How to Use GitHub Copilot to Boost Your Coding Speed in Just 30 Minutes

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blank screen, unsure of how to start coding a feature, you’re not alone. As indie hackers and solo founders, we often juggle multiple roles, and coding can feel like a time-sink. Enter GitHub Copilot—an AI-powered coding assistant that can help you write code faster. In just 30 minutes, you can set it up and start leveraging its features to boost your coding speed significantly.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before Starting

Before diving into GitHub Copilot, make sure you have the following:

• GitHub Account: You need an account to access Copilot.
• Visual Studio Code (VS Code): Copilot works as an extension in VS Code. Download it here.
• Subscription: GitHub Copilot costs $10/month or $100/year for individuals. There’s a free trial for 60 days, so you can test it out without commitment.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Step 1: Install GitHub Copilot Extension

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the square icon in the sidebar.
3. Search for "GitHub Copilot" and click "Install."
4. Once installed, you may need to reload your window.

Step 2: Authenticate with GitHub

1. After installation, you’ll see a prompt to sign in to GitHub.
2. Click "Sign In" and follow the authorization steps.
3. Confirm the permissions required for Copilot to access your GitHub repositories.

Step 3: Start Coding

1. Create a new file or open an existing project.
2. Begin typing a comment describing what you want to do, like // create a simple Express server.
3. Watch as Copilot suggests code snippets. You can accept suggestions by pressing Tab.

Expected Outputs

• You should see code completion suggestions popping up as you type.
• The first few lines of your Express server should auto-generate, saving you time.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

• No Suggestions Appearing: Ensure that you are connected to the internet and logged into GitHub.
• Suggestions Not Relevant: Sometimes Copilot can miss the mark. You can refine your prompt or try rephrasing your comment for better results.

What’s Next? Enhancing Your Workflow

After you’ve gotten the hang of Copilot, consider integrating it with other tools:

• Prettier: For code formatting.
• ESLint: For identifying and reporting on patterns in JavaScript code.
• GitHub Actions: To automate builds and tests.

Conclusion: Start Here

GitHub Copilot can be a game-changer in your coding workflow, especially if you’re short on time. By following these steps, you can set it up in just 30 minutes and begin improving your coding speed immediately.

What We Actually Use

In our day-to-day coding, we utilize GitHub Copilot for rapid prototyping and handling boilerplate code. While it’s not perfect, it significantly cuts down our development time, especially for repetitive tasks. However, be mindful that it might not always suggest the most efficient code or handle complex logic well.