GitHub Copilot in VSCode: Top 10 Features Explained

Max on Tech
29 Dec 202308:43

TLDRThis video showcases the top 10 features of GitHub Copilot, a powerful AI tool integrated into Visual Studio Code. It begins with question and answer blocks, allowing users to get instant responses to coding queries without leaving the editor. The video then demonstrates how to interact with GitHub Copilot using shortcut keys and the side window, and highlights its support for native languages, making it accessible to a global audience. The script also covers cycling through code snippets, the 'fix it' and 'explain it' features, and the terminal fix function, which simplifies error resolution. Additionally, it discusses automatic commit messages, the use of agents for context-specific queries, and the VS Code agent for editor-specific questions. The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their favorite features in the comments section, encouraging community engagement.

Takeaways

  • 📘 Use question and answer blocks for quick queries within the code editor by writing a comment with a specific syntax (e.g., `# q: What does REST stand for?`).
  • 💡 Quickly interact with GitHub Copilot using the shortcut `Ctrl + Shift + I` to open a small window for asking questions.
  • 🌐 GitHub Copilot supports your native language, allowing you to write code and queries in languages other than English.
  • 🔄 Cycle through suggested code snippets by using the right arrow or open all suggestions in a new window with `Ctrl + Enter`.
  • 🛠️ Utilize the 'Fix this' and 'Explain this' features by right-clicking on problematic code to automatically detect errors and get explanations.
  • 🔧 The 'Terminal Fix this' function allows you to fix errors directly from the terminal output with a single click.
  • 📝 Automatically generate commit messages with the help of GitHub Copilot by clicking on the two-star icons in the message banner.
  • 📑 Use 'agents' to provide context to your prompts, such as the entire workspace or specific code snippets, for more accurate responses.
  • 🧩 The 'ATVS Code' agent enriches your prompts with information about VS Code, helping you find features and solve problems related to the editor.
  • 📋 The 10th feature will be shared in the comments section of the video, inviting viewers to share their favorite features and any that may have been missed.
  • 🎬 Remember to like and subscribe for more informative content on GitHub Copilot and other related topics.

Q & A

  • What is the first feature of GitHub Copilot that the video covers?

    -The first feature covered is the question and answer blocks, which allow users to write a question in a comment and receive an answer without opening a chat window.

  • How do you interact with GitHub Copilot using the editor?

    -You can interact with GitHub Copilot by using question and answer blocks, pressing Control+Shift+I to open a small window for questions, or using the side window accessible by clicking the icon at the top.

  • 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 translate and execute it accordingly.

  • How can you cycle through suggested code snippets?

    -You can cycle through suggested code snippets by writing a comment that describes the desired function, and then using the right arrow to navigate through the suggestions. Pressing Control+Enter opens all suggestions in a new window.

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

    -The 'Fix this' feature allows you to highlight a piece of code with an error, right-click, and select 'Fix this' from the Copilot menu. It will automatically detect the issue and suggest a fix.

  • How does the 'Explain this' feature work?

    -The 'Explain this' feature provides an explanation of a function or code snippet when you highlight it, right-click, and select 'Explain this' from the Copilot menu. It opens a side window with an explanation of the code.

  • What is the terminal 'Fix this' function?

    -The terminal 'Fix this' function allows you to fix errors that appear in your terminal with a single click. It provides an explanation of the error and allows you to copy and paste the fix directly.

  • How does GitHub Copilot help with creating commit messages?

    -GitHub Copilot can automatically generate a commit message for you when you press the two star icons in the message banner after making changes to your project.

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

    -Agents in GitHub Copilot are prompts that provide context to your questions, usually the code you have written in your editor. This allows the answers to be based on both the data fed into the AI and the specific code in your workspace.

  • How does the 'ATVS Code' agent help with VS Code related queries?

    -The 'ATVS Code' agent enriches your prompts with information about Visual Studio Code. It provides precise information on features, locations, and solutions to problems related to VS Code.

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

    -The 10th feature is not explicitly mentioned in the video script provided. It is intended to be shared by viewers in the comments section of the video.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Exploring GitHub Co-Pilot's Q&A and Interaction Features

The video begins with an introduction to the top 10 features of GitHub Co-Pilot. The first feature highlighted is the Q&A block, which allows users to ask questions directly in the code editor by using specific comment syntax (e.g., '#' in Python or '//' in JavaScript). This feature streamlines the process of getting answers without needing to use a separate chat window. Additionally, users can interact with GitHub Co-Pilot by pressing 'Control + Shift + I' to open a small window for queries or by using the sidebar chat window. The video also emphasizes the importance of using the correct comment notation for the language being coded. Another key point is GitHub Co-Pilot's support for native languages, which can be beneficial for non-English speakers or when forgetting English terms. The feature to cycle through suggested code snippets is also covered, including how to open and accept solutions in a new window using 'Control + Enter'. Lastly, the built-in 'Fix it' and 'Explain it' features are introduced, which help users correct errors and understand code functionality with ease.

