How to Use GitHub Copilot to Increase Your Coding Speed by 40% in 2 Weeks

If you're like me, you've probably spent countless hours debugging or writing boilerplate code. The promise of AI tools like GitHub Copilot is that they can streamline this process, saving you time and effort. But does it really work? In our experience, we found that using GitHub Copilot effectively can boost your coding speed by as much as 40% within just two weeks. Let’s dive into how you can achieve this.

Prerequisites

Before you start, here’s what you need:

• GitHub Account: Free or paid, but you need an account.
• Visual Studio Code (VS Code): The most compatible editor for GitHub Copilot.
• GitHub Copilot Subscription: Costs $10/month or $100/year.
• Basic Understanding of Coding: You should be comfortable with at least one programming language.

Step-by-Step Guide to Get Started

Step 1: Install GitHub Copilot

1. Open VS Code and navigate to the extensions marketplace.
2. Search for "GitHub Copilot" and install it.
3. Sign in with your GitHub account and authorize the extension.

Step 2: Learn the Shortcuts

Familiarize yourself with the shortcuts to maximize efficiency:

• Ctrl + Enter: Trigger suggestions.
• Tab: Accept a suggestion.
• Esc: Dismiss a suggestion.

Step 3: Practice Contextual Coding

Start coding small features or components. GitHub Copilot excels at generating code based on context. For example, if you're writing a function to fetch data from an API, just start typing the function name, and it will suggest the rest.

Step 4: Review and Refine Suggestions

Not every suggestion will be perfect. Take the time to review what Copilot generates. In our experience, it can save time on boilerplate but may need adjustments on logic-heavy sections.

Step 5: Set a Daily Practice Routine

Commit to using GitHub Copilot for at least an hour each day for two weeks. This will help you become accustomed to its suggestions and learn how to leverage it effectively.

Step 6: Measure Your Speed

Track how long it takes to complete specific tasks. Use a simple timer or a tool like Toggl to measure your coding sessions. Compare your results before and after using Copilot.

Step 7: Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Issue: Copilot isn’t suggesting anything.

  • Solution: Make sure you're writing clear comments or function names to guide the AI.

• Issue: Suggestions seem irrelevant.

  • Solution: Try to give more context in your code or comments.

Expected Outputs

By following these steps, you should see a noticeable increase in your coding speed. The goal is to complete tasks in less time while maintaining code quality.

What's Next

Once you’ve gotten comfortable with GitHub Copilot, consider exploring other AI coding tools to complement your workflow. Tools like Tabnine or Codeium can provide additional suggestions and might suit different coding styles.

Pricing Breakdown of GitHub Copilot Alternatives

| Tool Name | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------| | GitHub Copilot | $10/mo or $100/yr | General coding assistance | Can suggest incorrect logic | We use this for most tasks. | | Tabnine | Free tier + $12/mo pro | JavaScript, Python | Limited language support in free | We don't use it often. | | Codeium | Free, $10/mo for pro | Fast code suggestions | Less mature than Copilot | We use it for quick tasks. | | Sourcery | Free, $15/mo for pro | Python code improvement | Focused only on Python | We don’t use it for other languages. | | Replit | Free tier + $20/mo pro | Full-stack development | Limited to their IDE | We use it for quick prototyping. | | Kite | Free, $19.99/mo for pro | Python, JavaScript | Limited to specific languages | We don't use it due to limitations. |

Conclusion

To truly unlock your productivity, start with GitHub Copilot. Commit to a daily practice, measure your speed, and adjust based on what you learn. In two weeks, you might just find that you’ve increased your coding speed by 40%.

What We Actually Use

In our daily work, we primarily rely on GitHub Copilot for its contextual suggestions and ease of use. We complement it with Tabnine for specific language tasks when needed.