IDE Integration - accentient/github-copilot-devs GitHub Wiki

GitHub Copilot operates as an online service, requiring an active internet connection to function. It cannot be installed as a standalone application on your local machine. To access GitHub Copilot, you'll need to install the GitHub Copilot extension within your preferred code editor. This extension enables two primary services:

• Code Suggestions: AI-driven recommendations for code snippets and functions.
• Chat Functionality: Interactive conversations for guidance and problem-solving.

Not all editors support both services.

Supported Code Editors

GitHub Copilot integrates seamlessly with the following editors:

• Visual Studio Code
• Visual Studio
• JetBrains IDEs
• Vim/NeoVim
• Azure Data Studio
• Xcode

Third-Party Extensions and Community Support

Beyond the officially supported IDEs, GitHub Copilot's capabilities can be extended to other editors and IDEs through third-party extensions and community-driven projects, such as these examples:

• Eclipse
• Sublime Text
• RStudio
• Emacs
• Geany
• Zed

Instruction Files

GitHub Copilot instruction files are used to guide the behavior of GitHub Copilot in specific projects. These files provide instructions on how Copilot should interpret and generate code based on the project's requirements. By using instruction files, developers can customize the suggestions and completions provided by Copilot to better align with their coding standards and practices.

The primary purpose of Copilot instruction files is to enhance the relevance and accuracy of code suggestions. These files can include information such as preferred coding styles, naming conventions, and specific libraries or frameworks used in the project. By providing this context, Copilot can generate code that is more consistent with the project's existing codebase, reducing the need for manual adjustments and improving overall productivity.

Creating an Instruction File

To create an instruction file for GitHub Copilot, you typically add a configuration file (e.g., .copilot.json) to the root of your project. This file contains various settings and preferences that Copilot will use when generating code. For example, you can specify the programming languages used in the project, preferred code formatting styles, and any custom rules or guidelines that should be followed.

Here is an example of a simple Copilot instruction file in JSON format:

{
  "language": "python",
  "style": {
    "indentation": "spaces",
    "indent_size": 4
  },
  "naming_conventions": {
    "variables": "snake_case",
    "functions": "snake_case",
    "classes": "PascalCase"
  },
  "libraries": ["numpy", "pandas"]
}