GitHub Copilot just got exponentially smarter
TLDRGitHub Copilot has recently undergone significant improvements, becoming exponentially smarter. This upgrade allows it to search an entire project on the local machine, providing more holistic and accurate responses. The new workspace command enables a more comprehensive understanding of the project, while the integration with GPT 4 enhances its capabilities. Users can now directly interact with the AI through an inline chat, which supports real-time code iteration and even anticipates the user's next steps. Copilot also assists in styling elements, such as buttons, with the correct colors and can provide guidance on running applications, including troubleshooting errors. Additionally, the VS Code Speech extension allows developers to communicate with Copilot using voice commands, further streamlining the coding process. Commit messages and pull request descriptions can be auto-generated by Copilot, making the development experience more efficient and enjoyable.
Takeaways
- 🚀 GitHub Copilot has become significantly smarter with new updates, offering more comprehensive assistance to developers.
- 🔍 A new workspace command allows Copilot to search the entire project on the local machine, providing a holistic view and more accurate answers.
- 🔗 The limitation of sending large amounts of code (tokens) to the language model has been removed, enhancing the model's understanding of the project.
- 📚 GitHub Copilot now utilizes GPT 4, which has improved its capabilities in handling chat and project-related queries.
- 🔄 Iteration is crucial for success with Copilot, as it enables developers to refine and improve code snippets in real-time.
- 🎨 Copilot can anticipate user needs, such as generating a Facebook button with the correct logo color, showcasing its advanced understanding of context.
- 📝 Copilot can provide guidance on running applications by understanding the context of specific files, like README files.
- 💬 The introduction of the VS Code Speech extension allows for speech-to-text support, enabling developers to communicate with Copilot using voice commands.
- 🗣️ Copilot can generate commit messages and pull request descriptions, saving developers time and effort.
- 🛠️ The new Copilot icon in VS Code indicates the presence of Copilot's assistance features throughout the development environment.
- 🔌 Copilot's error resolution feature can analyze terminal commands and outputs to provide solutions to encountered errors.
Q & A
What is the recent improvement in GitHub Copilot that has made it exponentially smarter?
-GitHub Copilot has become exponentially smarter by removing the limit on the size of messages (tokens) that can be sent to the language model. This allows Copilot to search the entire project on the local machine, giving it a holistic view of the project and enabling it to provide more comprehensive answers.
How does the new workspace command in GitHub Copilot help with project navigation?
-The new workspace command allows GitHub Copilot to search through the entire project on the local machine. This helps developers find where specific functionalities, like login implementations, are located across the project files.
Why was GitHub Copilot previously limited in its ability to provide detailed project-specific information?
-Previous limitations were due to the size of the messages (tokens) that could be sent to the language model. The large language models like ChatGPT have a token limit, which prevents the entire project and source code from being sent to the model at once due to size constraints.
Which version of GPT is now handling all chat and GitHub Copilot interactions?
-All chat and GitHub Copilot interactions are now handled by GPT 4, which provides enhanced capabilities and a more sophisticated understanding of the user's requests.
How does the inline chat feature in VS Code with Copilot assist with code iteration?
-The inline chat feature allows developers to quickly interact with Copilot without leaving the code editor. This enables real-time feedback and iteration on code snippets, such as changing a generic button to a Facebook button, directly within the editor.
What is the significance of Copilot's ability to anticipate the next steps in coding?
-Copilot's ability to anticipate the next steps is significant as it streamlines the coding process. It can automatically generate necessary code, such as a Facebook URL from the configuration file, saving the developer time and effort.
How does the VS Code Speech extension enhance the interaction with GitHub Copilot?
-The VS Code Speech extension allows for speech-to-text support, enabling developers to communicate with Copilot using voice commands. This can speed up interactions, especially for those who find typing repetitive or laborious.
What is the benefit of being able to specify context for chat with Copilot, including specific files?
-Specifying context for chat, including specific files, allows Copilot to provide more accurate and relevant information. It ensures that the assistance is tailored to the exact part of the project the developer is working on, leading to more efficient problem-solving.
How does the new Copilot icon in VS Code assist users when encountering errors?
-The new Copilot icon in VS Code provides direct access to troubleshooting assistance when an error occurs. By analyzing the last terminal command and output, Copilot offers potential solutions to the error, making it easier for developers to resolve issues.
What feature of GitHub Copilot can help automate the process of writing commit messages?
-GitHub Copilot, acting as a pair programmer, can automatically generate commit messages based on the context of the work done. This feature simplifies the often tedious task of writing descriptive commit messages.
How can GitHub Copilot assist with creating a pull request (PR) description?
-Copilot can also assist in creating a description for a pull request. Since it has been following the context and progress of the work, it can generate a suitable description for the PR, saving the developer time and ensuring consistency in communication.
What are the steps a developer can take to start using the improved features of GitHub Copilot?
-Developers can start using the improved features of GitHub Copilot by accessing the links provided in the video description. They can install the necessary extensions, such as VS Code Speech, and begin utilizing the advanced capabilities of Copilot for more efficient coding and project navigation.
Outlines
🚀 Enhanced GitHub Copilot Features
The video discusses recent updates to VS Code and GitHub Copilot, highlighting the new capabilities that make Copilot significantly smarter. The presenter demonstrates how Copilot can now search an entire project on the local machine, providing a more holistic understanding and response to queries. This is a notable improvement over previous limitations due to token size restrictions. The video also showcases the new workspace command and the integration of GPT 4, which allows for more accurate and real-time code generation and style suggestions. Additionally, it covers the ability to jump directly to files and code sections, the iterative process of refining code with Copilot, and the convenience of specifying context for chat queries.
💬 VS Code Speech: Coding with Voice Commands
The second paragraph introduces the VS Code Speech extension, which brings speech-to-text functionality to VS Code. This allows developers to interact with Copilot using voice commands, streamlining the process of requesting code or making changes. The video shows how to use the inline chat feature to ask for a new class with specific CSS properties and automatically apply it to elements in the code. It also touches on the convenience of Copilot generating commit messages and PR descriptions, saving developers time and effort. The presenter emphasizes the current availability of these features and encourages viewers to explore them for more efficient coding practices.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡GitHub Copilot
💡VS Code
💡Large language models
💡Tokens
💡Workspace command
💡GPT 4
💡Inline chat
💡Iterative development
💡CSS
💡README
💡VS Code Speech
💡Commit messages
💡Pull Request (PR)
Highlights
GitHub Copilot has become exponentially smarter with recent updates.
A new workspace command allows Copilot to search the entire project on your local machine.
Copilot now provides holistic answers by understanding the entire project context.
GitHub Copilot is now powered by GPT 4, enhancing its capabilities.
The modal login component can be directly accessed and modified through Copilot.
Copilot assists in iterating code in real-time, streamlining the development process.
It can automatically generate code for configuration details like Facebook URL.
Copilot demonstrates an ability to predict and write code for anticipated user actions.
Users can now specify context for chat, including specific files, for more targeted assistance.
Copilot offers solutions to errors encountered during project execution.
The VS Code Speech extension enables developers to interact with Copilot using speech.
Copilot can create new classes and modify HTML markup based on voice commands.
Commit messages and pull request descriptions can be automatically generated by Copilot.
The new features of Copilot aim to reduce the tedious aspects of coding.
Copilot's updates focus on enhancing developer efficiency and project comprehension.
The updated Copilot is available for use, with links provided in the video description.
Developers can now experience faster coding with the integration of AI and speech recognition.
GitHub Copilot's advancements represent a significant leap in AI-assisted coding.