Scalable Human Blog

Hey there, fellow devs! If you’re like me, you probably spend a fair amount of time in the terminal, juggling commands and sometimes struggling to remember the right syntax. Good news! GitHub Copilot, your AI-powered coding assistant, is now available in the CLI to make your life easier.

Why Use GitHub Copilot in the CLI?

Imagine having an AI buddy that can suggest commands, explain what they do, and even help you avoid mistakes. That’s what Copilot in the CLI is all about. It’s like having a knowledgeable pair programmer right in your terminal.

Getting Started

First things first, you need to set up GitHub CLI and Copilot:

1. For macOS Users:

• Install GitHub CLI: brew install gh gh auth login
• Install Copilot CLI Extension:
  sh gh extension install github/gh-copilot

1. For Windows Users:

• Install GitHub CLI: choco install gh gh auth login
• Install Copilot CLI Extension:
  powershell gh extension install github/gh-copilot

And that’s it! Now you’re ready to rock.

Key Commands

• Explain a Command:

  gh copilot explain 'your command'

Example: gh copilot explain 'chmod -R 777 /' will tell you why running this command is a bad idea.

• Suggest a Command:

  gh copilot suggest 'your query' -t type

Example: gh copilot suggest 'delete a git branch' -t git will give you the right commands for both local and remote branches.

Hot Tips

• Create Aliases: Save keystrokes by creating aliases in your shell configuration file.

  alias gce='gh copilot explain'
  alias gcs='gh copilot suggest'

• Revise and Improve: If Copilot’s suggestion isn’t perfect, you can ask for revisions until you get exactly what you need.

Practical Examples

1. Explaining a Dangerous Command:

   gh copilot explain 'chmod -R 777 /'

2. Deleting a Git Branch:

   gh copilot suggest 'delete a git branch' -t git

3. Listing Open Issues in a Repo:

   gh copilot suggest 'view all open issues' -t gh

Wrapping Up

GitHub Copilot in the CLI is a game-changer. It can save you from potential pitfalls and make your terminal sessions more productive and less stressful. Give it a try, and you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.

Have fun coding, and let me know how Copilot in the CLI has helped you in the comments below!

For more details, check out post on Dev.to.

📚 Further Reading & Related Topics

If you’re exploring GitHub Copilot in the CLI and its role in terminal commands, these related articles will provide deeper insights:

• Mastering GitHub Actions: Automating Your CI/CD Pipeline – Learn how to enhance your CI/CD workflows using GitHub Actions, and explore how GitHub Copilot can assist in automating code generation and debugging tasks.

• Optimizing Your Development Environment with Docker and VSCode – Discover how integrating GitHub Copilot with VSCode and Docker improves your development experience and enhances productivity in building and managing applications.