How to Utilize GitHub Copilot for Faster Coding in 2 Hours

If you're a solo founder or indie hacker, you know that time is money. Every hour spent coding is an hour not spent on marketing, customer support, or brainstorming your next big idea. Enter GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered coding assistant that promises to speed up your development process. But does it really deliver? In this guide, we'll walk you through how to set up and effectively use GitHub Copilot in just 2 hours.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Start

1. GitHub Account: You need an account to access Copilot.
2. Visual Studio Code (VS Code): Install this editor if you haven't already.
3. GitHub Copilot Subscription: As of March 2026, pricing is $10/month or $100/year. There's a free trial for 30 days if you want to test it out.
4. Basic Coding Knowledge: Familiarity with JavaScript, Python, or any language that Copilot supports will help.

Setting Up GitHub Copilot (30 minutes)

1. Install VS Code: Download and install it from the official site.
2. Install the GitHub Copilot Extension:
   • Open VS Code.
   • Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X).
   • Search for "GitHub Copilot" and click "Install."
3. Sign In:
   • After installation, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your GitHub account.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to authorize Copilot.
4. Configuration:
   • Go to settings (File > Preferences > Settings).
   • Search for "Copilot" and adjust settings to suit your preferences (e.g., enabling/disabling inline suggestions).

Using GitHub Copilot Effectively (1 hour)

1. Autocomplete and Suggestions

• What It Does: Copilot suggests code snippets based on what you're currently writing.
• Tip: Start typing a function or comment describing what you want to do, and let Copilot fill in the rest.

2. Learning New APIs

• What It Does: If you’re working with a new API, you can describe the function you want to create, and Copilot will generate code that adheres to the API's conventions.
• Example: Type // Fetch user data from API and see how Copilot suggests the relevant code.

3. Writing Tests

• What It Does: Copilot can help you write unit tests based on your code.
• Tip: Write a comment like // Test for user login and let Copilot generate the test cases.

4. Code Refactoring

• What It Does: Copilot can suggest ways to simplify or optimize your code.
• Tip: Highlight a block of code and ask for a refactor with a comment like // Refactor this code.

5. Debugging Assistance

• What It Does: Copilot can suggest potential fixes for errors.
• Tip: When you encounter an error, describe it in a comment, and see if Copilot provides a solution.

Troubleshooting Common Issues (15 minutes)

• Issue: Copilot isn’t suggesting anything.
  • Solution: Check your internet connection and ensure that you are signed in to GitHub.
• Issue: Suggestions are irrelevant.
  • Solution: Provide more context in your comments or start with a clearer function definition.

What's Next: Enhancing Your Workflow

Once you’ve gotten the hang of Copilot, consider integrating it into your regular workflow. Use it to automate repetitive coding tasks, or try pairing it with other tools like Postman for API development or Figma for design handoffs.

Additional Tools to Consider

While GitHub Copilot is powerful, there are other AI coding tools worth exploring. Here’s a quick comparison of some popular options:

| Tool | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |--------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | GitHub Copilot | $10/mo, $100/yr | General coding assistance | Can be inaccurate, needs context | We use it daily for quick coding. | | Tabnine | Free tier + $12/mo Pro | Autocompletions in various IDEs| Limited language support in free tier | Not as good as Copilot for context. | | Codeium | Free | Free AI code completions | Less robust than Copilot | We don’t use it; not reliable. | | Replit Ghostwriter | $20/mo | Collaborative coding | Limited to Replit environment | Great for team projects. | | Sourcery | Free tier + $12/mo Pro | Code quality improvement | Limited languages, not as good for suggestions| We use it for code reviews. | | AI21 Studio | $0-25/mo | Natural language queries | Not focused on coding; more for general queries| We don’t use it for coding. |

Conclusion: Start Here

If you're looking to speed up your coding workflow, GitHub Copilot is a solid choice. In just 2 hours, you can set it up and start leveraging AI to assist with your coding tasks. Remember to complement it with a good understanding of your coding needs, and you'll find that it can save you significant time.

For those just starting, take advantage of the free trial to see if it fits into your workflow.