Software Development with GitHub Copilot

Overview

Master GitHub Copilot to understand, write, and refine code with context, customization, and smart features. GitHub Copilot is more than a smart autocomplete—it’s an AI coding assistant that helps you understand, write, and improve code with ease.

In this course, you’ll explore Copilot in Visual Studio Code, from autocomplete suggestions to inline edits and chat-based modes, and discover how to use each effectively for tasks ranging from quick fixes to multi-file refactoring. You’ll learn how to provide the right context through chat variables, participants, and progressive prompting, while also streamlining your workflow with slash commands and smart actions.

Finally, you’ll shape Copilot’s behavior with custom instructions and model selection, tailoring it to project standards or team conventions. By the end, you’ll have the skills to turn Copilot into a powerful coding partner—boosting productivity, reducing errors, and adapting to both personal and team workflows.

Syllabus

• Getting Started with GitHub Copilot
Learn how to make the most of GitHub Copilot across its different interfaces—autocomplete, inline, chat modes, and Agent mode. Discover when to use each feature, how to guide Copilot effectively, and how to unlock its full potential for both quick fixes and complex, multi-file tasks.
• The Science of Context
Enhance Copilot’s accuracy by guiding it with context, chat variables, and expert participants. Learn to combine these features with slash commands and smart actions to streamline debugging, code reviews, and project navigation. Gain practical techniques that transform Copilot into a more reliable and efficient coding partner.
• Customizing and Extending Copilot
Learn how to shape Copilot’s behavior with custom instructions and model selection. Define coding standards, enforce project or organization-wide conventions, and choose the right AI model for speed, reasoning, or multi-file tasks. Gain control over how Copilot adapts to your workflow.

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Taught by

Thalia Barrera

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Subjects

Programming