How to Build Your First Project with GitHub Copilot in Just 2 Hours
How to Build Your First Project with GitHub Copilot in Just 2 Hours
Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank code editor, unsure of where to start? You’re not alone. Many indie hackers and solo founders experience this paralysis when diving into a new project. Fortunately, with tools like GitHub Copilot, you can kickstart your coding journey and build something tangible in no time. In this guide, I’ll show you how to leverage GitHub Copilot to create your first project in just 2 hours—yes, you read that right!
Prerequisites: What You Need to Get Started
Before diving in, make sure you have the following set up:
- GitHub Account: Sign up for free if you don’t have one already.
- Visual Studio Code (VS Code): Download and install this code editor.
- GitHub Copilot Extension: Install the GitHub Copilot extension in VS Code.
- Basic Understanding of JavaScript: Familiarity with the language will help, but Copilot can assist you even if you’re a beginner.
Step 1: Setting Up Your Environment (15 minutes)
- Install Visual Studio Code: Download it from here.
- Install GitHub Copilot: Open VS Code, go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X), and search for "GitHub Copilot." Click "Install."
- Sign In to GitHub: After installation, sign in to your GitHub account within VS Code to activate Copilot.
Expected Output
You should see a GitHub Copilot icon in the status bar, indicating it's ready to assist you.
Step 2: Choose a Simple Project Idea (15 minutes)
For your first project, simplicity is key. Here are a few ideas:
- Todo List App: A basic app to manage tasks.
- Weather App: Fetch weather data from an API.
- Personal Portfolio: Showcase your projects and skills.
In this guide, we’ll build a simple Todo List App.
Step 3: Start Coding with Copilot (1 hour)
Create Your Project Directory
-
Open a terminal in VS Code (Ctrl + `).
-
Create a new directory and navigate into it:
mkdir todo-app cd todo-app
Initialize a New Project
-
Create an
index.htmlfile:touch index.html -
Start coding! Begin with a basic HTML structure. Type the following and let Copilot suggest the rest:
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <title>Todo List</title> </head> <body> <h1>My Todo List</h1> <ul id="todo-list"></ul> <input type="text" id="new-task" placeholder="Add a new task"> <button id="add-task">Add</button> </body> </html>
Use Copilot for JavaScript
-
Create a
script.jsfile:touch script.js -
Start coding the logic for adding tasks. Type a comment to prompt Copilot:
// Function to add a new task -
Let Copilot fill in the code. You might see something like this:
function addTask() { const taskInput = document.getElementById('new-task'); const taskList = document.getElementById('todo-list'); const newTask = document.createElement('li'); newTask.textContent = taskInput.value; taskList.appendChild(newTask); taskInput.value = ''; } document.getElementById('add-task').addEventListener('click', addTask);
Final Touches
-
Link your JavaScript file in
index.html:<script src="script.js"></script> -
Open the
index.htmlfile in your browser to see your Todo List in action!
Expected Output
You should see a functional Todo List where you can add tasks.
Troubleshooting: What Could Go Wrong
- Copilot Doesn’t Suggest Code: Make sure you’re signed in and the extension is active.
- Code Errors: If you encounter issues, check for syntax errors or typos. Copilot can help, but it’s not perfect.
- Browser Issues: Ensure your browser is updated for the best experience.
What’s Next: Building on Your Project
Now that you have a basic Todo List app, consider enhancing it by:
- Adding task deletion functionality.
- Storing tasks in local storage.
- Styling with CSS.
These improvements will deepen your understanding of web development and make your project more robust.
Conclusion: Start Here
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by coding, GitHub Copilot is a powerful ally to help you build your first project quickly. Follow these steps, and you’ll have a functional app in just 2 hours. Remember, the key is to start small and iterate on your ideas.
What We Actually Use
For our projects, we rely on GitHub Copilot for rapid prototyping, but we also mix in traditional coding practices to ensure we understand what’s happening under the hood. We find Copilot invaluable for brainstorming and generating boilerplate code but still prefer to write critical logic ourselves.
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