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+# AGENTS.md
+
+A GitHub Copilot workshop demonstrating AI-assisted coding through a FastAPI-based high school activities management system.
+
+## Commands
+
+```bash
+# Install dependencies
+pip install -r requirements.txt
+
+# Run the application (development)
+uvicorn src.app:app --reload
+
+# Run with VS Code debugger
+# Use "Launch Mergington WebApp" configuration from launch.json
+
+# Run tests
+pytest
+
+# Run specific test file
+pytest tests/test_app.py -v
+```
+
+### Pre-commit Validation
+
+**After implementing any change, always run pre-commit validation on changed files.**
+
+```bash
+# Identify changed files (staged and unstaged)
+git diff --name-only HEAD
+
+# Run pytest on changed test files
+pytest $(git diff --name-only HEAD | grep "test_.*\.py$") -v
+
+# Validate Python syntax
+python3 -m py_compile $(git diff --name-only HEAD | grep "\.py$")
+```
+
+## Project Structure
+
+This is a workshop repository with two main components:
+
+1. **Workshop content** (`.github/steps/*.md`) — Step-by-step learning materials for GitHub Copilot
+2. **Sample application** (`src/`) — A simple FastAPI app used as the workshop playground
+
+### Application Architecture
+
+- **Backend**: FastAPI application in `src/app.py` with in-memory data storage
+- **Frontend**: Vanilla HTML/CSS/JS in `src/static/` (index.html, styles.css, app.js)
+- **Tests**: pytest-based tests in `tests/` directory (added during workshop exercises)
+
+## Code Style
+
+1. **FastAPI route handlers** — Use type hints for all parameters and return types where practical:
+   - ✅ `def signup_for_activity(activity_name: str, email: str):`
+   - ❌ `def signup_for_activity(activity_name, email):`
+
+2. **Data validation** — Check input validity before mutations:
+   - ✅ Validate activity exists, check duplicates, then modify (see `signup_for_activity` in `src/app.py`)
+   - ❌ Append without validation
+
+3. **Error responses** — Use FastAPI's `HTTPException` with appropriate status codes:
+   - ✅ `raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Activity not found")`
+   - ❌ Return plain dictionaries with error messages
+
+4. **Frontend API calls** — Use `fetch()` with proper error handling (see `src/static/app.js`)
+
+5. **In-memory storage** — This is intentional for simplicity; don't add database layers
+
+## Documentation Standards
+
+- Use ATX-style headers (`#` not `===`)
+- One sentence per line for easier diffs
+- Use relative links for internal references
+- Use neutral theme for Mermaid diagrams:
+
+````markdown
+```mermaid
+%%{init: {'theme': 'neutral'}}%%
+graph TD
+    A[Start] --> B[End]
+```
+````
+
+- Use colors to improve diagram readability (decisions, outcomes, categories):
+
+````markdown
+```mermaid
+%%{init: {'theme': 'neutral'}}%%
+flowchart TD
+    Start["Question"] --> Decision{"Choice?"}
+    Decision -->|Yes| OptionA[["Option A"]]
+    Decision -->|No| OptionB[["Option B"]]
+
+    style Start fill:#e1e1e1,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
+    style Decision fill:#fff3cd,stroke:#856404,stroke-width:2px
+    style OptionA fill:#d4edda,stroke:#155724,stroke-width:2px
+    style OptionB fill:#cce5ff,stroke:#004085,stroke-width:2px
+```
+````
+
+## Boundaries
+
+### ✅ Always safe
+
+- Modify `src/app.py` to add features, fix bugs, or improve validation
+- Update `src/static/` files to enhance UI/UX
+- Add or modify tests in `tests/` directory
+- Update `requirements.txt` to add test dependencies (pytest, httpx)
+- Improve inline documentation and docstrings
+
+### ⚠️ Ask first
+
+- Adding new dependencies beyond FastAPI/pytest ecosystem
+- Changing the data model structure (activity schema, participant format)
+- Modifying `.github/workflows/*.yml` files (workshop validation logic)
+- Changing `.github/steps/*.md` files (workshop instructional content)
+- Altering VS Code configuration in `.vscode/launch.json`
+
+### 🚫 Never
+
+- Replace in-memory storage with a database (intentional simplicity for workshop)
+- Remove or disable GitHub Actions workflows (breaks workshop progression)
+- Change repository structure (moving `src/` or `.github/steps/`)
+- Modify `.devcontainer/` configuration (standardized workshop environment)
+
+## Testing
+
+- **Framework**: pytest with FastAPI TestClient
+- **Location**: `tests/` directory (created during workshop Step 4)
+- **Run command**: `pytest` or `pytest -v` for verbose output
+- **Test structure**: Use `TestClient` from `fastapi.testclient` to test endpoints
+- **Coverage expectations**: Tests are added as part of the learning experience, not required from the start
+
+Example test pattern:
+
+```python
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+from src.app import app
+
+client = TestClient(app)
+
+def test_get_activities():
+    response = client.get("/activities")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+```
+
+## Workshop Context
+
+This repository serves as a hands-on learning environment for GitHub Copilot.
+Students work through progressive steps (in `.github/steps/`) that teach:
+
+1. **Preparing** — Setting up the workspace and understanding the codebase
+2. **First introduction** — Using Copilot suggestions, inline chat, and commit message generation
+3. **Copilot edits** — [DEPRECATED] This step is no longer active
+4. **Copilot agent mode** — Using autonomous agent mode for complex multi-file changes
+5. **Copilot on GitHub** — Using Copilot for PR summaries and code review
+
+### Key Workshop Mechanics
+
+- Each step triggers a GitHub Actions workflow when specific criteria are met
+- The `accelerate-with-copilot` branch is the primary working branch
+- Students use VS Code with GitHub Copilot extension
+- Activities are validated through automated checks in workflows
+
+## NOS Culture Alignment
+
+This workshop embodies NOS Culture principles:
+
+- **Customer First**: Simple, clear instructions that communicate transparently
+- **We Want More**: Focus on practical results through hands-on exercises
+- **We Do What No One Has Done**: Safe experimentation environment for trying AI-assisted coding
+- **We Act with Responsibility**: Clear boundaries and structured learning path
+- **We Value Our People**: AI (Copilot) as a copilot tool, not a replacement
+- **We Build a Better Future**: Efficient learning through practical application
+
+## Additional Guidance
+
+- For detailed workshop instructions, see step files in `.github/steps/`
+- For API documentation when running, visit http://localhost:8000/docs (Swagger UI)
+- For understanding the learning progression, read steps in numerical order (1-5)
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