Will GitHub Copilot Replace Programmers?

Introduction

GitHub Copilot is an AI programming assistant designed to help write code faster and with less effort. It is based on Codex, an AI system created by OpenAI and trained on public GitHub source code.

Code Completion Chat Pull Request Summaries Knowledge Base Advantages Disadvantages Accessing GitHub Copilot

Code Completion

Copilot suggests code as you type, which can be the completion of the current line or even new blocks of code.

Chat

You can ask Copilot about the best way to solve a problem or request explanations about someone else's code. If your code has bugs, you can ask Copilot how to fix them.

Pull Request Summaries

Copilot can describe changes in a pull request. (Copilot Enterprise Only)

Knowledge Base

Create and manage a collection of documentation as context for communicating with Copilot. (Copilot Enterprise Only)

Advantages

Automatic Code Writing AI	GitHub Copilot can automatically generate code based on the current file's content and the user's cursor location.
Support for Multiple Programming Languages	Works with various frameworks and programming languages, especially Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, and Go.
Convert Comments to Code	Capable of understanding comments and function names to generate code.
Tests without the Toil	Suggests unit tests that match the implementation code.
Autofill for Repetitive Code	Helps autofill repetitive code.
Show Alternatives	Provides multiple approach options when writing code.

Disadvantages

Code Not Always Perfect	As a tool still in development, Copilot doesn't always write perfect code.
Controversy	There are concerns that AI like GitHub Copilot could replace the role of programmers.
Dependence	The use of Copilot might make programmers too reliant on the suggestions provided by AI.

Accessing GitHub Copilot

You can access GitHub Copilot as part of one of the following paid plans:

Copilot Individual	Access GitHub Copilot in your IDE or through the command line for personal or independent use. You can try GitHub Copilot for free with a one-time 30-day trial. After the free trial, you will need a paid subscription for continued use.
Copilot Business	Access GitHub Copilot as a member of an organization. Organization owners can manage access for individual members or teams.