How to Set Up GitHub Copilot to Boost Your Coding Speed in 30 Minutes

If you're a solo founder or an indie hacker, you know how precious every minute is when you're coding. Enter GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered coding assistant that can help you write code faster and with fewer errors. But getting it set up and integrated into your workflow can be a bit daunting. The good news? You can get it up and running in just 30 minutes. Let’s break down how to do this effectively.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Start

Before diving in, make sure you have the following:

• A GitHub account: You'll need this to access Copilot.
• Visual Studio Code (VS Code): This is where Copilot works best. Download it if you haven't already.
• GitHub Copilot subscription: As of February 2026, pricing is $10/month after a 60-day free trial.

Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code

1. Download VS Code: Head over to the Visual Studio Code website and download the version for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
2. Install the application: Follow the installation prompts.
3. Open VS Code: Launch the application once installation is complete.

Step 2: Install the GitHub Copilot Extension

1. Open the Extensions view: Click on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window or press Ctrl+Shift+X.
2. Search for GitHub Copilot: In the search bar, type "GitHub Copilot" and select the extension from the list.
3. Click Install: Hit the Install button to add the extension to your VS Code.

Step 3: Authenticate with GitHub

1. Sign in to GitHub: After installation, you'll see a prompt to sign in. Click on it.
2. Authorize the extension: Follow the prompts to allow VS Code to access your GitHub account. This is where you’ll need to confirm your subscription if you haven’t done so already.

Step 4: Configure Copilot Settings

1. Open Settings: Click on the gear icon in the lower left corner and select Settings.
2. Search for Copilot: Use the search bar to find GitHub Copilot settings.
3. Adjust preferences: Here, you can enable or disable suggestions, set the suggestion delay, and more. Tailor these settings to fit your coding style.

Step 5: Start Coding with Copilot

1. Create a new file: Open a new file in your preferred programming language.
2. Start typing: As you type, Copilot will suggest code snippets. You can accept suggestions by pressing Tab.
3. Iterate and refine: Copilot learns from your coding patterns, so the more you use it, the better it gets at suggesting relevant code.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Not getting suggestions: Ensure you're logged into GitHub and that the extension is enabled in VS Code.
• Suggestions aren’t relevant: Sometimes, Copilot might not understand your context. Try being more specific in your comments or code.
• Performance issues: If VS Code is lagging, check your system resources. Copilot can be resource-intensive.

What’s Next? Maximizing Your Copilot Experience

Once you've set up GitHub Copilot, consider exploring these additional resources to further enhance your coding efficiency:

• Explore the GitHub Copilot documentation for advanced features and tips.
• Join communities like GitHub discussions or Reddit to share experiences and learn from others.
• Experiment with pair programming: Use Copilot as a virtual coding partner by discussing your code aloud.

Conclusion: Start Here to Boost Your Coding Speed

In just 30 minutes, you can set up GitHub Copilot to significantly enhance your coding speed. Take the time to configure it to your liking, and you'll find that it can save you hours on projects.

What we actually use: We rely on GitHub Copilot for quick code generation, especially for repetitive tasks or boilerplate code. While it’s not perfect, it saves us time and helps reduce syntax errors, making it a valuable part of our workflow.