Randy Pagels discusses how developers can use GitHub Copilot Chat as a planning assistant to outline software logic and structure features before implementing any code.

Use GitHub Copilot Chat to Plan Before You Code

Author: Randy Pagels
Posted: July 18, 2025

Introduction

Facing a blank screen when starting a new feature or project is common for many developers. While GitHub Copilot is often leveraged for generating or completing code, it is also highly effective as a conversation partner to help plan and structure your logic even before you write the first function.

ProTip: Start with a Conversation

Instead of jumping straight into implementation, engage GitHub Copilot Chat in mapping out your intended logic, edge cases, and solution structure. This added planning stage helps:

  • Clarify your thought process
  • Surface hidden assumptions
  • Avoid later rework
  • Generate better-organized codebases

Example Prompt:

Help me outline the steps to build a login flow that checks credentials, tracks failed attempts, and redirects users based on roles.

Result: Copilot will respond with a logical breakdown, highlighting:

  • Major tasks and steps
  • Important edge cases (e.g., failed logins, user role checks)
  • A clean structure for feature implementation

Follow-Up Prompt:

Now turn that into a JavaScript function with placeholders for the missing logic.

This iterative style enables you to refine your plan with Copilot’s help before you start coding in earnest.

Benefits of This Approach

By using GitHub Copilot Chat in the planning and architectural phases, developers gain a number of benefits:

  • Improved clarity: Helps set clear goals for the code to be written.
  • Exposure of assumptions: Forces you to think about what you might be taking for granted.
  • Reduction of rework: Well-structured plans lead to fewer rewrites later.
  • Better structure: Building solutions upon solid outlines rather than ad-hoc coding.

It’s like having a reliable planning buddy ready whenever you need one.

Quick Takeaway

GitHub Copilot is much more than a code generator. It serves as a thought partner that helps you talk through problems and build solutions around your plans. Engaging in this dialog leads to more robust and structured development.

Discussion Prompt: What’s the most surprising thing GitHub Copilot helped you figure out before you started coding? Do you have a favorite planning prompt? Share it with the community to help others make the most of Copilot as a planning tool.

This post appeared first on “Randy Pagels’s Blog”. Read the entire article here