[Share] Github Copilot Tips

Last month, I had the pleasure of sharing a presentation with a small developer community on GitHub Copilot and how to use it effectively. The lighting talk covered what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and some tips and tricks to get the most out of this AI-powered tool.

GitHub Copilot is a code completion extension powered by OpenAI’s Codex engine, which helps developers by suggesting code snippets and even generating full functions based on the context in your IDE. By understanding your code through prompts and using “neighboring tabs” for context, GitHub Copilot offers seamless assistance, making coding faster and more intuitive.

Here are some key tips I shared:

• Use Comments: Clearly explain your code with comments so Copilot can generate more accurate suggestions.

• Provide Context: Start with a high-level goal or an example to give Copilot a clear understanding of what you’re trying to build.

• Break Down Instructions: Provide step-by-step instructions rather than requesting large code chunks at once to ensure quality results.

• Practice Good Coding Habits: Copilot responds better when you use descriptive variable names, follow consistent patterns, and maintain good coding practices.

It’s important to remember that Copilot isn’t perfect and should complement, not replace, your coding skills. Always review and refine its suggestions.

You can check out the full presentation and dive deeper into tips for prompt engineering and context usage in the attached PDF. Let me know what you think!

Google Docs link:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xeh_x8x3HFtdXqRt9JHFzLPyRn-d8teQxeNefPTs1mY/edit?usp=sharing

PDF file: