Allison outlines how developers can use the GitHub Copilot coding agent within Microsoft Teams to automate code tasks such as pull request generation, enhancing collaborative workflows.

Using GitHub Copilot Coding Agent with Microsoft Teams for Automated Pull Requests

With the new GitHub app for Microsoft Teams, developers can utilize the Copilot coding agent to generate pull requests (PRs) directly from a Teams conversation. This enables asynchronous and autonomous code generation, helping teams offload routine coding tasks.

How It Works

Mention @GitHub in Teams: Start a conversation in Teams and trigger the Copilot coding agent by mentioning @GitHub with a coding prompt—e.g., “Fix this issue with database query timeouts.” The agent will begin working on your request and keep you updated through the Teams thread.
Supported Tasks: Suitable for bug fixes, minor features, refactoring, adding logging, and scaffolding—freeing up time for deeper problem-solving and collaboration.
Workflow Integration: Once the pull request is prepared, you can review and request changes directly in the Teams thread, promoting seamless collaboration within your development pipeline.

Getting Started

Enable Copilot Coding Agent: Ensure the agent is enabled for your GitHub account. It’s available for all paid Copilot plans. Business and Enterprise users may require an admin to enable relevant policies.
Install the GitHub App in Teams: Add the GitHub app to your Microsoft Teams workspace.
Link Your GitHub Account: Connect your GitHub account to Teams following the app’s prompts.
Choose a Repository: Either set a default repository or specify a target repository using the syntax repo=owner/repository-name when starting a task.
Trigger the Agent: Mention @GitHub in a Teams thread with your prompt, and follow progress and discussions within the same conversation.

Additional Notes

The legacy GitHub for Teams app has been renamed GitHub Notifications, focusing solely on notifications.
The new GitHub app for Teams is currently in public preview, and more details can be found in GitHub’s documentation.
Join the conversation or share feedback via the GitHub Community discussions.

Benefits

Automation: Offload repetitive tasks for increased productivity.
Collaboration: Tight integration with Teams enhances team communication.
Flexibility: Works with all paid Copilot plans and across different repositories.

For more setup details and best practices, visit the links above.

This post appeared first on “The GitHub Blog”. Read the entire article here