VS Code GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant jointly developed by GitHub and OpenAI. It can automatically complete code based on context, generate functions, optimize logic, and even write entire code modules, helping developers code more efficiently.

GitHub Copilot is integrated into multiple IDEs such as VS Code, Visual Studio, and JetBrains, making you feel like you have an experienced partner assisting you at all times while writing code.

Core Features

Code Auto-completion

GitHub Copilot can provide real-time code suggestions based on your code context and comments. It can:

Complete entire lines of code
Generate complete functions
Generate code from descriptive comments

Code Explanation

Copilot can help you understand unfamiliar code:

Explain the functionality of complex code segments
Provide code optimization suggestions
Identify potential issues

Multi-language Support

Supports almost all mainstream programming languages, including:

JavaScript/TypeScript
Python
Java
C++
Go
Ruby, etc.

Installation and Setup

Installation Steps

Prerequisites

VS Code is correctly installed; it is recommended that the version be1.116+or above. That version natively includes Copilot, so there is no need to manually install the plugin.
A GitHub account, and you need to enable a GitHub Copilot subscription (Personal, Team, or Enterprise all work).

Install the extension (for VS Code 1.115 and earlier versions)

Open VS Code and go to the Extensions Marketplace.
Search forGitHub Copilot。
Click安装(Install)Install.

After installation, click the small icon in the upper-right corner to bring up the Copilot chat window:

You can also click the icon in the lower-right corner:

Sign in to GitHub account

After installation, VS Code will prompt you to sign in to your GitHub account.
ClickSign in to GitHubThe browser will redirect to the GitHub authorization page; after authorization, it will automatically return to VS Code.

Enable GitHub Copilot

In VS Code, pressCtrl + Shift + P, typeCopilot: Enable。
After confirming and enabling, you can start using it.

After installation, open VS Code settings, search for Copilot. Here we can adjust in VS Code settings:

Suggestion trigger method (automatic or manual)
Suggestion display position
Language preference settings

Usage Tips

Smart Completion

When you start typing code, GitHub Copilot automatically gives suggestions, for example:

function fetchData(url) {
    // Copilot 会自动给出一个基于 fetch API 的实现
}

We can press the Tab key to accept the suggestion.

If there are multiple suggestions, pressCtrl + ]orCtrl + [to switch.
If you don't want to use the suggestion, pressEscto dismiss.

Generate Code from Comments

Just write comments, and Copilot will help you implement them:

# Implement a quicksort algorithm

Examples

# Implement a quick sort algorithm
def quick_sort(arr):
if len(arr) <= 1:
return arr
pivot = arr[len(arr) // 2]
left = [x for x in arr if x < pivot]
middle = [x for x in arr if x == pivot]
right = [x for x in arr if x > pivot]
return quick_sort(left) + middle + quick_sort(right)

Generate Test Cases

You can even write comments directly and let Copilot generate tests for you:

// 为 quicksort 函数生成单元测试

Additionally, you can right-click in the editor, select Copilot, and bring up the desired features:

Shortcut Key Descriptions

Shortcut Key	Description
`Tab`	Accept suggestion
`Esc`	Ignore suggestion
`Ctrl + ]`	View next suggestion
`Ctrl + [`	View previous suggestion
`Ctrl + Enter`	Open Copilot panel
`Ctrl + Shift + P`	Enable/Disable Copilot

Using Chat in VS Code

Using the chat feature in Visual Studio Code, you can ask questions about your codebase in natural language, or perform multi-file edits in your project. The chat feature can run in different modes according to your needs, from asking questions, making multi-file edits, to starting agentic coding workflows, all to meet your requirements.

You can use the VS Code chat feature in the following scenarios:

Understanding code: for example, "Explain how this authentication middleware works?"Debugging issues: for example, "Why do I get a null reference in this loop?"
Getting code suggestions: for example, "Show me how to implement a binary search tree in Python?"Optimizing performance: for example, "Help me improve the efficiency of this database query?"
Learning best practices: for example, "What are recommended ways to handle errors in async functions?"Getting VS Code tips: for example, "How do I customize keyboard shortcuts?"
Tip: If you don't have a Copilot subscription yet, you can use Copilot for free by signing up for the Copilot free plan, which includes a limited number of completions and chat interactions per month.Chat Modes
Based on your specific needs, you can choose different chat modes:Mode
DescriptionScenario

AskAsk questions about the codebase or technical concepts.

Chat Modes

Edit

Make multi-file edits in the codebase.	Available in stable or preview versions. Apply code edits directly in your project to implement new features, fix bugs, or refactor code.	Agent
Start an agentic coding workflow.	Available in stable or preview versions. Autonomously implement new features or high-level project requirements with minimal guidance, call tools to perform specialized tasks, and iteratively solve problems as they arise.	You can switch between different chat modes by using the mode dropdown menu in the chat view.
Other Extensions	AI thinking...	VS Code Activity Bar
VSCode Database Client Extension	Note List	Click to Share Notes

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