GitHub Copilot: A Student’s Guide to Coding
My Experience With GitHub Copilot: Features, Benefits, and Tips
Hi there! I’m a final-year BTech student, and let’s be honest, coding can be tough. Some days, I feel great, and other days, I spend hours searching Google to fix tiny issues in my code.
Things changed when I discovered GitHub Copilot through the GitHub Student Developer Pack. It’s an AI tool that helps you write code, almost like having a helpful friend beside you. But it's not just about copying and pasting its suggestions—it helps you learn by guiding you through the process.
In this blog, I’m going to share what GitHub Copilot is, some of its cool features, and how I personally use it to improve my coding. It’s not just about using AI—it’s about growing as a developer.
What is GitHub Copilot?
GitHub Copilot is an AI assistant for developers. It gives code suggestions while you type, learns from what you’re building, and helps you write better code faster.
It’s trained on public GitHub repositories, which means it understands a lot of programming languages, frameworks, and coding patterns.
But here’s the important thing: it’s not about replacing you as a coder. It’s a tool to assist you. You still need to know what you’re doing, review the suggestions, and understand the code it writes.
How I Set It Up in VS Code
Here’s how I got started with GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code:
Open VS Code and go to the Extensions tab.
Search for “GitHub Copilot” and install it.
Log in with your GitHub account.
If you’re a student, you can get free access through the GitHub Student Developer Pack.
That’s it! Once you’ve got it set up, you’ll start seeing suggestions as you type.
Features That Make GitHub Copilot Amazing
GitHub Copilot is more than just a code suggestion tool. Here are some features that I find super useful:
1. Chat
This is like having a coding buddy. You can ask Copilot Chat questions about your code, like:
“Why is my loop not working?”
“Can you suggest a better way to write this function?”
It’s especially helpful when you’re debugging or learning something new. The Chat doesn’t just give answers—it explains things in a way that helps you understand.
2. Copilot Edits
This feature helps you improve your existing code.
You can highlight a piece of code and ask Copilot to optimize it, make it cleaner, or even rewrite it in a different style.
For example, I used it to refactor a long Python script into smaller, reusable functions.
It feels like having an experienced developer review your work and suggest improvements.
3. Advanced Model Options
GitHub Copilot also allows you to choose from different advanced models for specific tasks, like:
GPT 4o (Azure OpenAI): The active model for advanced coding suggestions and learning, powered by the GPT-4 architecture.
o1-mini (Azure OpenAI): A lighter, more efficient version of the model, ideal for smaller tasks or when you need quicker responses.
o1 (Azure OpenAI): A balanced option that provides powerful performance without the overhead of larger models.
Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Anthropic): A different AI model from Anthropic, offering unique strengths and optimizations for various tasks.
How I Use GitHub Copilot
I don’t just use Copilot to copy-paste code—I use it to learn and grow as a coder. Here’s how I use it:
Writing Boilerplate Code
Setting up basic things is faster with Copilot. For example, if I need to do form validation in JavaScript, I just write a comment like// Form validation, and Copilot gives me the basic code. This saves time, so I can focus on the main logic.Exploring New Concepts
When I’m trying to learn how to implement pagination, I can type a comment like// Implement pagination for displaying items, and Copilot generates the code for me. I can then go through the code, understand how pagination works, and use it to split my data into pages, making it easier to manage and display.Debugging
If I have an error or messy code that takes a lot of time to figure out, I highlight it and ask Copilot Chat, “What’s wrong with this?” It doesn’t just fix the code—it also explains the problem, making it easier for me to understand and fix the issue faster.
Why GitHub Copilot is Useful for Students
For students like me, Copilot is more than a coding assistant—it’s a learning tool. It helps in:
Saving Time: No need to Google every small thing.
Learning New Techniques: You see better ways to write code.
Building Confidence: Tackling bigger projects feels easier.
Does Copilot Write All the Code for Me?
No! This is important. Copilot helps, but it doesn’t do everything for you. You still need to:
Understand the code it generates.
Check for errors or improvements.
Write your own logic for your projects.
I treat it like a mentor, not a replacement.
What I Like and Don’t Like
What I Like
Instant suggestions save a lot of time.
It helps me learn new coding styles and patterns.
Debugging is easier with its explanations.
What I Don’t Like
Sometimes, the suggestions don’t match what I need.
It’s tempting to rely on it too much, but I make sure to understand everything it suggests.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a student, you should definitely try GitHub Copilot. It’s like having a senior developer by your side, helping you code smarter and learn faster.
But remember: it’s a tool to support you, not replace your skills. Use it to learn, explore, and improve, and it will become your best coding partner.
😊 Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts—have you tried GitHub Copilot or have questions about it? Let me know in the comments or connect with me. Let’s grow as developers together!