How to Use GitHub Copilot to Write Your First 5 Functions in Under 30 Minutes

If you're a solo founder or an indie hacker, you probably wear many hats. One of those hats is likely a developer's hat, whether you're a seasoned coder or just starting out. But here's the reality: writing functions can be tedious, especially if you're not fully comfortable with the syntax or logic. Enter GitHub Copilot—an AI-powered coding assistant that can help you write code faster. In this guide, I’ll show you how to use GitHub Copilot to write your first five functions in under 30 minutes. Yes, really.

Prerequisites

Before we dive in, here's what you need:

• GitHub account: Free to create.
• Visual Studio Code: Download and install it if you haven't already.
• GitHub Copilot subscription: $10/month or $100/year, but it offers a free trial for new users.
• Basic understanding of programming: It helps to know some fundamentals in the language you're using.

Step 1: Set Up GitHub Copilot

1. Install the GitHub Copilot extension in Visual Studio Code. Go to the Extensions panel, search for "GitHub Copilot," and click install.
2. Sign in to your GitHub account when prompted. After logging in, you’ll see a welcome message confirming that Copilot is activated.

Step 2: Create a New File and Start Coding

1. Create a new file: Open a new JavaScript file (or Python, if that's your jam).
2. Write a comment for the first function: For example, type // Function to add two numbers and press enter. Copilot will suggest a function based on your comment.
3. Accept the suggestion: If it looks good, just hit the "Tab" key to insert it into your file.

Example Function

// Function to add two numbers
function add(a, b) {
    return a + b;
}

Step 3: Repeat for Four More Functions

Now, repeat the process for four more functions. Here are some examples you can try:

1. Multiply two numbers

   // Function to multiply two numbers
   function multiply(a, b) {
       return a * b;
   }
   

2. Find the maximum of two numbers

   // Function to find the maximum of two numbers
   function max(a, b) {
       return a > b ? a : b;
   }
   

3. Check if a number is even

   // Function to check if a number is even
   function isEven(n) {
       return n % 2 === 0;
   }
   

4. Reverse a string

   // Function to reverse a string
   function reverseString(str) {
       return str.split('').reverse().join('');
   }
   

Expected Outputs

By the end of this setup, you should have a file with five simple functions that perform basic operations. You can test them directly in your console to see if they work as expected.

Troubleshooting Section

What could go wrong?

• Copilot doesn't suggest anything: Make sure you're connected to the internet and GitHub Copilot is activated. Sometimes, simply restarting VS Code helps.
• The suggestions are off: Remember, Copilot is trained on a vast dataset. If it suggests something that doesn't make sense, you can always modify the code manually.

What's Next

Once you've got your five functions down, consider expanding your skills by:

• Building a small project: Combine these functions into a simple calculator app or a text manipulation tool.
• Learning more about GitHub Copilot: Explore its features, like how it can help with comments or tests.
• Joining communities: Engage with other developers who use Copilot for tips and tricks.

Conclusion

Using GitHub Copilot can significantly speed up your coding process, especially for beginners. In under 30 minutes, you can have five functional pieces of code that you can build upon. If you haven't tried GitHub Copilot yet, I recommend starting with the free trial—it’s a low-risk way to see if it fits your workflow.

What We Actually Use

In our experience, we use GitHub Copilot alongside traditional coding resources. While it’s not perfect, it helps us avoid the mundane parts of coding, allowing us to focus on logic and design.