GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot, from GitHub. Code suggestions and a coding agent inside your editor.

What it does well

• Autocompleting boilerplate
• Explaining unfamiliar code
• Writing tests for code you already understand

What it does poorly

• Learning to code by accepting everything
• Security-sensitive code without review

What makes it different

The most widely used AI pair programmer, built into VS Code and GitHub itself.

Quick start

1. Apply for GitHub Education with your USC email.
2. Install the Copilot extension in VS Code.
3. Write a comment describing a function and let it propose one.
4. Ask Copilot Chat to explain the code line by line.

Strengths and limits

• Strength: Great editor integration
• Strength: Free for students
• Strength: Agent mode for multi-file changes
• Limit: Can make you a passive coder
• Limit: Suggests plausible but wrong code

Privacy

Check whether your repository and course allow code to be sent to the service.

Academic integrity

Many CS courses restrict AI coding help. Read the policy first.