An Introduction To GitHub CoPilot

Introduction.

Finding ways to streamline our coding processes and boost productivity is always a top priority for the team here at Uplift. GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered coding assistant, is designed to do just that by helping us write code more efficiently. 

Copilot effectively can be a second pair of eyes on the code that we write, suggesting additional snippets, completing functions, and even generating entire blocks of code based on natural language prompts. 

In this article, we’ll explore how GitHub Copilot works, its key features, and how we integrate it into our development workflow to drive efficiencies. 

What Is CoPilot?

GitHub Copilot, brought to you by GitHub and OpenAI, is an AI “code completion” tool. It’s powered by machine learning, with training on a large base of public code, which allows it to give suggestions that include anything from code snippets and line completions to entire function templates, based on the context of what you’re writing. With high integration in code editors like Visual Studio Code, it makes it super simple to get up and running. 

Why Use It?

1. Speed and Efficiency.

Copilot has the ability to reduce the time needed to write repetitive code. This leads to quicker development of themes, plugins, and any custom features you might want. As with any job, development has its manual and tedious aspects, and CoPilot can help us out there.

2. Enhanced Productivity.

Copilot makes it possible for developers to concentrate on what is important, logic and architecture of their projects rather than boring coding tasks through Copilot’s intelligent suggestions.

3. Learning and Inspiration.

A developer can learn new methods and improve coding skills easily because Copilot suggests best practices and current coding techniques which are necessary to modern software development. It is also very much an inspiration tool for when you hit a road-block or are looking for completely new ways of solving a problem.

Practical Examples.

1.Creating Custom Post Types.

Imagine you need to create a custom post type for your WordPress site. With Copilot, you can type a comment like `// Create a custom post type for ‘Books’` and Copilot will suggest the complete code block needed to register the custom post type. Of course, you might need to tidy up and refine what it produces, but it’s often a helpful starting point!

2. Developing Shortcodes.

Developing shortcodes can be time-consuming. Copilot can expedite this process by suggesting code snippets for common shortcode structures, saving you from manually writing boilerplate code.

Best Practices.

1. Review Suggested Code.

Always review and understand the code suggested by Copilot. Ensure it aligns with your project requirements and adheres to WordPress coding standards. Also iron out any niches needed for your specific project. Often, it can actually be more time consuming to review and edit the code that Copilot produces, as opposed to simply writing it yourself. That’s why it’s important to be smart about where and how you choose to employ it.

2. Combine with Human Insight.

Use Copilot as a tool to complement your expertise. While it’s powerful, human insight is crucial for creating high-quality, tailored solutions. Again, we’ll repeat our earlier analogy – think of copilot as a second pair of eyes on your work. Checking, assisting, and suggesting, not doing. 

Conclusion.

GitHub Copilot is one of the most helpful and innovative tools in a developer’s toolkit, that will definitely enhance your experience as a WordPress developer. By automating repetitive tasks, increasing productivity, and giving suggestions for intelligent code, Copilot can empower developers to focus on creating innovative and robust WordPress solutions by taking some of the heavy lifting.