Programming with GitHub Copilot: Write Better Code--Faster!

Table of Contents....2

Title Page....17

Introduction....18

Part I: Getting Started with GitHub Copilot....19

CHAPTER 1: Get Started with GitHub Copilot....20

Learn Why GitHub Copilot Matters....20

Create a GitHub Account....21

Acquire a GitHub Copilot License....21

Install an IDE Extension....22

First Run: Test Copilot....28

Conclusion....34

Reference....35

CHAPTER 2: Decoding GitHub Copilot....36

Uncover the AI Behind GitHub Copilot....36

Understand Security, Privacy, and Data Handling....37

Understand Copyright Protections....39

Explore the GitHub Copilot Trust Center....40

Conclusion....41

References....41

Part II: GitHub Copilot Features in Action....42

CHAPTER 3: Exploring Code Completions....43

Introducing Code Completions....43

Working with Copilot Code Completions....43

Discovering the Toolbar and Panel....52

Updating Copilot Settings....55

Leveraging Keyboard Shortcuts....57

Conclusion....60

CHAPTER 4: Chatting with GitHub Copilot....61

Discovering Copilot Chat....61

Defining Prompt Engineering with Copilot Chat....70

Commanding Your Conversation with Precision....75

Conclusion....91

Part III: Practical Applications of GitHub Copilot....93

CHAPTER 5: Learning a New Programming Language....94

Introducing Language Education with Copilot....94

Setting Up Your Development Environment....95

Learning the Basics....97

Creating a Console Application....99

Explaining Code with Copilot....103

Adding New Code....104

Learning to Test....105

Conclusion....113

Reference....114

CHAPTER 6: Writing Tests with Copilot....115

Establishing the Example Project....115

Adding Unit Tests to Existing Code....117

Exploring Behavior-Driven Development with Copilot....123

Conclusion....129

CHAPTER 7: Diagnosing and Resolving Bugs....130

Establishing the Example Project....130

Fixing Syntax Errors....132

Resolving Runtime Exceptions....134

Resolving Terminal Errors....139

Conclusion....141

CHAPTER 8: Code Refactoring with Copilot....142

Introducing Code Refactoring with Copilot....142

Establishing the Example Project....143

Refactoring Duplicate Code....144

Refactoring Validators....153

Refactoring Bad Variable Names....161

Documenting and Commenting Code....163

Conclusion....167

CHAPTER 9: Enhancing Code Security....169

Detailing Code Security....169

Establishing the Example Project....170

Exploring Code Security....171

Finding and Fixing Security Issues....175

Conclusion....180

CHAPTER 10: Accelerating DevSecOps Practices....181

Detailing DevSecOps....181

Simplifying Containers....183

Automating Infrastructure as Code....187

Streamlining CI/CD Pipelines....192

Conclusion....199

CHAPTER 11: Enhancing Development Environments with Copilot....200

Amplifying Visual Studio with Copilot....200

Elevating Azure Data Studio with Copilot....208

Boosting JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA with Copilot....215

Enhancing Neovim with Copilot....222

Consulting Copilot in the GitHub CLI....228

References....235

Conclusion....235

CHAPTER 12: Universal Conversion with GitHub Copilot....236

Translating Natural Language to Programming Languages....236

Converting JavaScript Components....239

Simplifying CSS Styles....241

Enhancing Nontyped Languages with Types....247

Transitioning Between Frameworks and Libraries....250

Converting Object-Oriented Languages....255

Migrating Databases....257

Transitioning CI/CD Platforms....259

Modernizing Legacy Systems....262

Conclusion....267

Reference....268

Part IV: Key Insights and Advanced Use Cases for GitHub Copilot....269

CHAPTER 13: Considering Responsible AI with GitHub Copilot....270

Introducing Responsible AI....270

Examining How Copilot Implements Responsible AI....271

Programming with AI Responsibly....280

Conclusion....281

References....281

CHAPTER 14: Augmenting the Software Development Life Cycle with GitHub Copilot....283

Introducing the SDLC....283

Assessing the Adoption of AI in the SDLC....286

Detailing Levels of AI Integration in the SDLC....287

Showcasing GitHub Copilot in the SDLC....294

Addressing Concerns: AI Adoption and the Future of Work....309

Conclusion....310

References....311

CHAPTER 15: Exploring Copilot Business and Enterprise....312

Introducing Copilot Business and Enterprise....312

Chatting with Copilot in GitHub.com....317

Indexing Code Repositories to Improve Copilot's Understanding....323

Getting Better Answers with the Knowledge Base....329

Leveraging Copilot Chat in Code Repository Files....337

Enhancing Pull Requests with Copilot....345

Managing GitHub Copilot....356

Looking Ahead....360

Conclusion....362

References....362

Conclusion....364

APPENDIX A: Resources for Further Learning....365

GitHub Copilot Overview and Subscription Plans....365

Community Engagement and Support....366

Legal and Ethical Considerations....367

Research and Insights....368

Glossary....370

Index....380

Copyright....408

Acknowledgments....409

About the Author....410

About the Technical Editor....410

End User License Agreement....411

In Programming with GitHub Copilot: Write Better Code — Faster, veteran software developer and GitHub community hero Kurt Dowswell delivers an insightful and hands-on exploration of GitHub's powerful, new AI coding assistant, Copilot. In the book, you'll discover how to use the tool's capabilities to push the boundaries of what you thought was possible in programming.

Even if you've used autocomplete tools—like VS Code's TabNine extension—before, you'll be floored by GitHub Copilot's potential to transform the way you code. You'll learn how to install, configure, and use the software, from employing it's most common and widely used features to deploying business and enterprise functionality. You'll even discover how to fix runtime and compilation bugs and write unit, integration, and end-to-end tests.

You'll also find:

• Prompt strategies to get GitHub Copilot to help you brainstorm new code solutions
• What the future looks like for AI-assisted coding, including discussions of issues like code licensing and ethics
• Directions for chatting with Copilot, including common commands and prompts to help you guide the conversation to where you want it to go

Perfect for practicing programmers, developers, and software engineers, Programming with GitHub Copilot is also an essential resource for coders and other IT practitioners-in-training who want to expand their knowledge and improve the scope and depth of their programming skillsets.