How to Use GitHub Copilot for Code Reviews in 30 Minutes

Code reviews can be a real bottleneck, especially when you're juggling multiple projects or working as a solo founder. It’s easy to get bogged down in the nitty-gritty details, and that’s where GitHub Copilot can step in to streamline the process. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to leverage GitHub Copilot for your code reviews in just 30 minutes.

Prerequisites: What You Need to Get Started

Before diving in, make sure you have the following:

• GitHub Copilot subscription: Costs $10/month for individuals or $19/month for teams.
• Visual Studio Code: The editor where you'll use Copilot.
• Basic understanding of Git and GitHub: Familiarity with pulling, pushing, and creating pull requests.
• A codebase ready for review: This can be any project you're working on.

Step 1: Setting Up GitHub Copilot

1. Install Visual Studio Code: If you haven’t already, download and install VS Code from here.
2. Install the GitHub Copilot extension: Open the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X), search for "GitHub Copilot" and hit install.
3. Sign in to GitHub: After installation, you’ll need to sign in to your GitHub account to activate Copilot.

Expected output: You should see Copilot suggestions appearing as you type in your code editor.

Step 2: Review Code with GitHub Copilot

1. Open your Pull Request: Navigate to the PR you want to review.
2. Use Copilot for Suggestions: As you scroll through the code, you can ask Copilot to generate explanations or comments. For example, type // Explain this function and Copilot will provide a comment summarizing what the function does.
3. Check for Code Quality: Use Copilot to suggest improvements. Simply highlight a block of code and type // Suggest improvements, and Copilot will offer alternatives or optimizations.

Expected output: You should receive contextual suggestions that can enhance code clarity and efficiency.

Step 3: Collaborate with Your Team

1. Share Suggestions: If you’re working in a team, share the Copilot-generated suggestions in the PR comments.
2. Use Reviews for Learning: Encourage your team to ask Copilot for explanations on complex parts of the code. This can be a great learning opportunity.

Expected output: A more collaborative review process, with team members gaining insights from Copilot's suggestions.

Troubleshooting: What Could Go Wrong

• Copilot Doesn’t Suggest Anything: Make sure you’re connected to the internet and logged into your GitHub account.
• Inaccurate Suggestions: Copilot is not perfect. Always double-check the suggestions and ensure they fit your coding standards.

What’s Next: Level Up Your Code Reviews

Once you’ve gotten comfortable with using GitHub Copilot for code reviews, consider these next steps:

• Explore Other AI Tools: Tools like Tabnine and Codeium can complement Copilot's functionality and offer additional perspectives.
• Integrate CI/CD Tools: Automate your code review process with CI tools like GitHub Actions to catch issues before they reach the review stage.

Conclusion: Start Using GitHub Copilot Today

If you’re looking to speed up your code review process, GitHub Copilot is a powerful ally. With just 30 minutes, you can set it up and start leveraging its capabilities to enhance your code reviews.

Pricing Breakdown

| Tool | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |--------------------|-----------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | GitHub Copilot | $10/mo (individual) | Code suggestions and reviews | Sometimes inaccurate suggestions | We use this to speed up reviews | | Tabnine | Free tier + $12/mo Pro | Code completions | Limited language support | Worth considering for additional help | | Codeium | Free | Open-source projects | Less feature-rich than Copilot | Good for basic code suggestions | | Sourcery | Free tier + $12/mo Pro | Code quality improvements | Limited to Python | We find it useful for Python only |

What We Actually Use

In our experience, we primarily use GitHub Copilot for code reviews. It saves us time and helps maintain code quality, especially when we’re under tight deadlines.