Lesson 3. Introduction to GitHub Copilot — installation and features
GitHub Copilot is a joint product of Microsoft and OpenAI, and the most widely used AI programming assistant in the world. It has 4.7 million paid users. In this lesson, you will install it, explore its core features, and compare it with Cursor.
Topic breakdown
GitHub Copilot was released in 2021 and became the first mainstream tool for AI-assisted coding. It works inside VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, and other editors — not as a standalone program, but as a plugin (extension).
Copilot's main strength is inline suggestions. When you write code, it predicts the next lines and displays them in gray text. Press Tab to accept, or Esc to reject. It is incredibly fast and intuitive.
In 2025-2026, Copilot evolved significantly: Chat mode was added, Agent mode (independent task execution), and Copilot Workspace (planning projects from scratch). It is no longer just suggestions — it can execute entire tasks.
Cost: Individual plan is $10/mo, Business is $19/mo. Important: through GitHub Education, students and teachers can get Copilot for FREE. University students from all over the world are eligible. This is a great opportunity to learn vibe coding.
What you'll learn
- Installing and activating GitHub Copilot in VS Code
- Working with inline suggestions — Tab, Esc, partial accept
- Using Copilot Chat — asking questions and generating code
- Understanding Agent mode and its applications
- Getting free access for students (GitHub Education)
- Copilot vs Cursor — when to use which
Deep dive
A brief history of GitHub Copilot: June 2021 — technical preview, June 2022 — public launch ($10/mo), 2023 — Copilot Chat added, 2024 — Agent mode, 2025 — Copilot Workspace and coding agent. Features doubled every year. By 2026, Copilot is not just autocomplete, but a full-fledged agent that performs tasks independently.
Technical workflow of Copilot: as you type, Copilot sends your file, open tabs, and project structure to the server. The server, via an LLM (GPT-4o or Claude), analyzes the context and generates the best continuation. The result returns in 100-300ms — virtually in real-time.
Choosing between Cursor and Copilot: If you are an absolute beginner with no programming experience — Cursor is better, because its Agent mode manages the project from scratch. If you are already familiar with VS Code and need an extra assistant — Copilot is optimal. Many professionals use both: Cursor for large tasks, Copilot for daily code.
Context for students: Through the GitHub Education program, university students can get Copilot for free. Apply at github.com/education, and verify your student ID or university email. Approval takes 1-3 days. Use this opportunity to save $10/mo.
Ready prompt template
Copy and adapt@workspace I want to add a new page to the project: 'About Us'. The page should contain company history, a team members list, and a contact form. Create it matching the existing project style and structure.
Why it works
@workspace: tells Copilot to use the context of the entire project
Specific page name: 'About Us' — clear on what to create
Content list: 'history, team, form' — AI knows what to include
Compatibility requirement: 'matching the existing style' — new code will fit the project
Practice
- Open VS Code (if you don't have it, download from code.visualstudio.com)
- In the Extensions panel, search for 'GitHub Copilot' and install it
- Sign in with your GitHub account (create one at github.com if needed)
- Create a new file (test.js) and type 'function ' — wait for Copilot's suggestion
- Press Ctrl+I (Inline Chat) and type 'Write a function that calculates factorial'
- Open Copilot Chat (Ctrl+Shift+I) and ask a question about your project
Common mistakes
- Trying to use it without a GitHub account — Copilot only works with GitHub
- Skipping the free trial period — there is a 30-day trial, use it
- Not verifying student status — apply at edu.github.com for free access
- Only pressing Tab — you can use partial accept (Cmd+→) to accept suggestions word by word
- Not trying Chat and Agent mode — inline suggestions are just the beginning
Lesson FAQ
Which programming languages does Copilot support?
Practically all of them: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, C#, Go, Ruby, PHP, Rust, and more. It yields the best results with the most popular languages (JS, Python, TS).
Is Copilot's code secure?
Generally yes, but you should always verify it. Copilot has safety filters (secret detection, vulnerability scanning), but no 100% guarantee. Always review code meant for production.
Does it work offline?
No. Copilot runs on cloud servers — an internet connection is mandatory. Offline mode is not currently available.
Can I use Cursor and Copilot at the same time?
Technically yes — the Copilot extension can be installed in Cursor. But it is redundant because Cursor's native AI system is more powerful. It's better to use them in separate editors.