05:00

🛠️ Terminal Error Resolution and GitHub Co-Pilot's Additional Features

Continuing from the first paragraph, the video demonstrates the 'Terminal fix this' function, which enables one-click error resolution in the terminal. This is showcased by intentionally creating a syntax error and then using the feature to automatically detect and suggest a fix. The seventh feature discussed is automatic commit messages, which simplifies the process of committing changes to a GitHub repository by generating commit messages with a simple icon press. The eighth feature introduces 'agents', which provide context to prompts based on the user's current code, enhancing the relevance of the answers. An example is given where the user asks for instances of a specific class within their workspace. The ninth feature is the 'ATVS code' agent, which enriches prompts with information about Visual Studio Code, offering precise solutions to VS Code related queries. The video concludes with a teaser for the 10th feature, encouraging viewers to share their favorite features in the comments section and to like and subscribe for more content.

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, automating repetitive tasks, and offering explanations for code functions. In the video, it is showcased as a tool that can be integrated into Visual Studio Code (VSCode), enhancing the coding experience by providing features like question-answer blocks, native language support, and code suggestions.

💡Question and Answer Blocks

This feature allows users to ask questions within their code comments, and GitHub Copilot provides answers directly within the code editor. It's a time-saving feature that eliminates the need to switch to a separate chat window. For instance, in the video, the user types a question in a Python file using a hashtag followed by a 'q' and a colon, and GitHub Copilot responds with an answer on the next line.

💡Control Shift I

This is a keyboard shortcut in VSCode that opens a small window at the top of the editor where users can interact with GitHub Copilot by asking questions. It's one of the methods shown in the video to communicate with the AI assistant without leaving the code editor.

💡Side Window

The side window is an interface element in VSCode that can be opened to interact with GitHub Copilot. It can be accessed by clicking on an icon at the top of the editor or a chat icon, providing another way to ask questions and receive responses from the AI assistant.

💡Native Language Support

GitHub Copilot's ability to understand and respond in the user's native language, even if it's not English. This feature is highlighted in the video as beneficial for non-English speakers or when a user forgets an English term. For example, the user writes a command in German, and GitHub Copilot correctly imports the specified module.

💡Code Snippets

GitHub Copilot provides suggested code snippets based on the context provided in the comments or the code itself. Users can cycle through different suggestions and even open more suggestions in a new window. In the video, the user requests a function to calculate the number of days between two dates, and GitHub Copilot offers a snippet that the user can accept and integrate into their code.

💡Fix It and Explain It Feature

A feature that allows users to get explanations for code functions or to automatically fix errors in their code. In the video, the user right-clicks on a function to get an explanation of what it does. Additionally, if there's a mistake in the code, the user can select 'Fix This' to have GitHub Copilot identify and suggest corrections.

💡Terminal Fix This Function

This feature enables GitHub Copilot to help fix syntax errors that appear in the terminal. The user can click on icons that appear when an error occurs, and GitHub Copilot will explain the error and provide a fix that can be copied and pasted into the code to resolve the issue.

💡Automatic Commit Messages

GitHub Copilot can automatically generate commit messages for the user, simplifying the process of committing changes to a GitHub repository. In the video, the user presses two star icons in the message banner, and GitHub Copilot creates a commit message, saving time and effort.

💡Agents

Agents in GitHub Copilot are prompts that provide context to the AI, allowing it to give more accurate and relevant responses. In the video, the user demonstrates how to use the 'at workspace' agent to ask questions about the codebase, such as locating instances of a specific class.

💡ATVS Code Agent

The ATVS Code Agent is a specific type of agent in GitHub Copilot that provides information about Visual Studio Code. It helps users with questions related to VSCode features or functionality. In the video, the user asks how to change the theme in VSCode, and the agent responds with precise instructions, even showing the command in the command palette.

Highlights

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

Question and answer blocks allow users to get instant answers to coding questions directly in the code editor.

Appropriate comment notation varies depending on the programming language used.

GitHub Copilot can be accessed through a dedicated window using the shortcut Control+Shift+I.

The side window can be opened by clicking the icon at the top of the editor for additional interactions.

GitHub Copilot supports native languages, allowing users to write code comments in their own language.

Code snippets can be cycled through and viewed in a new window for a broader selection.

The 'Fix it' feature automatically detects errors and suggests corrections.

The 'Explain it' feature provides a detailed explanation of a function's purpose and usage.

Terminal errors can be fixed with a single click using the terminal 'Fix this' function.

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

Agents provide context to prompts, enhancing the relevance of the responses based on the user's codebase.

The 'ATVS Code' agent enriches prompts with information specific to VS Code, offering precise solutions to user queries.

GitHub Copilot's features are designed to improve the developer experience by saving time and reducing manual tasks.

Users are encouraged to share their favorite features in the comments for a collaborative knowledge base.

The video provides a comprehensive overview of GitHub Copilot's top features for VSCode users.

GitHub Copilot's integration with VSCode is a significant advancement in developer tooling.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and engage with the content.

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