How to Use GitHub Copilot to Write a Full Application in 3 Hours

If you're a solo founder or indie hacker, you're likely familiar with the struggle of building an application from scratch. It can feel overwhelming to jump into the coding world, especially if you're short on time and resources. Enter GitHub Copilot — an AI-powered coding assistant that can help you write code faster and more efficiently. In this guide, I’ll show you how to leverage GitHub Copilot to build a full application in just three hours.

Time Estimate and Prerequisites

You can finish this project in about 3 hours if you have the following prerequisites:

• Basic understanding of JavaScript (or the language of your choice)
• GitHub account (free)
• Visual Studio Code (VS Code) installed on your machine
• GitHub Copilot subscription ($10/month or $100/year)
• Node.js installed if you're building a web application

Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Application

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment

1. Install VS Code: If you haven’t already, download and install Visual Studio Code.
2. Enable GitHub Copilot: Install the GitHub Copilot extension from the VS Code marketplace.
3. Create a New Project: Start a new project folder for your application.

Step 2: Define Your Application Structure

Before you start coding, take a moment to outline what your application will do. For example, let’s say we’re building a simple to-do list app.

1. Create the following files:
   • index.html
   • style.css
   • app.js

Step 3: Use GitHub Copilot to Generate Code

Now, the fun part! Start coding with GitHub Copilot's help.

1. HTML Structure: Open index.html and type <!DOCTYPE html> and press Enter. GitHub Copilot will suggest a full HTML structure. Accept it.
2. Add Basic CSS: Open style.css and type body { and press Enter. Copilot will suggest styling options. Accept the styles that suit your design.
3. JavaScript Logic: Open app.js and type function addTask(task) { and press Enter. Copilot will suggest the entire function body. Use its suggestions to build out your task management logic.

Step 4: Test Your Application

1. Run a Local Server: Use a simple local server to host your application. If you have Node.js, you can use the http-server package:

   npm install -g http-server
   http-server .
   

2. Open your Browser: Navigate to http://localhost:8080 to see your application in action.

Step 5: Refine and Optimize

After testing, you may find areas to improve. Use Copilot to refactor your code. For example, if you want to add features like task deletion or editing, just comment out what you want to add, and start typing. Copilot will provide suggestions based on your comments.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Copilot Not Suggesting Code: Ensure that your VS Code is connected to the internet and that your GitHub Copilot subscription is active.
2. Unexpected Behavior: If your application isn't working as expected, double-check the code suggestions from Copilot. Sometimes, it might not understand the context completely.

What’s Next?

Once you have your basic application running, consider adding more features like user authentication or cloud storage for tasks. You can also explore deploying your application using platforms like Vercel or Netlify.

Conclusion: Start Here

Using GitHub Copilot can significantly speed up your development process, allowing you to build functional applications in a fraction of the time it would normally take. If you're looking to get started, follow the steps outlined above and dive into coding. With Copilot at your side, you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in just three hours.

What We Actually Use

In our experience, GitHub Copilot is invaluable for prototyping and quickly generating code for common tasks. We also rely on tools like Figma for design and Postman for API testing.