Enabling GitHub CoPilot in Visual Studio Code

Enabling GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot, the AI-powered coding assistant, has been making waves in the software development community. Designed to help developers write code faster and with fewer errors, Copilot is a tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way we code. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to enable GitHub Copilot in your coding environment.

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It suggests whole lines or blocks of code as you type based on the context of the code you're working on. Copilot is trained on a multitude of code sources and is designed to understand a variety of programming languages and frameworks.

Step 1. Checking the Prerequisites

Before you can start using GitHub Copilot, ensure that you have the following.

• Enabling CoPilot in your GitHub account.
  
• Visual Studio Code is installed on your computer, as Copilot is currently optimized for this editor.
• An active internet connection, as Copilot operates in the cloud.

Step 2. Installing the GitHub Copilot Plugin

To install the Copilot plugin.

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Navigate to the Extensions view by clicking on the square icon on the sidebar.
3. Search for "GitHub Copilot".
4. Click on the install button next to the GitHub Copilot extension.
   

For more details, follow this link: https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/using-github-copilot/getting-started-with-github-copilot?tool=vscode#prerequisites-2

Step 3. Authenticating GitHub Copilot

Once the extension is installed, you need to authenticate it with your GitHub account.

1. After installation, a prompt will appear to sign in to GitHub; click “Sign in”.
2. Your web browser will open a GitHub authentication page.
3. Log in with your GitHub credentials.
4. Authorize the Copilot extension to access your GitHub account.

Step 4. Using GitHub Copilot

With GitHub Copilot enabled, start typing code in your editor. You’ll notice that Copilot automatically suggests code completions, and also, by pressing “Ctrl” + “I” the following pop will appear where

The developer can provide the prompt to get the response.

These suggestions can be

• Accepted by pressing “Tab”.
• Ignored by continuing to type.
• Cycled through by pressing “Ctrl” + “]” and “Ctrl” + “[”.

Best Practices and Tips

• Understand the Suggestions: Copilot might not always provide perfect code. It's crucial to understand and review the suggestions before implementing them.
• Use Descriptive Comments: You can write a comment describing what you want to do, and Copilot will suggest code based on that comment.
• Stay Updated: Keep your Visual Studio Code and Copilot extension updated to benefit from the latest features and improvements.

Conclusion

GitHub Copilot is a powerful tool that can significantly enhance your coding efficiency. By following these steps, you can enable and start benefiting from this revolutionary AI-powered coding assistant. Remember, while Copilot can suggest code, the final responsibility for the code’s correctness and functionality lies with you, the developer.