Dellenny offers a detailed yet accessible walkthrough on getting started with GitHub Copilot, guiding users from installation to practical usage and best practices.

A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Started with GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot has rapidly become an essential coding assistant for developers at all skill levels. In this guide, Dellenny walks you through what Copilot is, how it works, and the steps to get up and running, even if you’re new to coding.

What Is GitHub Copilot?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered tool that suggests lines or blocks of code directly in your editor, helping speed up coding by minimizing repetitive work. Built by GitHub and OpenAI, it leverages context in your code or comments to make smart suggestions across multiple languages and frameworks.

Who Is This Guide For?

  • Beginners wanting to experiment with AI-powered coding
  • Students and hobbyists
  • Professionals seeking to automate routine tasks
  • Anyone using supported editors like VS Code, Visual Studio, Neovim, or JetBrains IDEs

Getting Started with GitHub Copilot

1. Prerequisites

  • A GitHub account
  • An active Copilot subscription (individual or enterprise; 30-day free trial available)
  • A supported code editor: Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, Neovim, or JetBrains IDEs

2. Subscribe to GitHub Copilot

3. Install the Copilot Extension

Example for VS Code:

  1. Open Visual Studio Code
  2. Navigate to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X)
  3. Search for “GitHub Copilot”
  4. Click Install and sign in with your GitHub credentials

Using Copilot in Your Editor

  • Start typing code or descriptive comments
  • Copilot will suggest code as ghosted text
  • Accept (Tab), skip (Esc), or browse alternate suggestions (Ctrl + ] / Alt + ] in some editors)
  • Trigger suggestions manually with Ctrl+Enter (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Enter (Mac)

Tips for Better Copilot Results

  1. Write clear, descriptive comments to guide suggestions
  2. Break complex tasks into smaller steps for more relevant outputs
  3. Always review code generated—stay responsible for security and correctness
  4. Use Copilot alongside your own code snippets
  5. Let Copilot show alternative approaches for learning

Privacy & Security Considerations

  • Suggestions may closely resemble public code
  • Copilot doesn’t memorize your private code
  • Validate code for security and licensing compliance
  • Optionally enable blocking suggestions matching public code in settings

Copilot Chat and Alternatives

If you use Copilot Chat (VS Code) or Copilot for Business, you can ask natural language questions and receive code with explanations. Alternatives include Amazon CodeWhisperer, Tabnine, and Replit Ghostwriter.

Real-World Use Cases

  • Frontend: HTML, CSS, React components
  • Backend: APIs, database queries
  • DevOps: YAML, Docker files
  • Education: algorithms, code learning support
  • Writers: documentation, markdown blogs

Final Thoughts

Copilot isn’t a substitute for skill, but used wisely, it can streamline your workflow and make coding more enjoyable. Always stay engaged and review code before use.

TL;DR Checklist

  1. Create a GitHub account
  2. Subscribe to Copilot (free trial available)
  3. Install the extension in your editor
  4. Start writing code and reviewing suggestions
  5. Use descriptive comments for best results

Happy coding!

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