From Skepticism to Daily Use: My Journey with Copilot

by Jose Carvajal jose.carvajal@edify.cr

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant developed by GitHub in collaboration with OpenAI. It integrates directly into your code editor (like VS Code or JetBrains IDEs) and offers real-time code suggestions as you type. Copilot can help you write functions, complete boilerplate, generate test cases, and even suggest entire code blocks based on comments or context. It’s trained on vast amounts of public code, making it surprisingly effective at anticipating common patterns across many programming languages and frameworks.

When I first encountered GitHub Copilot, my experience was... confusing, to say the least. I remember watching it loop endlessly through code suggestions that made little sense, making me question why anyone would rely on it for serious development work. At the time, it felt like adding more problems to my workflow instead of solving any.

Back then, I was too naive—and frankly, a bit defensive. I saw AI as a potential rival, not a tool. That perspective led me to dismiss Copilot before I had even given it a fair shot.

But things changed. I decided to explore further and enrolled in this GitHub Copilot course on Udemy. It turned out to be a game-changer.

Learning the Right Approach

The course helped me shift my mindset. It emphasized one critical principle: Copilot is not your brain—it's your assistant. Once that clicked, things started making a lot more sense.

Here are a few key tips I picked up along the way—both from the course and from personal trial and error—that helped me integrate Copilot into my daily workflow:

🧠 1. You Drive the Thought Process

Treat Copilot like a co-pilot, not the pilot. It’s a powerful tool, but it won’t think for you. You are in charge of the logic, structure, and direction. Copilot can speed up your coding, but it won’t replace your reasoning.

📦 2. Provide Strong Context

Context is everything. Without it, Copilot can't help much. Thankfully, Copilot allows you to provide context using inline code selections, file scopes, or even the entire workspace. These tools drastically reduce the need for repetitive prompts and increase relevance.

⚙️ 3. Let It Suggest

While typing, take a moment to look at Copilot’s suggestions. Even if it’s not exactly what you need, it’s often close—and sometimes, it’s a surprisingly efficient starting point. Whether you're scaffolding a class, a function, or an enum, let it fill in the blanks.

✅ 4. Super Useful for Testing

One of the most helpful use cases I’ve found is writing tests. Using annotations like @workspace/test, Copilot can draft basic unit tests for your functions, considering the libraries you’re using. It's a solid starting point that saves valuable time.

🔄 5. Stuck in a Loop? Talk It Through

Sometimes Copilot loops or gets stuck suggesting the same code over and over. If that happens, explain to Copilot (through comments or prompt adjustment) why it's not working or what you're trying to do differently. It usually finds a better path.

👨‍💻 6. You’re Still the Developer

At the end of the day, you’re the one building the software. Copilot doesn’t eliminate the need to know your stack, your architecture, or your logic—it just helps you move faster once you do.

📚 7. Ask if There's Already a Solution

Before you jump into Copilot's custom-generated code, always ask: Is there a built-in function, standard library, or framework utility that already solves this?
Copilot often tries to build things from scratch—even when proven, optimized solutions already exist. Knowing when to rely on what's already out there saves time, reduces bugs, and improves your codebase's quality.

Final Thoughts

After initially dismissing GitHub Copilot, I've grown to rely on it for daily productivity boosts. The shift came not from the tool changing, but from me learning how to use it properly, especially thanks to the structured approach taught in the Udemy course.

Like any great tool, Copilot shines when wielded with understanding. It’s no longer a distraction for me—it’s a second pair of hands that’s always ready to help.