How to Use GitHub Copilot to Increase Your Coding Speed by 50% in Just 1 Week

If you're anything like me, the endless cycle of coding, debugging, and refactoring can feel like a time sink. As a solo founder or side project builder, every minute counts. That's where GitHub Copilot comes in. This AI-powered coding assistant can help you code faster, but only if you know how to leverage it effectively. In this guide, I'll walk you through how we used GitHub Copilot to boost our coding speed by 50% in just one week.

What is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer that suggests whole lines or blocks of code as you type. It’s designed to integrate seamlessly with your editor, providing context-aware suggestions based on your current work. For those of us building in public, this means less time spent on boilerplate code and more time focused on the unique aspects of our projects.

Pricing: GitHub Copilot costs $10/month or $100/year, with a free trial available for new users.

Prerequisites: Getting Started

Before diving in, make sure you have the following:

• A GitHub account (free tier is sufficient)
• An IDE that supports GitHub Copilot (like Visual Studio Code)
• Basic familiarity with coding in your preferred language (JavaScript, Python, etc.)

Step-by-Step Guide to Increase Your Coding Speed

1. Install GitHub Copilot

Installing GitHub Copilot is straightforward. Here’s how:

1. Open Visual Studio Code.
2. Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X).
3. Search for "GitHub Copilot" and click Install.
4. Sign in with your GitHub account when prompted.

Expected Output: You should see a "Copilot" icon in your sidebar once it's installed.

2. Start Coding with Copilot

Begin by writing comments or function signatures. Copilot will generate suggestions based on what you type.

Example: Type // function to calculate sum of an array and watch Copilot suggest the entire function.

3. Evaluate and Accept Suggestions

As you work, you'll see suggestions pop up. You can:

• Accept a suggestion by pressing Tab.
• Cycle through multiple suggestions with Ctrl + ] or Ctrl + [.

Tip: Be selective—Copilot is good but not perfect. Always review the generated code for accuracy and security.

4. Use Copilot for Testing

You can also use Copilot to generate unit tests. Simply write a comment describing the test, and it will generate the test code for you.

Example: Type // test for sum function and see what Copilot provides.

5. Review Your Progress

After one week of using Copilot, compare your coding speed. Track metrics like the number of lines of code written per hour and time spent debugging.

Expected Output: You should see a noticeable increase in productivity.

6. Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Issue: Copilot doesn't suggest code.

  • Solution: Ensure you are connected to the internet and that Copilot is enabled in your settings.

• Issue: Suggestions are irrelevant.

  • Solution: Provide more context in your comments or function signatures.

7. What's Next?

Once you’ve mastered GitHub Copilot, consider exploring other AI coding tools to complement your workflow. Tools like Tabnine or Codeium can also enhance your coding experience.

Conclusion: Start Here

To truly boost your coding speed, GitHub Copilot is a solid choice. Just remember to actively engage with its suggestions and evaluate the generated code carefully. By following the steps outlined here, you can realistically achieve a 50% increase in your coding speed within just one week.

What We Actually Use

In our stack, we rely heavily on GitHub Copilot for initial code generation and boilerplate setup. For testing, we also use Jest, which pairs well with Copilot’s suggestions.