Your AI pair programmer that helps you write better code faster
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It functions as an "AI pair programmer" that assists developers by suggesting code snippets, entire functions, and even complete algorithms as they write code.
Powered by OpenAI's Codex model (a descendant of GPT), GitHub Copilot has been trained on billions of lines of public code from GitHub repositories. It understands both code and natural language comments, allowing it to generate contextually relevant suggestions based on the code you're writing and the comments you provide.
Available as an extension for popular code editors like Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, and Neovim, GitHub Copilot integrates seamlessly into developers' existing workflows, helping them code faster, explore alternative approaches, and learn new frameworks or languages.
Suggests code snippets, functions, and algorithms based on context and comments as you type.
Works with dozens of programming languages including Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Go, C#, and more.
Converts natural language comments into functional code implementations automatically.
Seamlessly integrates with popular code editors including VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, and Neovim.
Helps create unit tests based on your implementation code to improve code quality and coverage.
Engage in natural language conversations about your code for explanations, refactoring suggestions, and debugging help.
Quickly build functional prototypes and MVPs by leveraging Copilot's ability to generate boilerplate code and implement features based on comments.
Accelerate the learning curve when working with unfamiliar technologies by seeing how Copilot suggests implementing specific functionality.
Automate tedious and repetitive coding patterns like data transformations, API integrations, or configuration files.
Create comprehensive test suites by having Copilot generate unit tests based on your implementation code.
Generate documentation comments for functions and classes to improve code readability and maintainability.
Visit github.com/features/copilot and sign up for a subscription or check if you're eligible for free access.
Ensure you have a supported code editor installed (VS Code, Visual Studio, JetBrains IDEs, or Neovim).
Install the GitHub Copilot extension from your editor's marketplace or extension manager.
Sign in with your GitHub account when prompted by the extension to authenticate.
Begin writing code or comments, and Copilot will automatically suggest completions as you type.
Provide detailed comments describing what you want to implement. The more specific your comments, the better Copilot's suggestions will be.
Start by defining function signatures with descriptive names and parameters to guide Copilot toward generating the implementation you need.
Always review and understand the code Copilot suggests before accepting it, as it may contain bugs or security issues.
If the first suggestion isn't what you want, press Alt+] (or Option+] on Mac) to cycle through alternative suggestions.
Leverage Copilot Chat to ask questions about your code, request explanations, or get help with debugging and refactoring.
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"GitHub Copilot has completely transformed my workflow. As a full-stack developer, I'm constantly switching between languages and frameworks. Copilot helps me stay productive without having to look up syntax or boilerplate code. It's like having a senior developer looking over your shoulder."
"Copilot is incredibly useful for speeding up development, especially for repetitive tasks. However, you need to carefully review its suggestions as it occasionally produces code with subtle bugs or security issues. Still, the productivity boost is well worth the subscription fee."
"As someone learning new programming languages, Copilot has been an incredible learning tool. It shows me idiomatic code examples and helps me understand best practices. The new Copilot Chat feature is also fantastic for explaining code concepts and debugging issues."
For most developers, the productivity gains from GitHub Copilot easily justify the $10/month subscription cost. Many users report saving hours each week on coding tasks, especially when working with unfamiliar languages or frameworks.
No, GitHub Copilot requires an internet connection to function as it sends your code context to GitHub's servers for processing. There is no offline mode currently available.
GitHub states that your code snippets are sent to their servers but are not used to train the model. For businesses with strict security requirements, GitHub offers Copilot Business with additional security features and IP indemnity.
GitHub Copilot supports dozens of programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Go, C#, C++, Java, PHP, Rust, and many more. Performance may vary by language based on the training data available.
While Copilot can generate substantial code snippets and functions, it's not designed to write entire applications from scratch. It works best as an assistant that helps you code faster, but you still need to guide its direction and review its output.
