GitHub Copilot in VSCode: Top 10 Features Explained

This video showcases the top 10 features of GitHub Copilot in VSCode. It begins with question and answer blocks, which allow users to ask questions directly in the code editor and receive answers without leaving the environment. The video also demonstrates how to interact with GitHub Copilot through a small window at the top of the editor or via the side window. It highlights the support for native languages, making it user-friendly for non-English speakers. The script explains how to cycle through suggested code snippets and the built-in 'fix it' and 'explain it' features, which help users correct and understand code functions. Additionally, the video introduces the 'terminal fix this' function, automatic commit messages, and the use of agents to provide context for prompts. Finally, it mentions the 'ATVS code' agent for VSCode-specific queries and encourages viewers to share their favorite features in the comments.

Takeaways

• 📘 **Question and Answer Blocks**: You can ask questions directly in the code by using comments with a '#' followed by a 'q' and a colon, and receive answers without needing to open a separate chat window.
• 🔍 **Interactive Editor**: GitHub Copilot can be interacted with by pressing `Ctrl + Shift + I` to open a small window for questions, or by using the side window accessible via an icon for more extended interactions.
• 🌐 **Native Language Support**: GitHub Copilot understands and responds in your native language, making it more accessible for non-English speakers.
• 🔄 **Code Snippet Suggestions**: You can cycle through suggested code snippets for specific tasks by writing a comment describing the task and using the right arrow to navigate through options.
• 📄 **New Window for Suggestions**: Pressing `Ctrl + Enter` opens a new window displaying all suggestions for a given task, allowing for easy selection and acceptance of a solution.
• 🛠️ **Fix It and Explain It**: A function can be explained by right-clicking and selecting 'Explain this' under Copilot, and errors can be fixed with the 'Fix this' feature.
• 💻 **Terminal Fix This**: Errors in the terminal can be fixed with a single click using the 'Fix this' function, which provides an explanation and the ability to copy the fix directly.
• ✍️ **Automatic Commit Messages**: GitHub Copilot can automatically generate commit messages for you by pressing the two star icons in the message banner.
• 📑 **Agents for Context**: Agents allow you to provide context to your prompts, such as the entire workspace, to get more accurate and relevant answers.
• 🧩 **VS Code Agent**: This agent provides information specific to VS Code, helping you find features or solve problems related to the editor.
• 💡 **Community Shared Features**: The 10th feature is an invitation for the community to share their favorite features in the comments below.

Q & A

What is the first feature of GitHub Copilot in VSCode that the video discusses?

The first feature discussed is the question and answer blocks. This allows users to write a question in a comment within a code file, and GitHub Copilot will provide an answer when the user switches lines.

How do you interact with GitHub Copilot using keyboard shortcuts?

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.

What is the significance of using the appropriate comment notation in different programming languages for question and answer blocks?

Using the appropriate comment notation ensures that the question is recognized and processed correctly by GitHub Copilot. For example, in Python, a hashtag is used, while in JavaScript, two forward slashes are used.

How does GitHub Copilot support non-English native languages?

GitHub Copilot supports non-English native languages by understanding and executing commands written in the user's native language without requiring the user to switch to English.

How can users cycle through suggested code snippets?

Users can cycle through suggested code snippets by writing a comment describing the desired functionality and then pressing 'Enter' to receive a code snippet. They can navigate through multiple suggestions using the right arrow or by pressing 'Control + Enter' to view all suggestions in a new window.

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

The 'Fix this' feature allows users to automatically detect and correct errors in their code. By highlighting the problematic code and clicking on 'Fix this', GitHub Copilot suggests a fix, which the user can accept to correct the issue.

How does the 'Explain this' feature work in GitHub Copilot?

The 'Explain this' feature provides an explanation of what a particular function or code snippet does. Users can right-click on the code and select 'Explain this' under the Copilot menu to view a description of the code's purpose in a side window.

What is the terminal 'Fix this' function in GitHub Copilot?

The terminal 'Fix this' function allows users to fix errors that appear in the terminal with a single click. When an error occurs, users can press the two asterisk icons and then 'Explain using Copilot' to receive an explanation and a fix for the error.

How does GitHub Copilot assist with creating commit messages?

GitHub Copilot simplifies the process of creating commit messages by automatically generating a message when users press the two asterisk icons in the commit message banner.

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

Agents in GitHub Copilot are prompts that provide context to the AI, such as the code in the user's workspace. This allows the AI to give more accurate and relevant answers based on the user's current project.

How can the 'ATVS Code' agent be used to enhance prompts in GitHub Copilot?

The 'ATVS Code' agent enriches prompts with information about VS Code, providing precise information about features and solutions to problems related to the editor. Users can ask questions about VS Code by starting their prompt with 'At VS Code'.

Outlines

00:00

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

The video begins with an introduction to GitHub Co-Pilot's top 10 features. The first feature highlighted is the Q&A block, which allows users to ask questions directly in the code editor using specific comment syntax. This feature is language-aware, meaning the comment style changes based on the programming language in use. The second feature is the ability to interact with Co-Pilot through a small window opened by pressing 'Control + Shift + I', or through a chat icon in the sidebar. Additionally, GitHub Co-Pilot supports the user's native language, facilitating code writing for non-English speakers. The fourth feature is the cycling through suggested code snippets, which can be viewed in a new window by pressing 'Control + Enter'. The fifth feature is the 'Fix it and Explain it' functionality, which provides explanations for code functions and automatically fixes detected errors.

