How to Use GitHub Copilot to Write Your First Program in 1 Hour

If you’ve ever wanted to write a program but felt overwhelmed by the coding knowledge required, GitHub Copilot is here to change that. In just one hour, you can leverage AI to help you write your first program, even if you’re a complete beginner. No need to spend weeks learning syntax; Copilot can help you get your hands dirty with code quickly. Let’s dive into how you can do this effectively.

Prerequisites

Before we get started, make sure you have the following:

1. GitHub Account: You'll need a free GitHub account to access Copilot.
2. Visual Studio Code: Download and install Visual Studio Code.
3. GitHub Copilot: Sign up for GitHub Copilot. As of 2026, it costs $10/month after a free trial, making it accessible for indie developers and solo founders.

Step 1: Set Up Your Environment (10 minutes)

1. Install Visual Studio Code: If you haven’t already, download and install Visual Studio Code.
2. Install the GitHub Copilot Extension:
   • Open VS Code and navigate to the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the sidebar or pressing Ctrl+Shift+X.
   • Search for “GitHub Copilot” and install it.
3. Log into GitHub: After installation, log in with your GitHub credentials to activate Copilot.

Step 2: Start a New Project (10 minutes)

1. Create a New File: Open a new file in VS Code and save it with a .js extension for JavaScript, or .py for Python, depending on your preference.
2. Write a Comment: Start by writing a comment that describes what you want to do. For example:

   // Create a function that adds two numbers
   

Step 3: Let Copilot Do Its Thing (20 minutes)

1. Accept Suggestions: As you type, GitHub Copilot will start suggesting code snippets. You can accept a suggestion by pressing Tab or Enter.
   • For example, if you typed the comment above, Copilot might suggest:

     function add(a, b) {
         return a + b;
     }
     

2. Test Your Code: Add some test cases below your function:

   console.log(add(2, 3)); // Should print 5
   console.log(add(-1, 1)); // Should print 0
   

3. Run Your Program: Open the terminal in VS Code (`Ctrl+``) and run your program:
   • For JavaScript, type node yourfilename.js.
   • For Python, type python yourfilename.py.

Step 4: Troubleshooting (10 minutes)

What Could Go Wrong:

• No Suggestions: If Copilot isn’t suggesting anything, make sure you’re connected to the internet and logged into GitHub.
• Errors in Code: If there are errors, check the syntax and ensure you’re using the correct programming language.
• Functionality Issues: If your program isn’t behaving as expected, double-check your logic and test cases.

Common Issues & Fixes:

• Issue: Copilot suggests irrelevant code. Fix: Try being more specific in your comments. For example, instead of “Create a function,” specify “Create a function that multiplies two numbers.”

Step 5: What’s Next? (10 minutes)

Now that you've written your first program, consider expanding it. Here are a few ideas:

• Add More Features: Enhance your function by adding error handling or more complex operations.
• Explore Other Languages: Try writing similar programs in different languages like Python or Ruby to see how Copilot adapts.
• Join Communities: Engage with other builders on platforms like GitHub or Discord to share your experiences and learn from others.

Conclusion

Using GitHub Copilot, you can write your first program in just one hour, even if you're a complete beginner. By following the steps outlined above, you can quickly get up and running with coding while leveraging the power of AI to assist you.

Start Here: If you’re serious about coding, grab that GitHub Copilot subscription and dive into your first project.