When GitHub Copilot launched in 2021, it fundamentally changed how developers think about AI-assisted coding. As the first widely-adopted AI coding tool, Copilot brought real-time code suggestions to millions of developers, seamlessly integrated into their existing workflows.
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It runs as an extension in popular IDEs, providing real-time code suggestions as you type. From completing a single line to generating entire functions, Copilot aims to accelerate development by understanding context and predicting what you want to write.
The tool is trained on billions of lines of public code, giving it broad knowledge of programming patterns, APIs, and best practices across virtually every language and framework.
GitHub has expanded Copilot into a suite of products:
The original product for individual developers:
Enterprise features added:
Advanced capabilities:
The newest addition:
As you type, Copilot suggests completions:
// Write a function to calculate fibonacci
function fibonacci(n) {
// Copilot suggests:
if (n <= 1) return n;
return fibonacci(n - 1) + fibonacci(n - 2);
}
Press Tab to accept, or keep typing to see alternatives.
Describe what you want in comments:
# Function that reads a CSV file and returns the average of a column
def calculate_column_average(file_path, column_name):
# Copilot generates the complete implementation
Interactive conversation about code:
Generate tests from existing code:
# Write unit tests for the UserService class
# Copilot generates test cases based on the class methods
Generate docstrings and comments:
def process_order(order_id: str, items: List[Item]) -> OrderResult:
# Copilot suggests docstring:
"""
Process an order with the given items.
Args:
order_id: Unique identifier for the order
items: List of items to process
Returns:
OrderResult containing status and details
"""
Copilot integrates with major development environments:
Copilot works across the technology spectrum:
Customize behavior in settings:
{
"github.copilot.enable": {
"*": true,
"plaintext": false,
"markdown": false
},
"github.copilot.advanced": {
"length": 500,
"temperature": 0.2
}
}
Copilot uses surrounding code as context:
# Good: Clear intent
# Calculate the monthly payment for a loan with compound interest
def calculate_monthly_payment(principal, annual_rate, years):
# Less effective: Vague
def calc(p, r, y):
Better names lead to better suggestions:
// Good
function validateEmailAddress(email) {
// Less effective
function validate(s) {
Comments guide suggestions:
// Sort users by last login date, most recent first
// Filter out users who haven't logged in for 30 days
// Return only the username and email fields
Copilot can suggest:
Always review before accepting.
| Feature | Copilot | Claude Code | Aider | Cursor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interface | IDE | Terminal | Terminal | IDE |
| Inline Completion | Excellent | No | No | Excellent |
| Multi-file Edits | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chat | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Git Integration | Via Workspace | Native | Native | Limited |
| Open Source | No | No | Yes | No |
| Cost | Subscription | API | API | Subscription |
Copilot Workspace represents GitHub’s vision for agentic development:
Instead of suggestions, you describe tasks:
Add user authentication with OAuth support for Google and GitHub.
Include rate limiting and session management.
Workspace creates a plan:
After approval, Workspace:
Built-in review workflow:
Studies show:
Copilot sees limited context:
Large codebases may lack full understanding.
Suggestions can be:
Requires internet connectivity for suggestions.
Effective use requires:
GitHub continues investing in Copilot:
GitHub Copilot changed the landscape of software development. Its seamless integration with popular IDEs, broad language support, and continuous improvements make it a valuable tool for many developers.
While it’s not perfect—suggestions need review, context can be limited, and complex tasks benefit from more specialized tools—Copilot excels at accelerating everyday coding tasks. For developers who spend their time in IDEs and want AI assistance without changing workflows, Copilot remains a compelling choice.
The evolution toward Copilot Workspace signals GitHub’s ambition to move beyond suggestions to true agentic development, potentially reshaping how we think about AI-assisted coding.
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