Github Copilot on Visual Studio Code

In this blog, we will see how we can integrate GitHub Copilot with VSCode and also see a few interesting features to enhance developers' productivity.

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is a cloud-based artificial intelligence tool developed by GitHub and OpenAI to assist users of the Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, etc. IDEs.

Installation

1. Download the GitHub Copilot and Lab extensions from Visual Studio Code.

2. Sign in to the copilot account using GitHub credentials.

We are all set! Navigate to the Copilot Lab view. I’ve added some Python code in the editor window.

Interesting features in copilot

1. Explanation View: This section provides a step-by-step explanation of our code. Highlight the code and click on Ask Copilot to test the feature.

Explain view provides step by step analysis of our code

2. Language Translation: This makes things more interesting as Copilot provides options to translate our Python code into different programming languages. I’ve chosen Java, but it supports many other languages as well, and below is the translated code.

3: Brushes: Along with the above features, there were a few other features to enhance the code and improve readability that are worth giving a try.

For example, List Steps provides a step-by-step breakdown of each piece of our code.

Copilot on IntelliJ IDE

We need to download similar extensions for Intellji as well. Glimpse of auto code suggestion in the Intellji IDE for the smallestNode function

Auto Code Suggestion based on Function Name

There were a bunch of interesting features with the latest Github Copilot X. Check out the official page for more info

Introducing GitHub Copilot X

I hope this blog helped give a basic context of github copilot. Follow me for more blogs.