readme changelog and github template cherrypick for release branch (#19279)

* updates to readme and changelog for the 1.31 release (#19273)

(cherry picked from commit f30530c)

* Readme & GitHub issue template updates (#19274)

* - Adding GitHub Copilot bug report issue template
- Updating README to include Schema Compare addition

* Updating GHCP feature names

(cherry picked from commit cf56146)

---------

Co-authored-by: Carlos Robles <[email protected]>

Author: erpett

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/gh-bug-report.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+name: Bug Report - GitHub Copilot integration
+description: File a bug report to help us improve GitHub Copilot integration for the MSSQL extension.
+title: "[GitHub Copilot - Bug]: "
+labels: ["bug", "PrPr", "Area - GitHub Copilot", "Triage: Needed"]
+assignees: []
+
+body:
+  # Introductory message to thank the user and set expectations
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: |
+        ## Thank you for taking the time to report a bug!
+        Please provide as much detail as possible (screenshots, screen recordings, logs) to help us reproduce and fix the issue.
+
+  # Section for describing the issue
+  - type: textarea
+    id: description
+    attributes:
+      label: Description
+      description: Briefly explain what you expected to happen and what actually happened.
+      placeholder: |
+        Expected GitHub Copilot to suggest valid output...
+        But the suggestion was incorrect or not aligned with the prompt.
+        Paste or drag and drop screenshots or recordings that show the bug.
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  # Section for providing steps to reproduce the issue
+  - type: textarea
+    id: repro-steps
+    attributes:
+      label: Steps to Reproduce
+      description: Describe the GitHub Copilot prompt, action, and the sequence that led to the issue.
+      placeholder: |
+        1. Entered a prompt in the editor
+        2. Reviewed GitHub Copilot's suggestion
+        3. Accepted or modified the suggestion
+        4. Observed unexpected output or behavior
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  # Section for selecting affected areas
+  - type: checkboxes
+    id: affected-area
+    attributes:
+      label: Affected Area
+      description: Select all the areas where you encountered issues.
+      options:
+        - label: Chat and inline suggestions
+        - label: Code generation
+        - label: Schema Explorer & Designer
+        - label: Smart Query Builder
+        - label: Query Optimizer Assistant
+        - label: Business Logic Explainer
+        - label: Security Analyzer
+        - label: Localization & Formatting Helper
+        - label: Testing and Mocking Data Generator
+        - label: Other (please describe below)
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: other-affected-area
+    attributes:
+      label: If you selected "Other", please describe the affected area
+      description: Only fill this if you selected "Other" above.
+      placeholder: Describe the affected area here...
+    validations:
+      required: false
+
+  # Section for providing environment details
+  - type: textarea
+    id: environment
+    attributes:
+      label: Environment Information (Optional)
+      description: Add versions and environment details below.
+      placeholder: |
+        • VS Code Version:
+        • MSSQL Extension Version:
+        • GitHub Copilot Version:
+        • Operating System:
+
+  # Section for confirming issue search and willingness to work on the issue
+  - type: checkboxes
+    id: confirmations
+    attributes:
+      label: Confirmation
+      options:
+        - label: I have searched existing issues and couldn’t find a match
+          required: true
+        - label: I want to work on this issue
+
+  # Closing message to thank the user
+  - type: markdown
+    attributes:
+      value: "Thank you for reporting this issue! We’ll get back to you as soon as possible. 🙌"

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,15 @@
 # Change Log
 
+## Version 1.31.0
+* Release date: April 30, 2025
+* Release status: GA
+### What’s new in 1.31.0
+* Introduced Schema Compare to visually compare and script out schema differences
+* Enhanced Query Results experience with live execution timing summary metrics and stability improvements on large result sets
+* Improved connection workflow with smarter retries streamlined error handling and seamless AAD sign-in support
+* Resolved Fabric SQL Database connectivity issues for more reliable cloud access
+* UI/UX enhancements including removal of duplicate saved connections and elimination of console errors in the results pane
+
 ## Version 1.30.0
 * Release date: March 31, 2025
 * Release status: GA

README.md

@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ With a rich set of features, the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code enhances
   - **Node Navigation**: Interact with each step in the execution plan, including collapsing or expanding nodes for a simplified view.
   - **Zoom Controls**: Zoom in or out to adjust the level of detail, or use "zoom to fit" for a complete view of the plan.
   - **Metrics and Highlighting**: Highlight key performance indicators, such as elapsed time or subtree cost, to identify bottlenecks in query execution.
+- **Schema Compare (Preview)**: Effortless schema synchronization and management
+  - Compare schemas between two databases, DACPAC files, or SQL projects and see additions, removals, and modifications at a glance
+  - Filter and exclude specific differences before syncing
+  - Apply changes directly or generate a deployment script for later use
+  - Save comparisons to rerun or audit schema changes
 - **Customizable Extension Options**: Configure command shortcuts, appearance, and other settings to personalize your development experience.
 
 <img src="https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode-mssql/raw/main/images/mssql-demo.gif" alt="demo" style="width:480px;"/>