How to Use GitHub Copilot for Faster Code Reviews in Less Than 30 Minutes

If you’re like most indie hackers and solo founders, code reviews can feel like a necessary evil that eats up your precious time. You’re juggling multiple projects, trying to ship features, and the last thing you want is to get bogged down in back-and-forth comments on your code. Enter GitHub Copilot—a tool that promises to speed up the code review process. But does it actually deliver? In this guide, I’ll show you how to leverage GitHub Copilot for faster code reviews in under 30 minutes.

What You Need Before You Start

Time Required

You can finish this entire setup and workflow in about 30 minutes.

Prerequisites

• GitHub Account: You’ll need a GitHub account to use Copilot.
• Visual Studio Code: Make sure you have VS Code installed.
• GitHub Copilot Access: As of 2026, GitHub Copilot costs $10/mo for individual users, with a free trial available.
• Basic Understanding of Git: Familiarity with Git commands will help you navigate your repositories.

Step 1: Install GitHub Copilot

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the sidebar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
3. Search for "GitHub Copilot" and click on the install button.
4. Once installed, log in with your GitHub account to activate Copilot.

Expected Output

You should see Copilot suggestions appear as you type in your code editor.

Step 2: Set Up Your Code Review Workflow

Create a Branch for Your Review

1. In the terminal, create a new branch for your code review:

   git checkout -b review-branch
   

2. Make your changes and commit them:

   git add .
   git commit -m "Code changes for review"
   

Use Copilot to Generate Review Comments

1. As you review the code, use Copilot to suggest comments. Simply type // TODO: followed by your question or comment, and Copilot will suggest possible improvements or clarifications.
2. You can also ask Copilot to generate a summary of your changes by typing:

   // Summarize changes
   

Expected Output

You should see Copilot-generated comments that can enhance your review process.

Step 3: Utilize Copilot for Code Suggestions

1. While reviewing, if you find a section that needs improvement, simply type a comment asking for a better implementation. For example:

   // Improve this function
   

2. Copilot will provide suggestions that you can either accept, reject, or modify.

Expected Output

You’ll receive alternative code snippets that may improve the overall quality of your code.

Troubleshooting: What Could Go Wrong

• Copilot Not Suggesting: If you don’t see suggestions, ensure you’re signed in and that your internet connection is stable.
• Irrelevant Suggestions: Sometimes Copilot doesn’t understand context. Be specific in your comments to get better suggestions.

What's Next

Once you’ve completed your code review, consider integrating Copilot into your regular development workflow. Use it for writing tests, generating documentation, or even creating boilerplate code for new features.

Final Thoughts

GitHub Copilot can be a powerful ally in speeding up your code reviews. It helps streamline the process, making it less tedious and more efficient. However, take its suggestions with a grain of salt—Copilot is not infallible and sometimes generates code that requires further tweaking.

What We Actually Use

In our experience, we’ve found that using GitHub Copilot alongside regular code review practices works best. We still rely on human insights for critical reviews but use Copilot for repetitive tasks and initial suggestions.

Conclusion

Start leveraging GitHub Copilot today to make your code reviews faster and less painful. Install it, follow these steps, and you’ll be on your way to a more efficient workflow in less than 30 minutes.