Table of Contents
Introduction
GitHub Copilot offers advanced features beyond basic code completion. These features enhance productivity, improve code quality, and provide more sophisticated AI assistance for complex development tasks.
Inline Chat
Inline Chat allows you to interact with Copilot directly in your code editor without opening a separate panel:
Features
- Context-aware conversations in the editor
- Quick explanations and modifications
- Code generation and refactoring
- Less intrusive than separate chat panel
- Focused on specific code sections
Usage
- Select code and right-click
- Choose "Copilot: Explain" or "Copilot: Refactor"
- Chat appears inline in editor
- Apply changes directly
Composer Mode
Composer Mode enables multi-file code generation and editing:
Capabilities
- Generate code across multiple files
- Create entire features or modules
- Maintain consistency across files
- Handle complex multi-file operations
- Plan and execute larger tasks
Use Cases
- Creating new features with multiple components
- Refactoring across codebase
- Implementing design patterns
- Setting up project structure
Code Actions and Smart Actions
Smart Actions provide one-click solutions for common coding tasks:
Generate Tests
Automatically generate unit tests for your code:
- Right-click on function or class
- Select "Generate Tests"
- Copilot creates comprehensive test cases
- Includes edge cases and error handling
- Follows testing best practices
Fix Issues
Automatically fix common code issues:
- Syntax errors
- Type mismatches
- Deprecated API usage
- Code style violations
Explain Code
Get detailed explanations of complex code:
- Select code block
- Choose "Explain" action
- Receive detailed explanation
- Understand algorithms and logic
Multi-File Editing
Advanced feature for editing multiple files simultaneously:
Capabilities
- Edit related files together
- Maintain consistency across files
- Update imports and dependencies
- Refactor across codebase
- Create complete features
Best Practices
- Review all changes before applying
- Use version control for safety
- Test thoroughly after multi-file edits
- Understand the scope of changes
Context Management
Advanced context management improves suggestion quality:
Context Sources
- Current file and open files
- Project structure and dependencies
- Git history and recent changes
- Documentation and comments
- Related files and modules
Optimizing Context
- Keep related files open
- Use descriptive comments
- Maintain clear project structure
- Provide examples in comments
- Use consistent naming conventions
Customization Options
Settings Configuration
Customize Copilot behavior:
- Enable/disable specific features
- Adjust suggestion frequency
- Configure language-specific settings
- Set up keyboard shortcuts
- Customize suggestion triggers
Workspace Settings
Project-specific configurations:
- Workspace-level settings
- Team preferences
- Project conventions
- Framework-specific configurations
Exam Key Points
- Inline Chat provides context-aware conversations in editor
- Composer Mode enables multi-file code generation
- Smart Actions: Generate Tests, Fix Issues, Explain Code
- Multi-file editing maintains consistency across codebase
- Context management improves suggestion quality
- Customization options available in settings
- Advanced features require proper context and clear prompts
- Always review multi-file changes before applying
- Use version control when using advanced features
- Test thoroughly after using advanced features
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