GitHub Copilot is an AI powered coding assistant that helps you write code faster and smarter. It is built by GitHub and OpenAI and it suggests code completions, entire functions and even tests while you type right inside your code editor. It’s like having an AI pair programmer that saves you time and reduces repetitive work.
How to Set Up GitHub Copilot
Before you start using GitHub Copilot, you need to ensure that your environment is properly configured.
Prerequisites
- A GitHub account (Free, Pro or Enterprise)
- A supported IDE like Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs or Neovim.
- Familiarity with installing plugins or extensions in your preferred IDE
Step 1: Install Copilot in Your IDE
Pick your IDE (like Visual Studio Code, JetBrains, or Neovim) and add the Copilot plugin:
- Visual Studio Code: Open Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X), search for “GitHub Copilot,” and click Install.
- JetBrains IDEs: Go to Plugins settings, search for “GitHub Copilot,” install, and restart your IDE.
- Neovim: Use a plugin manager like vim-plug, add Plug 'github/copilot.vim', and run :PlugInstall.
After installing, sign in to your GitHub account through the IDE and authorize Copilot to access your repositories.
Step 2: Enabling GitHub Copilot in Your IDE
After installing sign in to your GitHub account through the IDE when prompted:
- Authorize GitHub Copilot to access your GitHub account and repositories.
- Enable Copilot by following the setup prompts within the IDE.
Using Github Copilot
Let's take an example to understand usage of Github Copilot: