GitHub Copilot in VSCode: Top 10 Features Explained

Max on Tech
29 Dec 202308:43

TLDRThis video introduces the top 10 features of GitHub Copilot in VSCode. It highlights the convenience of question and answer blocks, interaction methods including a dedicated window and shortcut keys, support for native languages, cycling through code snippets, and the ability to open them in a new window. The video also covers the 'Fix it and Explain it' feature, terminal error resolution, automatic commit message generation, the use of agents for context-based prompts, and the VS Code agent for specific editor inquiries. The presenter invites viewers to share their favorite features in the comments section.

Takeaways

  • 📘 **Q&A Blocks**: You can ask questions directly in the code by using comment notation specific to the programming language (e.g., `#` for Python, `//` for JavaScript), and GitHub Copilot will provide answers.
  • 🖥️ **Editor Interaction**: Access GitHub Copilot through a shortcut (`Ctrl + Shift + I`) to ask questions or use the side window for more interactions.
  • 🌐 **Language Support**: GitHub Copilot understands and responds in your native language, making it more accessible for non-English speakers.
  • 🔄 **Code Snippet Suggestions**: Easily cycle through and view multiple code suggestions for a given task, enhancing productivity.
  • 🛠️ **Fix It and Explain It**: Quickly fix errors by right-clicking and selecting 'Fix this', and understand code functionality with 'Explain this'.
  • 📊 **Terminal Integration**: Fix terminal errors with a single click using the 'Terminal fix this' function.
  • ✍️ **Automatic Commit Messages**: Simplify the commit process by generating commit messages automatically with GitHub Copilot.
  • 📏 **Agents for Context**: Use 'agents' to provide context to your prompts, allowing for more precise and relevant answers based on your current codebase.
  • 🧩 **VS Code Specific Agents**: Leverage the 'VS Code' agent for tailored information and solutions related to Visual Studio Code features and usage.
  • 🔑 **Custom Feature Sharing**: Engage with the community by sharing your favorite features in the comments section for collective learning.
  • 🔄 **Continuous Improvement**: The script hints at an upcoming 10th feature to be shared in the comments, encouraging viewer interaction and highlighting the evolving nature of the tool.

Q & A

  • What is the first feature of GitHub Copilot demonstrated in the video?

    -The first feature shown is the question and answer blocks, which allows users to write a question in a comment and receive an answer without needing to open a chat window.

  • How do you interact with GitHub Copilot using a shortcut key?

    -You can interact with GitHub Copilot by pressing Control + Shift + I, which opens a small window at the top of the editor where you can ask questions.

  • Does GitHub Copilot support non-English languages?

    -Yes, GitHub Copilot supports native languages. For example, if your native language is German, you can write code in German and it will understand and respond accordingly.

  • How can you cycle through suggested code snippets?

    -You can cycle through suggested code snippets by writing a comment that describes the functionality you want, and then hovering over the snippet to see the options. You can navigate through the suggestions using the right arrow.

  • What is the 'fix this' feature in GitHub Copilot?

    -The 'fix this' feature allows you to highlight a problematic piece of code and ask GitHub Copilot to automatically detect and suggest a fix for the issue.

  • How does the terminal 'fix this' function work?

    -The terminal 'fix this' function allows you to fix errors that appear in your terminal with a single click. GitHub Copilot provides an explanation of the error and offers a direct way to copy and paste the fix.

  • What is the purpose of automatic commit messages in GitHub Copilot?

    -Automatic commit messages save time by generating a commit message for you when you press the two star icons in the message banner, eliminating the need to manually create a commit message each time.

  • What are 'agents' in the context of GitHub Copilot?

    -Agents in GitHub Copilot are used to provide context with your prompts. They allow the AI to consider not only the data fed into it but also the code in your workspace when generating responses.

  • How can the 'ATVS code' agent help with VS Code related questions?

    -The 'ATVS code' agent enriches your prompts with information about VS Code, providing precise information on features, locations, and solutions to problems related to the editor.

  • What is the 10th feature mentioned in the video?

    -The 10th feature is not explicitly mentioned in the script but is intended to be shared by viewers in the comments section of the video, where they can list their most popular features and any that were missed in the video.

  • How can viewers contribute to the list of features for GitHub Copilot?

    -Viewers are encouraged to share their favorite features and any additional ones they think should be included in the comments section of the video.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 GitHub Co-Pilot's Q&A Blocks and Interaction Methods

This paragraph introduces the top 10 features of GitHub Co-Pilot, starting with the Q&A blocks. It explains how to ask questions within a code file by using comments with specific notations (like '#' for Python or '//' for JavaScript). It also covers different ways to interact with GitHub Co-Pilot, such as using the shortcut 'Control + Shift + I' to open a window for questions, or the side window accessible through an icon for more complex interactions. Additionally, it highlights the support for native languages, which allows users to write code in their preferred language and get accurate responses.

