Randy Pagels details how GitHub Copilot’s multi-file edits empower developers to refactor and modernize codebases efficiently while maintaining full control over project changes.

Multi-File Edits Made Simple

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

Overview

GitHub Copilot’s latest feature—multi-file edits—streamlines the process of applying code changes that affect multiple files in your project. Whether you’re refactoring a function, updating import syntax, or standardizing code style, Copilot helps you make these updates efficiently with consistency and control.

Key Use Cases

Refactor Across Files: Easily rename functions or update usages throughout your entire project. For example, renaming getUserData to fetchUserData updates all relevant references at once.
Modernize Imports: Transform outdated CommonJS require calls to modern ES module import statements across modules.
Standardize Style: Apply coding patterns, like converting promise chains to async/await, throughout your codebase.
Update API routes and Adjust Tests: Synchronously refactor API endpoints and ensure corresponding tests reflect the new structure.
Replace Deprecated Functions: Swap out deprecated code with newer helpers or APIs wherever they appear.

How It Works

With multi-file edits, Copilot:

Scans your entire project to locate all relevant references or patterns to be updated.
Proposes coordinated suggestions across files, visible in a diff view.
Lets you review suggested changes similar to a pull request—accept, reject, or tweak each edit before applying.
Streamlines wide-reaching refactoring while leaving you in control of what’s changed.

Tips for Better Refactoring

Use clear, descriptive prompts (e.g., “Change all CommonJS require statements to ES module imports”).
Preview every suggestion using the integrated diff to validate Copilot’s recommendations.
Standardize complex patterns (like error handling or async/await usage) across multiple files for consistent best practices.

Example Prompts

# Update all references to getUserData to use the new fetchUserData function
# Apply async/await instead of promise chains in all service files
# Standardize error handling across controllers

Quick Takeaway

Multi-file Copilot Edits allow you to handle broad, repetitive refactors in minutes instead of hours, freeing you to focus on higher-level problem solving while maintaining complete oversight of your codebase.

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