GPT-4 liberates programmers! GitHub launches Copilot X, which allows you to write code at your fingertips

Compile | Wu Feining Edit | LI Shuiqing

Zhidong news on March 23, local time on March 22, Microsoft's code hosting platform GitHub released a new version of Copilot X, a programming aid tool, the new version of which is connected to GPT-4, and adds chat and voice functions, allowing developers to ask how to complete specific coding functions in natural language.

A series of features in the Copilot X update include: GitHub Copilot Chat, which enables coding with AI conversations; Copilot for Pull Requests, where AI assists programmers in pulling requests; Copilot for Docs, an intelligent document authoring tool; Copilot for CLI, command tool; Copilot Voice, a voice extension function, completes programming by speaking.

This update represents a major upgrade to GitHub Copilot's programming model, and GPT-4 is freeing programmers from basic coding tasks and greatly improving productivity.

First, free the hands of programmers? Write commands automatically when you speak

GitHub first publicly introduced the programming tool Copilot in 2021, and only released it to the public in 2022. The initial product included a completion tool that suggested code completion as the software developer entered it.

As of last November, the product had attracted nearly 100,000 developers, and the name Copilot is now short for this type of assistive technology or generic product strategy. According to GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke, less than two years after its launch, Copilot has written 46 percent of its code and helped developers code 55 percent faster.

Domk also demonstrated the new version to his children, asking how it could write a snake game in Python. In the chat window, Copilot X can explain the purpose of each piece of code, create a way to test the code, and suggest changes to errors. Developers can also give commands or make changes by voice.

ChatGPT chatbots are booming these days, and companies are trying to emulate Microsoft by embedding chatbots into their products and business strategies. Domk said that Copilot X's chat function is connected to GPT-4, and developers can apply for Copilot X and put them on a waiting list to try out the service. He also plans to use different AI models to accomplish different tasks.

The GitHub Copilot X chat box will embed a ChatGPT-like experience. A chat box appears on the left side of the IDE interface, integrated with the open-source editor VS Code (Visual Studio), which is far more functional than the initial simple code suggestions.

▲ Developers can verbally provide natural language cues

Domk said: "GitHub Copilot Chat is more than just a chat window. It recognizes the code typed by the developer, displays the error message, and deeply embeds it into the IDE. Developers can deeply analyze and explain the purpose of code blocks, generate unit tests, and even get suggested fixes for bugs. ”

GitHub Copilot Chat builds on the work done by ChatGPT and the new version of Bing, and also extends a voice technology called "GitHub Copilot Voice," where developers speak directly and give commands.

Second, the three major functions of dimensionality reduction strike, programmers write code 100% faster

In addition to the above feature updates, GitHub Copilot X has added three new features.

One is the Copilot Pull Requests automatic warning function.

Pull Requests are automatically expanded

This feature automatically recognizes tags inserted by developers in PRs and automatically expands them.

The Gentest function will be added in the future: developers can determine whether the request test is missing according to the prompt, and then edit, accept or reject the test according to the project requirements suggestion. This feature complements GitHub Copilot Chat, and developers can ask GitHub Copilot to test it directly in their editor.

When developers don't have enough test coverage, GitHub Copilot will send out alerts after they submit a pull request. It will also help project owners develop strategies around testing.

The second is the GitHub Copilot for Docs feature.

Copilot for Docs, which answers questions in full documentation

Officially, it is only an experimental tool. It uses a chat interface to provide users with AI-generated answers to document questions, including questions from developers about the languages, frameworks, and technologies they are using. Copliot can stitch content in documents in React, Azure Docs, and MDN and return to the results at any time.

The third is the Copilot for CLI tool.

GitHub Copilot demo for CLI.

Officially, command-line terminals tend to be where developers spend the most time, and even the most skilled developers need to scroll through many pages to remember the precise syntax of commands. Copilot for CLI can help solve this problem by writing commands and loops and giving find flags to meet the developer's query needs.

From reading documentation to writing code to submitting pull requests, GitHub strives to serve every team, project, and repository that uses Copilot, improving the software development lifecycle and bringing ideas from code to life.

GitHub Copilot X+ Education: Tips for Raising Points

Domke also said he hopes the new software can be applied to the education industry.

On Wednesday, he was at Duke University with a professor demonstrating how to use Copilot X. In his opinion, Copilot X will eliminate students' frustration in the learning process. The most frustrating thing is that some students struggle to reach the level of knowledge they need to achieve. With the help of Copilot X, they were able to quickly improve their knowledge and revolutionize learning.

Conclusion: AI liberates developers and develops in the direction of intelligence, efficiency and humanity

This update to GitHub Copilot means that AI can play its role in more specialized fields, redefining developer productivity and freeing it from complex work to focus developer creativity on the more important parts.

Currently, Copilot is available to developers to sign up for personal expenses of $10 per month.

Source: Bloomberg, GitHub official website