How to Set Up GitHub Copilot for Fast Code Review in 15 Minutes

If you're a solo founder or indie hacker, you know that time is your most precious resource. Code reviews can be a bottleneck, especially when you’re juggling multiple projects. Enter GitHub Copilot—a tool that promises to speed up code reviews by suggesting changes and improvements as you go. But is it as effective as it sounds? In this guide, I’ll walk you through setting it up in just 15 minutes while sharing insights on what works and what doesn’t.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting

Before diving in, make sure you have the following:

• A GitHub account (free tier works)
• Visual Studio Code (VS Code) installed
• A codebase to review (could be a personal project or a collaboration)

Step 1: Install the GitHub Copilot Extension

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Go to Extensions (Ctrl + Shift + X or Cmd + Shift + X).
3. Search for "GitHub Copilot" and click Install on the extension.
4. Sign in to GitHub when prompted and authorize the extension.

Expected Output: You should see the GitHub Copilot icon in your sidebar.

Step 2: Configure Copilot Settings

1. Open Settings (File > Preferences > Settings).
2. Search for "Copilot" to find settings related to the extension.
3. Adjust preferences like suggestion delay and inline suggestion behavior to your liking.

Expected Output: Copilot should start suggesting code snippets as you type.

Step 3: Start Reviewing Code

1. Open a file in your codebase.
2. As you read through the code, ask Copilot for suggestions by typing comments about potential improvements (e.g., // Refactor this function).
3. Review the suggestions and implement the ones that make sense.

Expected Output: Copilot will suggest code improvements or alternatives based on your comments.

Troubleshooting: What Could Go Wrong

• Copilot not suggesting anything? Make sure it’s enabled in your settings and that you’re connected to the internet.
• Suggestions don’t make sense? Remember, Copilot is trained on a vast dataset but isn’t perfect. Always use your judgment.

Pricing Breakdown for GitHub Copilot

| Tool | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |----------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| | GitHub Copilot | $10/mo per user | Fast code suggestions | May suggest incorrect or insecure code | We use it for quick code reviews. | | Visual Studio | Free (with limitations) | General coding | Limited features compared to VS Code Pro | We use VS Code with Copilot. |

What We Actually Use

In our experience, we rely on GitHub Copilot for its speed in generating code snippets during reviews. However, we also pair it with ESLint for ensuring code quality and security.

Conclusion: Start Here

Setting up GitHub Copilot for code reviews can significantly speed up your workflow, especially when you're short on time. With just 15 minutes of setup, you can leverage AI to enhance your code review process. Just remember to keep an eye on the suggestions it provides—while it’s a fantastic tool, it’s not infallible.