed`
  - Scope legend: `UI` / `Docs` / `API` / `Everywhere`
  - "Search for (discouraged)" and "Replace with / enforce" columns
  - Governance section (how to add new terms, ownership)
- **`.github/instructions/terminology.instructions.md`** — Copilot
`applyTo`-scoped instruction that activates on every PR touching
docs/i18n/proto files and tells the agent:
  - Which files map to which scope
- Not to flag identifiers/field names in proto files (only
comments/descriptions)
  - To request catalog updates when new terms are introduced

### What's updated

- `.github/copilot-instructions.md` — points to `TERMINOLOGY.md`
- `apps/docs/AGENTS.md` — updated reference, removed dead
`check-terminology` Nx target entry
- `.github/pull_request_template.md` — checklist item updated
- `.github/workflows/ready_for_review.yml` — checklist item updated

### Why Markdown over JSON

| | Markdown | JSON |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot reads natively | yes | no (needs parsing context) |
| Mirrors AGENTS.md table style | yes | no |
| Human-readable without tooling | yes | no |
| Mirrors the #5888 issue format | yes | no |
| Requires schema / parser | no | yes |

### Why root over `.github/`

`.github/` is for GitHub-specific automation files. `TERMINOLOGY.md` is
a project-wide convention document — it belongs alongside
`CONTRIBUTING.md`, `CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md`, and `AGENTS.md` at the repo
root.

## How it works in practice

When a PR touches `apps/docs/content/**`, `console/src/assets/i18n/**`,
`apps/login/locales/**`, or `proto/**/*.proto`, Copilot code review
automatically loads `.github/instructions/terminology.instructions.md`
and cross-references `TERMINOLOGY.md` to flag discouraged terms.

Human reviewers see the terminology checklist in the auto-comment on PR
open.

## Checklist
- [x] `TERMINOLOGY.md` at repo root with all ~35 terms from #5888
- [x] Plain text action/scope values (no emojis)
- [x] Copilot instruction file scoped to correct file patterns
- [x] All stale `terminology-rules.json` references removed
- [x] No linter/CI step added (guidelines-only approach)

Relates to: #5888

---------

Co-authored-by: Copilot <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Fabienne Bühler <[email protected]>
2026-03-11 16:20:27 +00:00

1.0 KiB

applyTo
applyTo
{apps/docs/content/**/*.mdx,apps/docs/content/**/*.md,console/src/assets/i18n/*.json,apps/login/locales/*.json,internal/static/i18n/*.yaml,internal/static/i18n/*.yml,proto/**/*.proto}

When reviewing user-facing naming changes, enforce the canonical terminology table in TERMINOLOGY.md.

How to apply

  • Cross-reference every changed user-facing string against the Search for (discouraged) column.
  • If a discouraged term is found, flag it and suggest the canonical term from Replace with / enforce.
  • For proto/**/*.proto files: check comments and description:/summary: text only; do not flag identifiers, field names, or enum values.
  • Only apply rules where the Scope column matches the file type:
    • UI → console/src/assets/i18n/, apps/login/locales/
    • Docs → apps/docs/content/
    • API → proto/**, API description text
    • Everywhere → all of the above
  • If a PR introduces a new policy, setting, or resource term not yet in the table, request that the contributor adds it to TERMINOLOGY.md.