Why GitHub Copilot is Overrated: My Honest Review

As a solo founder and indie hacker, I've always looked for ways to optimize my coding workflow. When GitHub Copilot hit the scene, it seemed like a dream come true—an AI coding assistant that promises to make you faster and more efficient. But after using it extensively, I can say with confidence that it’s overrated. Here’s why and what you should consider before jumping on the bandwagon.

What GitHub Copilot Actually Does

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that suggests entire lines or blocks of code as you type. It’s built on OpenAI's Codex and integrates directly into your IDE. The idea is to save time and reduce the boilerplate code you have to write.

Pricing Breakdown

• Individual Plan: $10/month
• Business Plan: $19/user/month
• Free Trial: 30 days

Limitations of GitHub Copilot

1. Context Awareness

What it lacks: Copilot can sometimes miss the broader context of your project. It generates code snippets based on the immediate lines of code, which may not align with your overall architecture or coding standards.

Our take: We’ve found ourselves frequently having to edit or rewrite suggestions, which negates the time-saving promise.

2. Quality of Suggestions

Variable quality: While it can generate useful code, the quality isn’t consistent. Sometimes it suggests outdated or insecure code patterns.

Our take: We often spend more time validating Copilot’s suggestions than if we’d just written the code ourselves.

3. Language Limitations

Focused on popular languages: Copilot excels with JavaScript, Python, and TypeScript but struggles with niche languages or frameworks.

Our take: If you work in a less common language, you might find Copilot useless. We’ve had mixed results with languages like Rust and Elixir.

Alternatives to GitHub Copilot

If you're considering Copilot but are unsure, here are some alternatives that might fit your needs better:

| Tool Name | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Verdict | |---------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------| | TabNine | Free tier + $12/mo pro | JavaScript, Python | Less contextual understanding | We use this for quick completions | | Kite | Free + $19.90/mo | Python | Limited language support | We don't use it due to limitations | | Sourcery | Free + $10/mo pro | Python | Focused solely on Python | We use this for Python projects | | Codex | $0-100/mo (based on usage) | All programming languages | Requires more setup and knowledge | Not for beginners | | IntelliCode | Free | C#, Java | Limited to Visual Studio | We don’t use it | | Replit | Free tier + $7/mo pro | Collaborative coding | Slower in larger projects | We use this for pair programming | | Codeium | Free | Multiple languages | Newer tool; not as established | We don’t use it yet | | Ponic | $15/mo | React and Vue.js projects | Limited to front-end frameworks | We don’t use it | | Jupyter Notebooks AI| Free | Data Science | Not for general programming | We don’t use it | | ChatGPT (Code Mode)| Free tier + $20/mo | General coding inquiries | Slower response times for coding | We use this for brainstorming |

What We Actually Use

After experimenting with GitHub Copilot and its alternatives, here's our go-to stack:

• TabNine for quick completions
• Sourcery for Python projects
• ChatGPT for brainstorming and code reviews

Conclusion: Start Here

If you're a solo founder or indie hacker like me, I recommend steering clear of GitHub Copilot unless you're deep into popular languages and are comfortable validating AI-generated code. Instead, consider TabNine or Sourcery for a more reliable experience.

Remember, the best tool is the one that fits your workflow and enhances your productivity without adding unnecessary overhead.