Why GitHub Copilot Isn't as Great as You Think: My Experience

If you’re a solo founder or indie hacker, you’ve probably heard the hype around GitHub Copilot. It’s marketed as a coding assistant that can predict your next line of code, save you time, and even help you learn new languages. Sounds amazing, right? But after using it for several months, I’m here to tell you that it’s not all rainbows and unicorns. In fact, there are significant limitations that you need to be aware of before diving in.

What Is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that suggests code snippets as you type. It uses machine learning models trained on a vast amount of public code to provide these suggestions.

• Pricing: $10/month or $100/year.
• Best for: Beginners who need help with syntax and experienced developers who want quick boilerplate code.
• Limitations: It can suggest incorrect or insecure code, and it struggles with complex logic and context.

Pricing Breakdown: Is It Worth It?

To understand if GitHub Copilot is worth your hard-earned money, let’s compare it with a few other coding tools:

| Tool | Pricing | Best For | Limitations | Our Take | |------------------|-------------------------|------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------| | GitHub Copilot | $10/month | Code suggestions | Incorrect code, limited context understanding | Useful for quick fixes, but not reliable | | Tabnine | Free tier + $12/month | AI code completion | Less context awareness compared to Copilot | Good for JavaScript, but not as robust | | Codeium | Free | Code generation | Limited language support | Great for free users, but basic features | | Replit Ghostwriter| $20/month | Collaborative coding | Less effective for solo projects | Great for teams, but pricey for individuals | | Sourcery | Free tier + $12/month | Code reviews and suggestions | Limited to Python | Useful for Python devs, but not versatile | | Kite | Free | Python and JavaScript support| Limited to specific languages | Good if you’re a Python dev, but not for others |

Our Verdict: If you’re looking for a reliable coding assistant, you might find better value in Tabnine or Sourcery, especially if you’re focused on specific languages.

Limitations of GitHub Copilot: What You Need to Know

1. Contextual Awareness: Copilot often lacks the ability to understand the broader project context. If you’re working on a complex feature, it might suggest code that doesn’t fit well with your existing architecture.

2. Code Quality: The code it suggests can be buggy or insecure. I’ve had instances where it suggested entire functions that were not only inefficient but also introduced vulnerabilities.

3. Learning Curve: While it’s marketed as a learning tool, relying too much on Copilot can hinder your coding skills. You might find yourself less inclined to understand the underlying logic of what you’re writing.

4. Language Limitations: Copilot excels in popular languages like JavaScript and Python but falters with niche languages or frameworks. If you’re working in something less common, you might be better off with a different tool.

What We Actually Use: Our Stack

After trying out GitHub Copilot, we pivoted to a mix of other tools that have proven to be more effective for our workflow. Here’s our current stack:

• Tabnine: For quick AI code suggestions, especially in JavaScript.
• Sourcery: For Python code reviews and improvements.
• Replit Ghostwriter: When collaborating with others in real-time.

Conclusion: Start Here

In my experience, GitHub Copilot can be a helpful tool, but it’s not the holy grail of coding assistance. If you’re just getting started, it might offer some value, but for more experienced developers, it’s crucial to be aware of its limitations.

If you’re looking for reliable code suggestions that won’t lead you down the path of bad practices, I recommend starting with Tabnine or Sourcery instead. They provide a more tailored experience and can better fit into specific workflows.