VS Code Terminal Auto-Approve Configuration

This skill provides domain-specific knowledge on how to configure VS Code to automatically approve terminal commands, especially those with dynamic arguments (like running Python scripts with parameters).

Overview

VS Code allows auto-approving terminal commands executed via Copilot Chat. This reduces manual confirmations for trusted operations.

Configuration Steps

1. Enable Global Auto-Approve

Add the following to your settings.json:

"chat.tools.terminal.enableAutoApprove": true

2. Configure Rules

Define which commands are auto-approved in the chat.tools.terminal.autoApprove object.

Simple Command Matching

To approve all instances of a command (e.g., python):

"chat.tools.terminal.autoApprove": {
  "python": true
}

Regex Pattern Matching (Advanced)

To approve only specific scripts or paths:

"chat.tools.terminal.autoApprove": {
  "/^python\\s+skills\\//": true
}

Troubleshooting

• Command mismatch: Ensure the command string matches what's typed or called (e.g., python vs python3).
• Restart requirement: Restart VS Code or reload the window after updating settings.json.

References

For more detailed instructions, see references/how-to-configure-vscode-terminal-autoapprove.md.