GitHub Copilot is an intelligent assistant designed to help developers by providing context-aware code suggestions and even contributing entire functions. It leverages advanced algorithms and data to assist programmers in writing code more efficiently.
During a dedicated workshop, participants can learn how GitHub Copilot operates, understand its limitations, and discover when it’s more beneficial to use ChatGPT instead. The workshop, led by expert Rainer Stropek, demonstrates how to integrate these tools into your workflows to enhance productivity and speed in programming.
Through specific examples and hands-on exercises, attendees gain experience with these powerful AI tools. They will use GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT in development workflows and learn how to leverage their advantages in code generation and debugging. Participants will also learn to implement the OpenAI REST API in various programming languages, such as .NET, Python, and JavaScript/TypeScript. Additionally, they will become familiar with concepts like embeddings and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) design.
Rainer Stropek is an expert in software development, software architecture, and cloud computing. His team developed the award-winning SaaS time tracking tool “time cockpit.”
The next online workshop is scheduled for March 25, 2025, and is open to anyone involved in software development. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to enhance your programming skills by learning from an expert and engaging with cutting-edge AI tools.
GitHub Copilot acts as a collaborative partner in the coding process. By analyzing the context of the code being written, it can suggest lines or blocks of code that fit the current coding task. This feature can significantly speed up the development process, especially when dealing with repetitive coding patterns or when exploring new APIs and libraries.
One of the key benefits of using GitHub Copilot is its ability to learn from a vast amount of open-source code. This allows it to provide suggestions that are not only syntactically correct but also adhere to common coding practices and patterns used across the industry. This capability can be particularly useful for new developers who are still learning the best practices of coding.
However, GitHub Copilot is not without its limitations. It may not always understand the specific context of a complex project or may suggest code that is not optimized for a particular use case. This is where the role of a skilled developer becomes crucial, as they need to evaluate the suggestions critically and decide whether to accept, modify, or reject them.
In scenarios where GitHub Copilot’s suggestions are insufficient, developers might turn to ChatGPT. ChatGPT can provide more detailed explanations or alternative solutions, especially when dealing with complex logic or when a deeper understanding of the problem is required.
The integration of AI tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT into development workflows represents a significant shift in how software is developed. These tools can reduce the time spent on routine coding tasks, allowing developers to focus more on creative problem-solving and innovative features.
As AI continues to evolve, the capabilities of tools like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT will likely expand, offering even more sophisticated assistance in the software development process. Developers who embrace these tools early will be well-positioned to take advantage of the efficiencies and innovations they bring to the table.