05:00

🔄 Cycling Through Code Suggestions and Built-In Features

The paragraph demonstrates how to cycle through suggested code snippets by writing a comment that describes the desired functionality. It shows that hovering over a suggestion will reveal additional options, and pressing 'Control + Enter' opens a new window with all suggestions. It also introduces the 'fix it' and 'explain it' features, which allow users to automatically correct errors or get an explanation for a piece of code. Furthermore, it discusses the 'terminal fix this' function, which helps to resolve errors directly in the terminal with a single click.

📝 Automatic Commit Messages and Contextual Agents

This part of the script discusses the convenience of automatic commit messages generated by GitHub Co-Pilot, which simplifies the process of committing changes with a descriptive message. It also introduces 'agents', which are used to provide context to prompts, allowing for more accurate and relevant responses based on the code in the user's workspace. The example given involves locating instances of a specific class within a large code base. Additionally, the paragraph mentions the 'ATVS code agent' that provides precise information about Visual Studio Code, such as how to change the editor's theme.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code generation tool developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It assists developers by providing suggestions for code snippets, answering questions, and fixing errors. In the video, it is the central focus, with various features being demonstrated to showcase its utility in enhancing coding efficiency.

💡Question and Answer Blocks

This feature allows users to ask questions within a code comment, and GitHub Copilot responds with answers. It's a convenient way to get quick information without leaving the code editor. For instance, the script mentions asking 'what does REST stand for' and receiving an answer directly in the editor.

💡Comment Notation

Different programming languages use different symbols to denote comments. In the video, it's mentioned that in Python, a hashtag is used, whereas in JavaScript, two forward slashes are used. Understanding comment notation is crucial for effectively using the question and answer feature of GitHub Copilot.

💡Interactive Editor

GitHub Copilot can be interacted with directly from the code editor, either through question and answer blocks or by using keyboard shortcuts like 'control shift and I' to open a dedicated window for queries. This feature streamlines the process of getting assistance while coding.

💡Native Language Support

GitHub Copilot supports the user's native language, allowing for more inclusive and accessible coding experiences. For example, the video script illustrates how a user could write a command in German, and GitHub Copilot would still understand and execute it correctly.

💡Code Snippets

GitHub Copilot offers suggested code snippets based on the context provided in comments. Users can cycle through different suggestions and even open them in a new window for better visibility. In the script, an example is given where writing a comment about calculating days between two dates results in a suggested function.

💡Fix It and Explain It Feature

This feature allows users to understand and fix errors in their code. By highlighting a problematic section and selecting 'explain this' or 'fix this' from the GitHub Copilot menu, users can get a clear explanation of the issue and a suggested fix, as demonstrated when a function's argument is removed and then corrected.

💡Terminal Fix

GitHub Copilot can help fix errors that appear in the terminal. The video shows an example where a syntax error is detected, and by using the 'explain using co-pilot' option, the user is provided with an explanation and a quick fix for the error.

💡Automatic Commit Messages

When making changes to a project, GitHub Copilot can automatically generate commit messages, simplifying the process and saving time. The script mentions pressing two star icons in the message banner to create a commit message automatically.

💡Agents

Agents in GitHub Copilot provide context to prompts, allowing for more precise and relevant answers. In the video, it's shown how using 'at workspace' can help find instances of a class within a large codebase, demonstrating the power of context in improving the development process.

💡VS Code Agent

The VS Code Agent is a specific type of agent that enriches prompts with information about Visual Studio Code. It helps users with questions about the editor's features and provides precise instructions for tasks, such as changing the theme, directly within the co-pilot chat window.

Highlights

GitHub Copilot integrates with VSCode, offering a range of features to enhance coding efficiency.

Question and answer blocks allow users to get information directly within the code editor.

Different comment syntax is required for different programming languages when using Q&A blocks.

GitHub Copilot can be accessed via a dedicated shortcut (Control + Shift + I) for quick interactions.

The side window provides another method to interact with GitHub Copilot through a chat interface.

GitHub Copilot supports multiple languages, facilitating non-English speakers and those who forget English terms.

Code snippet suggestions can be cycled through and viewed in a separate window for comprehensive options.

The 'Fix it' and 'Explain it' features provide automated debugging assistance and function explanations.

The terminal 'Fix this' function allows one-click error resolution directly from the terminal output.

Automatic commit messages save time and streamline the process of committing changes to a GitHub repository.

Agents provide context to prompts, allowing GitHub Copilot to offer more precise and relevant answers.

The 'ATVS Code' agent enriches prompts with information specific to Visual Studio Code functionalities.

GitHub Copilot can locate specific instances of classes or methods within a large codebase, saving developers time.

A tenth feature is teased to be revealed in the comments section of the video, encouraging viewer engagement.

Viewers are encouraged to like and subscribe for more informative content on GitHub Copilot and related tools.

The video provides a comprehensive guide on leveraging GitHub Copilot's features within the VSCode environment.

GitHub Copilot's features aim to improve developer productivity and streamline common coding tasks.

The video demonstrates the practical applications of GitHub Copilot, showcasing its utility in real-world coding scenarios.

GitHub Copilot's language support and contextual understanding make it a versatile tool for developers worldwide.