What is GitHub Copilot and How Does It Help Developers Write Better Code?

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code assistant developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It acts as your personal coding partner, leveraging a large language model trained on billions of lines of code from GitHub repositories.

Key Features of GitHub Copilot:

1. Intelligent Code Completion

• Suggests complete code from just a comment or function name
• Understands context and offers relevant solutions
• Supports multiple programming languages, especially Python

2. Automatic Function and Class Generation

• Quickly generates boilerplate code
• Suggests appropriate design patterns
• Assists in writing unit tests

3. Code Improvement and Bug Fixing

• Detects bugs and suggests fixes
• Improves code efficiency
• Recommends best practices

Research on Effectiveness

GitHub’s research shows clear impact:

• Developers using Copilot spend an average of 1 hour 11 minutes on tasks, compared to 2 hours 41 minutes for those not using it
• 75% of Copilot users report higher job satisfaction, and coding productivity increases by up to 55%
• At Accenture, 67% of developers use Copilot at least 5 days a week

Subscription Plans and Usage

GitHub updated its plans in 2025, introducing charges for premium requests starting June 4, 2025.

Current Plans:

1. GitHub Copilot Free

• For individual developers without organizational access
• Basic features to get started

2. GitHub Copilot Pro ($10/month or $100/year)

• For individual developers
• Includes code suggestion chat and security vulnerability detection

3. GitHub Copilot Pro+ ($39/month or $390/year)

• Access to premium models like GPT-4.5 with 1,500 premium requests per month
• Early access to preview features

4. GitHub Copilot Business & Enterprise

• For teams and organizations
• Centralized license management and security features

How to Install in VSCode:

1. Install the GitHub Copilot extension from the VSCode Marketplace
2. Log in with a GitHub account that has a subscription
3. Wait for activation and start using immediately
4. Use Ctrl+I (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+I (Mac) to open Copilot Chat

Note: Premium request charges begin June 4, 2025, for all plans

Limitations of GitHub Copilot

Main Limitations:

1. Code Accuracy

• May suggest incorrect or buggy code
• Always review and test code before use
• Sometimes struggles with complex context

2. Security and Copyright

• May suggest code with security risks
• Intellectual property concerns
• Data sent to GitHub servers

3. Dependency and Skills

• Can lead to over-reliance on AI
• May reduce algorithmic thinking
• Not ideal for beginners lacking fundamentals

4. Learning Limitations

• Research shows acceptance rate is higher on weekends (23.5% vs 23%), indicating different usage patterns

Example: Using GitHub Copilot for a Minimart API

Getting Started

When you start by writing a comment describing what you want, Copilot suggests suitable code:

# Create a Product class for minimart with id, name, price, and quantity
# GitHub Copilot will suggest a complete class structure

# Create FastAPI endpoints for product CRUD operations
# Copilot will generate endpoints with error handling

# Add shopping cart functionality
# Copilot will suggest a cart management system

Benefits:

• Reduces time spent on boilerplate code
• Provides best-practice code structure
• Handles error and validation appropriately
• Helps choose suitable libraries

Summary

GitHub Copilot is a powerful tool that can greatly boost coding productivity, especially for boilerplate or familiar patterns. However, mindful use and code review remain essential.

Pros:

• Speeds up coding
• Reduces repetitive code
• Helps learn best practices
• Supports multiple programming languages

Cautions:

• Always check code accuracy
• Don’t over-rely on AI
• Understand the logic before using
• Be mindful of security and copyright

For Python developers seeking to boost productivity, GitHub Copilot is a worthwhile investment. But remember, strong fundamentals and critical thinking are still the most important factors in developing quality software.

References

1. GitHub Copilot Official Plans - GitHub Documentation
2. Research: Quantifying GitHub Copilot’s Impact on Developer Productivity and Happiness - GitHub Blog, May 2024
3. Measuring GitHub Copilot’s Impact on Productivity - Communications of the ACM, May 2024
4. Research: Quantifying GitHub Copilot’s Impact in the Enterprise with Accenture - GitHub Blog, May 2024
5. GitHub Copilot Billing Information - GitHub Documentation
6. Announcing GitHub Copilot Pro+ - GitHub Changelog, April 2025