The GitHub Copilot Handbook: A practical guide to transforming the software development life cycle with GitHub Copilot

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The GitHub Copilot Handbook

GitHub Copilot Explained

GitHub Copilot is a service offering from GitHub that helps you to work on your applications in all steps of the software development lifecycle: from ideation, to understanding and writing code, to reviewing your pull requests and analyzing pipeline failures. By using what we call generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), it helps you speed up normal tasks so you can focus on what you do best: adding value to your end users.

GitHub describes Copilot as your pair-programming buddy: a tool that knows almost every coding language, framework, and well-known coding patterns. It can help you with researching both existing and new code directions, can help review your code and suggest improvements, or can complete the task that you have been working on. It intuitively understands your current code and coding style and will follow that to match it. We even think that GitHub Copilot is better than a human pair-programming buddy, as it is a tool that does not judge...

Reviewing additional supporting features in editors

The primary use case of GitHub Copilot is helping you with your code base while you are creating code. This is done by integrating the different functionalities in an existing Integrated Development Environment (IDE). This is often also referred to as an “editor.” You work on your code inside the editor to add new methods and features to your application or scripts that you are working on.

Editors with GitHub Copilot plugins

The list of IDEs that have a plugin for GitHub Copilot is still growing. Currently, the following editors have some support for GitHub Copilot:

...

Editor	Suggestions	Chat	Other features
VS Code	Yes	Yes

Download Code

Key benefits

Automate code generation, test writing, and debugging with AI across your dev workflow

Explore GitHub Copilot’s advanced features like PR reviews, error insights, and Copilot Chat

Scale Copilot across dev, QA, and PM roles with guided onboarding and practical usage patterns

Description

Cross-functional product teams are under constant pressure to build and ship faster, but too much time is lost to manual coding, slow reviews, and fragmented workflows. GitHub Copilot streamlines day-to-day coding so your team can focus on delivering value to users while maintaining high quality on real projects. Written by industry experts Rob Bos and Randy Pagels, this book shows how GitHub Copilot supports your work from start to finish. You’ll learn how to turn ideas into tasks, write code with fewer hiccups, spot problems earlier, and understand errors when things go wrong. You’ll also see how Copilot suggests improvements in pull requests and helps fix common build issues, enabling teams to keep moving and ship with confidence. You’ll integrate GitHub Copilot into daily routines, share it across roles, and make it stick with simple checklists and clear examples. You’ll also track what works, set guardrails, and build an internal community. By the end, you’ll know when GitHub Copilot helps – and when it doesn’t – and you’ll be ready to write, review, and ship code with confidence on real projects.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone who works with application creation and who wants to harness GitHub Copilot in real-world coding environments. Whether you’re a beginner looking to speed up learning or a seasoned engineer aiming to boost productivity, this guide shows how to put Copilot to work effectively. Software engineers, DevOps professionals, QA specialists, and tech leads will discover how to streamline coding, reviews, and delivery with AI-assisted workflows. Product managers and other collaborators will also gain insight into how, with GitHub Copilot, they themselves can leverage AI.

What you will learn

Apply GitHub Copilot across the full software development life cycle

Understand how AI powers the suggestions and chat features

Boost productivity by automating tests, reviews, and pipeline fixes

Integrate Copilot into IDEs and GitHub for maximum value

Roll out Copilot across teams with proven onboarding strategies

Build a knowledge-sharing culture with Copilot community champions

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Instant access to your digital copy whilst your Print order is Shipped

Paperback book shipped to your preferred address

Redeem a companion digital copy on all Print orders

Access this title in our online reader with advanced features

DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want

AI Assistant (beta) to help accelerate your learning

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The GitHub Copilot Handbook: A practical guide to transforming the software development life cycle with GitHub Copilot

What do you get with Print?

The GitHub Copilot Handbook

GitHub Copilot Explained

Free Benefits with Your Book

Technical requirements

What is GitHub Copilot?

Reviewing additional supporting features in editors

Editors with GitHub Copilot plugins

Using GitHub Copilot integrations on GitHub.com

Summary

Page 1 of 7

Key benefits

Description

Who is this book for?

What you will learn

Product Details

What do you get with Print?

Product Details

Table of Contents

Recommendations for you

About the authors

FAQs

The GitHub Copilot Handbook: A practical guide to transforming the software development life cycle with GitHub Copilot

What do you get with Print?

Contact Details

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Key benefits

Description

Who is this book for?

What you will learn

Product Details

What do you get with Print?

Contact Details

Shipping Address

Billing Address

Product Details

Packt Subscriptions

Table of Contents

Recommendations for you

About the authors

FAQs

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