Getting Started with GitHub Copilot #2

• Refactoring up to 40% faster, because it finds and modifies complex functions for you.
• Roughly 50% time saved when generating unit, integration, and E2E tests.
• Better readability, more stable code, and less technical debt.
• Easier developer onboarding, because it explains the code automatically.
• Better development metrics such as cycle time and deployment frequency.

def process_data_and_generate_report(data):
    # loading, cleaning, analysis, report generation...
    pass

# Prompt in Copilot Chat:
# "/refactor Split this function `process_data_and_generate_report` into smaller parts."

# One of Copilot's possible suggestions:
def load_data(data):
    pass

def clean_data(data):
    pass

def analyze_data(data):
    pass

def generate_report(data):
    pass

tmp = 10

# Prompt:
# "Rename `tmp` to a more descriptive name."

# Copilot might suggest:
customer_age = 10

if (user.isAdmin === true && user.isActive === true && user.hasPermission('edit')) {
    // ...
}

// Prompt:
// "/refactor Simplify this condition"

// Copilot may suggest:
if (user.isAdmin && user.isActive && user.hasPermission('edit')) {
    // ...
}

# Original:
for i in range(len(my_list)):
    if my_list[i] == value:
        # ...

# Prompt:
# "/optimize This loop for better performance"

# Copilot's suggestion:
if value in my_list:
    # ...

• /refactor refactors the selected block according to your input,
• /optimize suggests performance improvements,
• /explain explains what the code block does, so you understand it before editing.

• Use /tests in Copilot Chat (or highlight the code in the editor) and Copilot designs unit tests for your function.
• Copilot creates tests for methods, covers edge cases, and handles exceptions.
• Experimentally, you can use /setupTests, which sets up a test environment for the whole project (selects a framework, creates a file, and so on).

• Mark the broken code and use /fix. Copilot offers the corrected version.
• When a test fails, use /fixTestFailure. Copilot analyzes the failure and suggests a fix.
• In experimental mode, run /startDebugging to create a debugging configuration ("launch configuration") and start debugging directly from Copilot Chat.

def compute_factorial(n):
    factorial = 1
    for i in range(1, n + 1):
        factorial *= i * factorial  # bug: multiplies by factorial extra
    return factorial

/explain Why does this function compute factorial incorrectly?

/fix Fix the logic so it calculates factorial correctly.

def compute_factorial(n):
    factorial = 1
    for i in range(1, n + 1):
        factorial *= i
    return factorial

• Use the /doc command to let Copilot generate docstrings, comments, or descriptions of functions and classes.
• For code that is complex or undocumented, Copilot can explain it and add the comments it needs.

• A newcomer can ask Copilot Chat "What does this part of the code do?" and get a clear explanation.
• When creating a new module or part of an application, developers can ask Copilot to generate the project skeleton: folders, tests, configuration files, and so on.
• Documentation that is created automatically (docstrings, comments) lowers the barrier for new team members and speeds up their onboarding.