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VS Code + GitHub Copilot

Official Docs: docs.github.com/copilot Category: IDE Extension

GitHub Copilot brings AI code completion to Visual Studio Code, integrating with your existing VS Code workflow.

Works With

GitHub Copilot is powered by OpenAI's models, including GPT-4.

Configuration

See Understanding Config Directories for general concepts.

Copilot configuration lives in VS Code's settings:

Setting Location Purpose
VS Code Settings Enable/disable, keybindings
GitHub Account Subscription, organization access
.github/copilot-instructions.md Project-specific instructions

Project Instructions

Create a .github/copilot-instructions.md file in your repository to give Copilot context about your project:

# Copilot Instructions

This is a React + TypeScript project using:
- React 18
- TypeScript 5
- Tailwind CSS

Prefer functional components with hooks.
Use TypeScript strict mode.

Tips & Tricks

Community Tips

This section collects tips from real users. Contribute your tips!

Keyboard shortcuts:

  • Tab - Accept suggestion
  • Esc - Dismiss suggestion
  • Alt + ] / Alt + [ - Next/previous suggestion

Getting better suggestions:

  • Write clear comments describing what you want
  • Use descriptive function and variable names
  • Keep files focused on single responsibilities

Common Issues

"Copilot not suggesting"

  • Check you're signed in to GitHub
  • Verify your subscription is active
  • Ensure the file type is supported

"Suggestions are off-topic"

  • Add a .github/copilot-instructions.md file
  • Write clearer comments before code
  • Check if the context window is cluttered

Community Resources

Help Improve This Page

Know a tip that's not listed? Found a helpful video tutorial? Contribute to this page.