# Which Problems Are Solved
Zitadel exposes the secrets generator configuration through its admin
api. This allows instance admins to manage them on their own and they
can create overwrite the system / runtime defaults (incl. expiration).
This very much needed in multi-instance scenarios such as zitadel.cloud.
Currently the invite code configuration was not manageable through the
API, but only runtime config.
# How the Problems Are Solved
- added the `invite_code` type to the API allowing it to be set and
retrieved.
- added the type to console's management list
- added the type to be stored on instance setup
- change the `GetSecretGenerator` endpoint to fall back to the runtime
config if no config is stored on the instance itself
- ensure the `length` and at least one charset is enabled, return an
error otherwise
- expiry is not enforced, so 0 allows codes with no expiry (current
state)
# Additional Changes
None
# Additional Context
- closes https://github.com/zitadel/zitadel/issues/10474
## 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 <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Co-authored-by: Fabienne Bühler <fabienne@zitadel.com>