№ 003 — Field Guide
GitHub Copilot Setup Guide
Complete guide to setting up and using GitHub Copilot in VS Code for AI-powered code completion.
GitHub Copilot is an AI pair programmer that helps you write code faster. Learn how to set it up and use it effectively in your development workflow.
Step-by-step
- 01
Sign Up for GitHub Copilot
Visit github.com/features/copilot and sign up. Individual plan is $10/month or $100/year. Free for verified students and open source maintainers.
- 02
Install VS Code Extension
Open VS Code, go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X), search for "GitHub Copilot" and install. Sign in with your GitHub account when prompted.
- 03
Using Inline Suggestions
Start typing code and Copilot will show gray suggestions. Press Tab to accept, Esc to dismiss, or Alt+] for next suggestion.
- 04
Using Copilot Chat
Install "GitHub Copilot Chat" extension for conversational AI. Use Ctrl+I to open inline chat or the sidebar for longer discussions.
- 05
Best Practices
Write clear comments to guide Copilot. Break complex tasks into smaller functions. Always review and test generated code before committing.
You made it to the end.
Pair this guide with the tools below to put what you learned into practice.