Write Code With GitHub Copilot... and Why It's Better Than ChatGPT

Summary

In this video, Jeremy McPeak from Envato Tuts+ demonstrates how GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered coding assistant, can accelerate development by offering smart code suggestions. Trained on millions of lines of code, Copilot acts like a virtual coding teammate, identifying patterns and automating repetitive tasks. Jeremy walks through creating a calculator application using Copilot in Visual Studio Code, showcasing its ability to streamline code writing, especially through suggestions for HTML, JavaScript, and styling. He emphasizes its value for developers, despite its subscription cost, and highly recommends trying it for efficient programming.

Takeaways

• 🤖 GitHub Copilot is a revolutionary tool for writing code faster by offering suggestions based on patterns it identifies in the code.
• 💻 Copilot has been trained on millions of lines of code from various programming languages and repositories.
• 🛠️ It integrates with different code editors like Visual Studio Code, where users need to install an extension and sign in using their GitHub account.
• 💰 GitHub Copilot has a free 30-day trial, after which it costs $10 per month if you choose to continue.
• ⚡ Copilot is effective in speeding up coding processes by offering helpful prompts and auto-completing sections of code as you write.
• 📝 Developers can interact with Copilot by writing comments in their code, and Copilot will generate suggestions based on the context.
• 🔄 Copilot intelligently adapts to patterns in your code, allowing it to offer more relevant suggestions as you proceed.
• 👨‍💻 Copilot works well with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, generating useful code blocks like buttons, attributes, and event listeners for various tasks.
• 💡 Copilot supports object-oriented programming and can suggest methods and event delegation for click events in JavaScript.
• 👍 Copilot saves time and effort by providing intuitive coding assistance, but developers still need to fine-tune and review the suggestions.

Q & A

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is a groundbreaking AI tool that has been trained on millions of lines of code from various programming languages and repositories. It acts as a virtual coding teammate, offering insightful suggestions to help developers write code faster and save valuable time.

Who is Jeremy McPeak?

Jeremy McPeak is the presenter of the video and a representative of Envato Tuts+. He demonstrates the use of GitHub Copilot to write an application from scratch in the video.

What is the purpose of using Codecanyon as mentioned in the script?

Codecanyon is mentioned as the ultimate marketplace for developers and programmers, featuring solutions for web development, mobile apps, e-commerce, and more. It is suggested for taking applications to the next level.

How does GitHub Copilot assist in the coding process?

GitHub Copilot assists by offering suggestions as the developer types code, effectively acting as a pair programming partner. It identifies patterns in the code and provides prompts that can save development time.

What is the cost of using GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is not free. The cheapest plan offered is ten dollars a month. There is also a free trial available, but it requires a GitHub account and a payment method to be provided.

What is required to start using GitHub Copilot?

To start using GitHub Copilot, one needs to install an extension for their code editor, sign in using a GitHub account, and then they are ready to use the service.

How does GitHub Copilot utilize comments in the code?

GitHub Copilot can utilize comments to understand what the developer intends to do next. For example, if a developer writes a comment about adding Bootstrap, Copilot will prompt to add Bootstrap to the file.

What is the role of data attributes in the example given in the script?

In the example, data attributes like 'data-value' and 'data-operator' are used to distinguish between number buttons and operator buttons in a calculator application. These attributes help in implementing event delegation for handling button clicks.

How does GitHub Copilot help in writing the UI for a calculator application?

GitHub Copilot assists in writing the UI by prompting the developer with the appropriate HTML elements and structure based on the code patterns it identifies. It suggests elements like rows, buttons, and classes that align with the developer's intentions.

What is the approach to styling in the calculator application example?

In the calculator application example, the approach to styling involves using a style element within the HTML document. GitHub Copilot suggests CSS rules that are relevant to the elements in the document, such as setting widths, margins, and text alignment.

How does GitHub Copilot assist in writing JavaScript for the calculator application?

GitHub Copilot assists in writing JavaScript by providing suggestions for object-oriented programming structures, such as methods for adding numbers and operators to the display. It also helps in setting up event delegation for handling button clicks.

What is the final outcome of using GitHub Copilot in the video script?

The final outcome is a functional calculator application created with the assistance of GitHub Copilot. The tool helped in writing the code efficiently and provided suggestions that fit the developer's needs, resulting in a quicker development process.