Interacting with GitHub Copilot

Table of Contents

• Understanding Copilot Interactions
• 1. Inline Code Suggestions
• 2. Copilot Chat
• 3. Inline Chat
• 4. Keyboard Shortcuts
• 5. Context-Aware Suggestions
• Best Practices for Interaction
• Common Interaction Patterns
• Exam Key Points

Understanding Copilot Interactions

GitHub Copilot provides multiple ways to interact and get code suggestions. Understanding these interaction methods is essential for effective use and exam preparation.

1. Inline Code Suggestions

The primary way to interact with GitHub Copilot is through inline code suggestions that appear as you type:

How It Works

• Start typing code or a comment describing what you want
• Copilot analyzes your context and suggests code
• Suggestions appear in gray text (ghost text)
• Press Tab to accept, or continue typing to reject

Example Interaction

// Write a function to calculate factorial
function calculateFactorial(n) {
  // Copilot suggests: if (n === 0 || n === 1) return 1;
  //                  return n * calculateFactorial(n - 1);
}

2. Copilot Chat

Copilot Chat provides a conversational interface for deeper code understanding and assistance:

Use Cases

• Code Explanation: Ask "Explain this function" or "What does this code do?"
• Debugging: Describe errors and ask for solutions
• Refactoring: Request code improvements or optimizations
• Learning: Ask about best practices or patterns
• Documentation: Generate comments or documentation

Accessing Copilot Chat

• Open the Copilot Chat panel in your IDE
• Type your question or request
• Copilot provides detailed responses with code examples
• You can ask follow-up questions for clarification

3. Inline Chat

Inline Chat allows you to interact with Copilot directly in your code editor:

• Select code and right-click to open inline chat
• Ask questions about selected code
• Request modifications or improvements
• Get context-aware suggestions
• Apply changes directly to your code

4. Keyboard Shortcuts

Efficient interaction with Copilot requires knowing key shortcuts:

Action	Windows/Linux	macOS
Accept suggestion	Tab	Tab
Reject suggestion	Esc	Esc
Show next suggestion	Alt + ]	Option + ]
Show previous suggestion	Alt + [	Option + [
Open Copilot Chat	Ctrl + Shift + I	Cmd + Shift + I

5. Context-Aware Suggestions

Copilot analyzes multiple context sources to provide relevant suggestions:

• Current File: Code in the file you're editing
• Open Files: Other files open in your editor
• Project Structure: Files and folders in your project
• Comments: Natural language descriptions in comments
• Function Names: Naming conventions and patterns
• Imports: Libraries and dependencies being used

Best Practices for Interaction

Writing Effective Prompts

• Be specific about what you want
• Include context in comments
• Use clear function and variable names
• Describe the desired outcome

Reviewing Suggestions

• Always review suggestions before accepting
• Understand what the code does
• Check for security vulnerabilities
• Ensure it follows your coding standards
• Test the code after acceptance

Iterative Refinement

• Accept partial suggestions and refine
• Use follow-up prompts to improve code
• Combine multiple suggestions
• Modify suggestions to fit your needs

Common Interaction Patterns

Pattern 1: Function Generation

Write a comment describing the function → Copilot suggests implementation → Review and accept/modify

Pattern 2: Code Completion

Start typing code → Copilot completes the line → Accept if correct, continue typing if not

Pattern 3: Code Explanation

Select code → Open Copilot Chat → Ask "Explain this" → Get detailed explanation

Pattern 4: Refactoring

Select code → Ask Copilot Chat to refactor → Review changes → Apply

Exam Key Points

• Inline suggestions appear as gray ghost text
• Press Tab to accept, Esc to reject suggestions
• Copilot Chat is for deep code understanding and debugging
• Inline Chat allows context-aware interactions in the editor
• Copilot analyzes multiple context sources (file, project, comments)
• Always review suggestions before accepting
• Use clear, specific prompts for better suggestions
• Keyboard shortcuts: Alt/Option + ]/[ for cycling suggestions