Learn GitHub CoPilot

What is GitHub Copilot?

Github Copilot is the hottest AI thing for programmers and students. Not only can CoPilot help students write faster code, but it can also help them learn programming concepts and build complete software programs. GitHub CoPilot works with your favorite IDE, such as VS Code and Visual Studio. Here are some of the things GitHub Copilot can do:

1. Suggest whole lines or entire functions of code.
2. Complete complex data structures and algorithms.
3. Generate documentation for your code.
4. Translate code from one language to another.
5. Create test cases for your code.
6. Check code quality and suggest improvements.
7. Answer your questions about code.

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How do I use GitHub CoPilot?

Here, let’s learn how students can benefit from this tool.

Step 1. Install Github Copilot Extensions in VS Code

You can use GitHub CoPilot in various IDEs, such as VS Code and Visual Studio 2022. Here, I will use VS Code. Please install GitHub CoPilot in VS Code. 

Open Extensions in VS Code and install two extensions – GitHub Copilet and Github Cipilot Chat.

GitHub Copilot provides autocomplete-style suggestions from an AI pair programmer as you code. You can receive suggestions from GitHub Copilot either by starting to write the code you want to use or by writing a natural language comment describing what you want the code to do.

GitHub Copilot Chat is a companion extension to GitHub Copilot that houses preview Chat features.

Note. During the installation process, you will be asked to log in to your Github account. GitHub CoPilot is a paid feature. If you do not have a paid version, you can try it, but eventually, you will need a paid account.

Once installed successfully, you will see the GitHub Copilot Chat icon in your left sidebar.

Step 2. Ask a Question 

Now, if you write any code or just place a cursor in your editor, GitHub Copilot will provide you with code suggestions.

Before that, let’s see how the Chat works. 

You will see a Chat prompt at the bottom of the screen. Here, you can ask any question, and CoPilot will write code for you.

I type the question, “Can you create a Car class in C# with standard properties?” and hit ENTER. 

CoPilot replies the following:

As you can see, it has written a Car class with few properties. Not only it write code for you, but it also suggested another question following this that you may be interested in now. 

Step 3. Copy Code

Now, if you hover over the Car class code, you will see two options – Copy and Insert at Cursor. 

As you can see below, my cursor is at line 3.

If you click on the “Insert at Cursor” option, you will see the code is copied in your class. 

Step 4. Auto Suggestion

Now, if you click on your program, you will see the CoPilot will suggest you code that you may want to write.

Using this process, you can write your code much faster.

Step 5. Continue Writing Code 

Now, if you remember, CoPilot suggested the next question.

If you click on that question, CoPilot will write the next code snippet. As you can see from the below screen, not only did CoPilot write code for you, but it also explains how this code works.

 

As you can see, GitHub CoPilot can be useful for you not only to write code faster but also to help you write code that you may not know.

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In my next article, I will write a complete program using GitHub Copilot.

What are the benefits of GitHub Copilet?

Code productivity and code quality are two major issues for businesses and developers. Here are some of the benefits of using GitHub Copilot:

1. Increased productivity: GitHub Copilot can help you write code faster and with fewer errors.
2. Improved code quality: GitHub Copilot can help you write more concise, maintainable, and idiomatic code.
3. Reduced cognitive load: GitHub Copilot can help you focus on the more creative aspects of programming.
4. Write test cases: GitHub CoPilot can write test cases from your code.
5. Code suggestion: You can copy your existing code and ask CoPilot to improve it.
6. Document your code: GitHub CoPilot can write documentation for your code.
7. Explain code: You can ask GitHub CoPilot to explain your code line by line.
8. Learn new coding techniques
9. Get feedback on your code from an AI assistant

In other words, GitHub CoPilot helps you write more code in less time and write better code with fewer errors.

What are the limitations of GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is being used to write code in real-world applications. Here are some of the limitations of it:

• The code may not be the perfect code since it uses online and other resources.
• The code may not be written in the latest version of a language since CoPilot may be using an older version of the syntaxes.
• GitHub CoPilot can make some mistakes, and the code may not be correct. You may want to use GitHub CoPilot to write the base code.
• Remember that GitHub Copilot is not a replacement for human programmers. It is a tool that can help you to be more productive, but it is not a substitute for your own knowledge and expertise.

Is GitHub Copilot safe to use?

Yes, GitHub Copilot is safe to use, but it is important to use it responsibly. It is not a substitute for your own judgment, and you should always review the code that it suggests before committing it to your repository. Additionally, you should be aware that GitHub Copilot is trained on a massive dataset of public code, which means that it may suggest code that is not appropriate for your project.