How to Use GitHub Copilot to Boost Your Coding Speed by 50% in One Week

As indie hackers and solo founders, we all know the struggle of balancing coding with everything else on our plates. You might find yourself stuck on syntax errors or spending way too much time writing boilerplate code. What if I told you that you could potentially increase your coding speed by 50% within just one week? That’s where GitHub Copilot comes in.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to effectively use GitHub Copilot, share my personal experiences, and provide practical tips to maximize your productivity.

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It suggests entire lines or blocks of code based on the context you provide. Think of it as your pair programmer that’s always ready to help you out, but it’s not perfect and requires some tweaking to fit your needs.

Pricing Overview

• Free Trial: 60 days
• Individual Plan: $10/month
• Business Plan: $19/user/month

Best For

• Beginners who need help with syntax and structure
• Experienced developers looking to speed up repetitive tasks

Limitations

• It can sometimes suggest incorrect or insecure code
• Requires an internet connection to function
• Limited context understanding, especially for complex projects

Setting Up GitHub Copilot

Time Estimate: 30 Minutes

Prerequisites

• A GitHub account
• Visual Studio Code (VS Code) installed
• GitHub Copilot extension installed

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Install VS Code: If you haven't already, download and install Visual Studio Code from here.

2. Install GitHub Copilot:

   • Open VS Code and navigate to the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X).
   • Search for "GitHub Copilot" and click "Install".

3. Sign In: After installation, you’ll be prompted to sign in to your GitHub account. Make sure you have an active subscription.

4. Enable Suggestions: Once signed in, ensure that Copilot is enabled in your settings. You can adjust how suggestions appear in Settings > GitHub Copilot.

5. Start Coding: Open a new file and start typing your code. You'll see suggestions pop up as you type.

Expected Outputs

You should see suggestions appear as you code. For example, typing function fetchData might prompt Copilot to suggest a full function implementation.

Tips to Maximize Your Coding Speed

1. Leverage Context

Make sure to provide clear context in your code comments. For example, if you're writing a function to calculate the sum of an array, write a comment above it, and Copilot will often generate a relevant implementation.

2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Familiarize yourself with shortcuts like Tab to accept suggestions and Esc to dismiss them. This can save you a lot of time navigating through suggestions.

3. Experiment with Code Snippets

Instead of writing out common patterns, try typing a few keywords and see what Copilot suggests. For instance, typing for loop can often yield useful boilerplate code.

4. Review and Iterate

Always double-check the code Copilot suggests. It might save you time, but you don’t want to deploy insecure or inefficient code.

5. Collaborate with Others

Pair programming with someone else while using Copilot can lead to interesting insights and improvements. Share the suggestions you receive to refine your code.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

What Could Go Wrong

• Incorrect Suggestions: If Copilot suggests code that doesn’t work, try rephrasing your comments or adding more context.
• Performance Lag: Sometimes, the extension can slow down your VS Code. Restarting the editor usually resolves this.

Solutions

• If you find Copilot unhelpful, you can temporarily disable it in the settings.
• Regularly update the extension to benefit from the latest improvements.

What’s Next?

Once you get comfortable using GitHub Copilot, consider exploring other AI coding tools like Tabnine or Codeium. Both offer unique features that complement what Copilot does.

Conclusion

If you're ready to boost your coding speed significantly, start by integrating GitHub Copilot into your workflow. With just a bit of practice, you can take advantage of its suggestions to free up more time for the creative aspects of building your projects.

What We Actually Use

In our experience, we primarily rely on GitHub Copilot for quick functions and boilerplate code. However, we also have Tabnine for extra context and flexibility.