GitHub Copilot
An AI coding assistant integrated with GitHub, major editors and command-line workflows.
Where it fits
An AI coding assistant integrated with GitHub, major editors and command-line workflows.
Price and access
Check the current plan before paying
A free option is available for trying real tasks. Paid plans or usage can add higher limits or extra features.
- Pro$10 / monthAs of 2026-09-05 · source ↗
- Pro+$39 / monthAs of 2026-09-05 · source ↗
- Max$100 / monthAs of 2026-09-05 · source ↗
Prices are collected from the official site and can change. Always confirm the current plan, taxes and regional availability before paying.
What it helps with and what to check
Good tasks to start with
- Day-to-day software development
- Code completion and repository questions
- Teams already using GitHub
Keep an eye on
- Review generated code and licenses
- Never expose secrets in prompts
- Agent actions need the same review as human changes
How to start
Tick each step as you work. These checks stay on this page only; they do not verify results in the external tool.
0 of 5 steps checked
Open a file you are allowed to discuss
GitHub’s website quickstart says to open a repository file, select the Copilot icon at the top right of the file view, then ask a question in the Ask Copilot box. Use a public example or code your organisation permits you to send to this service. Check account and organisation access first. Do not paste secrets or private repository content just because the chat is available. This exercise asks for an explanation; it does not require a code change or a new repository.
Give one tiny function and its contract
Ask: “Analyse this standalone fictional JavaScript example, not the open repository. Do not edit files or run commands. function countTokens(text) { return text.split(' ').length; } Input is a string. Count nonempty whitespace-separated tokens, including spaces, tabs and newlines as separators. Empty or whitespace-only input must return 0. Explain where this function breaks, suggest the smallest correction, and give checks for empty input, repeated spaces, a tab and a newline. Do not install anything.” This counts tokens separated by whitespace, not linguistic words in every language.
Compare the answer with the expected results
Expected results: countTokens('') is 0; countTokens('one') is 1; countTokens(' one two ') is 2; countTokens('one\ttwo\nthree') is 3, where \t and \n are JavaScript tab and newline escapes. The original split(' ') mishandles empty pieces and does not split tabs or newlines. A suitable correction is: function countTokens(text) { const trimmed = text.trim(); return trimmed ? trimmed.split(/\s+/).length : 0; } This is an authored answer key, not a captured Copilot result. An explanation that ignores empty input is still incomplete even if the main example works.
Review a patch before you accept it
For this tiny example, read the proposed function and checks before running them in a disposable local file. They need no network, dependency or repository write. Compare the actual result with each expected value. If the assistant changes the input contract, adds packages or edits unrelated files, stop and narrow the request. For real repository work, inspect every changed file and run the project’s relevant checks before accepting a patch. A green check proves only the cases it covers, not that all code is safe or correct.
Keep the reason, not just the replacement code
Record the requirement, failing input, expected result, change and checks you ran. Use the linked answer-checking guide to practise separating a supported explanation from a confident guess. Before a larger coding request, use the requirements Task below to define what must work and what stays out of scope. These are AhaDo preparation and review workflows; they do not connect to GitHub Copilot. Copilot’s account, model and usage limits can change, and this tutorial does not verify them or execute an agent for you.
Platforms
Privacy and human checks
Before you upload
- Remove customer names, passwords, identifying details and company secrets.
- Read the provider’s current retention, training and workspace settings.
Before you use the result
- Verify facts, sources, calculations and code against the original material.
- Have a person review important content or actions before publishing, sending or running them.
Related tasks and guides
Prepare inputs or review results in these AhaDo workflows. Copy permitted material yourself when using an external tool.
Alternatives
An AI code editor that answers questions about your project, edits files and uses coding assistants to make changes.
View comparison option Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)Windsurf is now Devin Desktop, an AI code editor for explaining project code, planning changes and editing files.
View comparison option ReplitA browser development environment with AI features for building and deploying applications.
View comparison optionOfficial source and research status
Guide published · Website chat workflow researched from GitHub Docs on 7 September 2026; the local code exercise is authored and tested, not a recorded Copilot response.
Listed means a published directory entry. Guide published means it also includes dedicated start steps and sourced prices. Neither status means real-user results have been verified.
- Official product source
- Open source ↗
- Last researched
- 2026-09-05
- Real-user evidence
- Not collected yet
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