05:00

🛠️ Terminal Fixes and GitHub Co-Pilot's Commit and Contextual Assistance

The sixth feature is the 'Terminal Fix this' function, which enables users to correct terminal errors with a single click. The seventh feature simplifies the process of creating commit messages by automatically generating them when the commit icons are pressed. The eighth feature, 'Agents', allows users to provide context to their prompts, enabling Co-Pilot to consider the entire workspace when generating responses. This is demonstrated with a query about the usage of a specific class within a large codebase. The ninth feature is the 'ATVS Code' agent, which provides precise information about Visual Studio Code features and functionalities. The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their favorite features in the comments section, and a reminder to like and subscribe for more content.

Keywords

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code assistant developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It is designed to enhance the coding experience by providing suggestions, answering questions, and automating certain tasks within the development environment. In the video, it is showcased as a tool that can answer questions, suggest code snippets, and even fix errors in the code, making it a valuable asset for developers.

Question and Answer Blocks

This feature allows users to ask questions directly within their code comments. For instance, writing a question after a '#' in a Python file or '//' in a Javascript file will prompt GitHub Copilot to provide an answer. This feature is highlighted in the video as a time-saving method for getting quick answers without leaving the code editor.

Control Shift + I

This is a keyboard shortcut used to interact with GitHub Copilot. When pressed, it opens a small window at the top of the editor where users can ask questions. The video demonstrates how this shortcut provides a direct line of communication with the AI for immediate assistance.

Side Window

The side window is an interface element in the development environment that can be opened to interact with GitHub Copilot. It can be accessed by clicking on an icon or through a keyboard shortcut. The video mentions that this window can be used to ask questions and receive responses from the AI assistant.

Native Language Support

GitHub Copilot supports the user's native language, which means it can understand and respond in languages other than English. This is beneficial for non-English speakers and is demonstrated in the video by writing a command in German, which the AI correctly interprets and executes.

Code Snippets

Code snippets are short pieces of code that can be inserted into a larger program. In the video, it is shown that GitHub Copilot can suggest code snippets based on comments or questions posed by the user. These snippets can be cycled through and even opened in a new window for better visibility and selection.

Fix It and Explain It Feature

This is a dual feature of GitHub Copilot that allows users to understand and correct errors in their code. The 'Explain It' feature provides an explanation of what a function does, while 'Fix It' automatically detects issues and suggests corrections. The video demonstrates how these features can help developers quickly resolve problems in their code.

Terminal Fix This Function

This function enables developers to fix errors that appear in the terminal with a single click. The video shows how, after deliberately causing a syntax error, the user can use this feature to receive an explanation and a direct fix for the error, streamlining the debugging process.

Automatic Commit Messages

When making changes to a project and preparing to commit them to a GitHub repository, GitHub Copilot can automatically generate commit messages for the user. This feature, as shown in the video, saves time and effort by eliminating the need to manually create a commit message each time.

Agents

Agents in the context of GitHub Copilot are prompts that provide context to the AI, usually by including code from the user's workspace. This allows the AI to give more accurate and relevant responses. The video demonstrates how agents can be used to ask specific questions about the codebase, such as locating instances of a class.

VS Code Agent

The VS Code Agent is a specialized agent that enriches prompts with information about Visual Studio Code. It can provide precise information on features and how to perform tasks within the VS Code editor. In the video, it is used to ask how to change the theme of the VS Code editor, with the AI providing a direct answer and even showing the command in the command palette.

Highlights

GitHub Copilot provides a feature for question and answer blocks within code comments, saving time and eliminating the need to open a separate chat window.

Appropriate comment notation depends on the coding language; for example, using two forward slashes in JavaScript instead of a hashtag.

GitHub Copilot can be interacted with through a small window at the top of the editor, accessible by pressing Control + Shift + I.

The side window can be opened by clicking an icon at the top, providing another method to interact with GitHub Copilot.

GitHub Copilot supports native languages, allowing users to write code in languages other than English.

Users can cycle through suggested code snippets and open them in a new window for a more detailed view.

The built-in 'Fix it' feature automatically detects errors and suggests corrections to the code.

The 'Explain it' feature provides a side window explanation of a function's purpose and functionality.

The terminal 'Fix this' function allows for one-click error correction in the terminal, providing an explanation and a direct fix.

Automatic commit messages are generated by GitHub Copilot when changes are made to a project, simplifying the commit process.

Agents can be used to provide context with prompts, allowing GitHub Copilot to understand and respond based on the current codebase.

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

GitHub Copilot can be used to find specific instances or implementations of features within a large codebase.

Users are encouraged to share their most popular features and any missed features in the comments section of the video.

The video provides a comprehensive guide on using GitHub Copilot within VSCode, enhancing the user's coding experience.

GitHub Copilot's features aim to save time, streamline the coding process, and improve efficiency for developers.

The video demonstrates how to use GitHub Copilot for various tasks, from writing code to debugging and project management.

Viewers are asked to like and subscribe to the channel for more informative content on software development tools.