Create copilot-instructions.md with guidelines

.github/copilot-instructions.md

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+## Development Practices
+
+- Start with minimal, lean implementations focused on proof-of-concept
+- Avoid creating new files until asked
+- Avoid implementing things from scratch
+- Avoid defensive error handling for hypothetical failures
+- Use print statements and logging sparingly, unless asked
+- Avoid light wrappers and custom classes, unless asked
+- Avoid `if __name__ == "__main__"` patterns in package code, unless asked
+  For example, rather than using:
+  ```python
+  from math import sqrt
+  def main():
+    sqrt(2)
+
+  if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
+  ```
+  Leave it as a top-level script:
+  ```python
+  from math import sqrt
+  sqrt(2)
+  ```
+- Skip unit tests unless explicitly requested
+- Follow patterns in CONTRIBUTING.md when present
+- Prefer writing Python if no language specified
+- For complex code changes, use your Serena MCP tools (e.g., `find_symbol`, `find_referencing_symbols`, and `insert_after_symbol`) for symbol-based code editing instead of always relying on regex for code modifications
+
+## Git Operations
+
+- When asked to remove all file changes, use `git checkout -- <filename>`
+- Copy-paste commands you run and summarized execution status directly in your comment replies
+
+## External Resources
+
+- Validate and access link content using your available MCP tools (Playwright and/or Perplexity)
+- Search GitHub for relevant open-source alternatives to commercial tools
+- Prioritize official package documentation over inferred usage by using your Context7 MCP tool
+
+## Communication Style
+
+- Use minimal emoji and special symbols
+- Prioritize clarity and brevity in responses
+- Ask clarifying questions when needed
+- Don't infer requirements or create workarounds unless asked
+- Put documentation content in comment replies, not separate files, unless asked
+- Comments should not leave a trace of the development process
+- Avoid sycophancy, favor objectiveness
+
+## Change Logging
+
+- Create CHANGELOG.md if it doesn't exist
+- Each time you generate code, note the changes in CHANGELOG.md
+- Follow semantic versioning guidelines
+- Include date and description of changes
+
+## Coding Agent
+
+- Set environment variables `PIP_TIMEOUT=600` and `PIP_RETRIES=2` prior to `conda` or `pip` installs
+- Include plots directly in your comment reply via `![image name](https://github.com/<user/org>/<repo>/blob/<shortened-commit-hash>/<filename>?raw=true)`. Truncate the commit hash to the first 7 characters only. For example, `https://github.com/AccelerationConsortium/evaluation-metrics/blob/52754e7/scripts/bo_benchmarks/demonstrations/branin_campaign_demonstration_results.png?raw=true`. For provenance, ensure you use the shortened (7-character) commit hash, not the branch name
+- If you mention files in your comment reply, add direct hyperlinks based on the shortened (7-character) commit hash