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

As indie hackers and solo founders, we often find ourselves stretched thin, juggling multiple tasks and projects. If you’re like me, you know that coding can be time-consuming, especially when you’re trying to build and ship a product quickly. Enter GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered code assistant that promises to significantly speed up your coding process. The good news? You can get started and see results in just 30 minutes. Here’s how.

Prerequisites: What You Need to Get Started

Before diving in, make sure you have the following:

1. GitHub Account: You’ll need this to access GitHub Copilot.
2. Visual Studio Code (VS Code): This is where you’ll integrate Copilot.
3. GitHub Copilot Subscription: As of August 2026, it's priced at $10/month after a free trial.
4. Basic Coding Knowledge: Familiarity with the programming language you plan to use (JavaScript, Python, etc.).

Step-by-Step Setup to Start Using GitHub Copilot

Step 1: Install Visual Studio Code

Download and install Visual Studio Code. It’s free and works on all major operating systems.

Step 2: Install GitHub Copilot Extension

1. Open VS Code.
2. Go to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of the window.
3. Search for "GitHub Copilot" and click "Install".

Step 3: Sign In to GitHub

Once installed, you’ll need to sign in to your GitHub account. Click on the Copilot icon in the sidebar and follow the prompts to authenticate.

Step 4: Start Coding with Copilot

Open a new file in your preferred programming language. Start typing a function or comment about what you want to achieve. For example, if you type // function to calculate the sum of an array, Copilot will suggest code to fulfill that requirement.

Expected Outputs

You should see suggestions popping up as you type. These can be accepted with a simple Tab key or rejected if they don’t fit your needs. In our experience, Copilot can generate boilerplate code and even complex functions in seconds, which can save you significant time.

Troubleshooting: Common Issues and Solutions

• Copilot Not Suggesting Code: Ensure you're properly signed in and that the extension is enabled in VS Code.
• Suggestions Are Off-Target: Sometimes, Copilot might suggest code that doesn’t quite fit. You can refine your comments or code snippets to guide it better.
• Performance Issues: If VS Code is slow, consider disabling other extensions to improve performance.

What’s Next: Maximizing Your Use of Copilot

Once you’re comfortable with Copilot, here are a few advanced tips:

1. Experiment with Comments: The more context you provide in your comments, the better Copilot’s suggestions will be.
2. Use it for Documentation: Copilot can help generate comments and documentation for your code, making it easier to maintain.
3. Pair Programming: Treat Copilot as a coding partner. Use its suggestions as a starting point, and refine the output to fit your style.

Conclusion: Start Here to Boost Your Coding Speed

Getting started with GitHub Copilot can drastically improve your coding speed in just 30 minutes. It’s a tool that can help you write code faster, giving you more time to focus on building your product. Just remember to leverage it wisely and refine its suggestions to match your coding style.

What We Actually Use

In our toolkit, GitHub Copilot stands out as a must-have for coding efficiency. Alongside it, we also use tools like Postman for API testing and Trello for project management, but Copilot is our go-to for speeding up development.