Have you ever thought of having your own personal AI coding companion? The one who will help with the long-pending code you’re working on, suggesting the finish lines of code, frameworks, and even generate the code for your next big project? Omg, this is like a super hit helping assistant to make your coding journey a fantastic one!
Sounds great, right? Here is the idea behind GitHub Copilot: making the ins and outs of coding easy. This blog takes you through everything you need to know about this AI assistant , so you can start using it for your coding tasks.
So..What is GitHub Copilot Exactly?
GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant that is here to change the nature of software development, making coding easier and faster for developers. This way, developers can save time and focus on the most complex tasks. Copilot was developed in collaboration with GitHub and OpenAI.
It is built on Codex, a GPT -3-based model trained on open-source code from GitHub repositories. Alongside, suggests code on the fly as you type, from one line to a function, depending on your context, comment, and existing code. It supports a range of programming languages and frameworks within your IDE.
How Does GitHub Copilot Work?
Here is how Copilot works in simple words:
As mentioned above, Copilot uses a GPT -3 language model trained on a dataset of source code from publicly accessible GitHub projects.
You need to type the code in the editor, then Copilot analyzes the entire code and provides suggestions you can accept, ignore, or modify.
Let’s take an example here:
“Type in your code” > Copilot processes it >> Shares suggestions
Another example is a text prompt to get the desired output:
Input:
# write a function to sum all numbers in a list
Output:
Python
def sum_list(numbers):
"""
Returns the sum of all numbers in the input list.
Args:
numbers (list): List of numbers (int or float).
Returns:
int or float: Sum of all numbers in the list.
"""
return sum(numbers)
These AI assistants can understand programming languages such as JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, etc. To get the correct output, you should include proper comments and docstrings, making the coding journey more productive.
Coding Made Simple with these Top GitHub Copilot Features
GitHub Copilot comes with a range of features that enable faster coding and other benefits for developers. Look at the features listed below:
1] Improves Coding Speed
One familiar challenge developer face is spending hours finding the perfect code or reference. However, Copilot provides code suggestions and completes lines of code, thereby boosting speed and efficiency. According to research, 88% reported completing their code faster with GitHub Copilot.
2] Reduce Workload
The AI assistant can strategically reduce the developer's workload by skipping repetitive coding tasks, reducing errors, and more. It makes coding fun for developers.
3] Supports Multiple Programming Languages
It doesn’t matter which language or tech stack you’re using; GitHub Copilot has got your back. Be it Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, Go, or more, the versatility is appreciable.
4] Find Bugs Before They Arise
GitHub Copilot has got you covered with automated testing features, wherein developers can identify and fix bugs in their code. It helps save developers' time and fixes bugs before they cause issues.
5] Agent Mode
Copilot Agent Mode is here on your journey, right from simple prompts to completion of the project. It can analyze the code, suggest changes, test cases, and confirm results.
6] Integrated with Visual Studio
It’s integrated with VS Code directly, so you don't need to switch tools. You can use it directly in your normal coding flow, since GitHub Copilot is built into the IDE.
7] Chat with Copilot
You can chat with Copilot in natural language and get help with your code.
What is GitHub Copilot Best at: The Use Cases
-
- Writing code and testing
- Completion of the code
- Correcting the syntax
- Repetitive code
- Learning new languages and Frameworks
But...Wait! Some Key Points to Keep in Mind
Even though Copilot is amazing at its work. Here are a few points you should keep in mind:
Limited Use Case: It cannot respond to prompts beyond tech and coding.
Overdependency: Developers can rely too much on the AI assistant, hindering their expertise and problem-solving skills.
Accuracy: No AI is perfect. There might be some issues that could occur. So, you need to double-check the code before it's ready for production.
Availability
The GitHub Copilot is available for use at:
-
- GitHub website
- Through GitHub Copilot CLI
- On GitHub mobile
- IDEs such as Visual Studio and JetBrains IDEs, etc.
Conclusion
Hope you now have a clear idea of GitHub Copilot to make your coding journey smooth and productive. From generating code to testing, sharing suggestions, and more, GitHub goes above and beyond to make complex coding tasks simpler.
The AI assistant is not here to take jobs; however, it helps developers improve productivity and overall experience. According to research, 60% to 75% users say Copilot makes them satisfied at work, and less frustrated about the coding. The hype and fact are indeed real! Your AI coding partner is just a click away!
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FAQs
1. What AI does GitHub Copilot use?
Answer: It is mainly powered by Generative AI models, developed by OpenAI, GitHub, and Microsoft.
2. What is the eligibility to access GitHub Copilot for free?
Answer: GitHub Copilot Free is a free pricing tier that offers fewer functionality as compared to the paid plans. It is ideal for individual developers. You can even subscribe to their paid plans mentioned on the website.
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