Introduction

• Overview of GitHub Copilot Extensions and agents in software development
• How GitHub Copilot supports AI pair programming
• Real-world examples of Extensions and agents in development workflows

What is a GitHub Copilot Extension and Agent?

• Differences between Copilot Extensions and standard Copilot suggestions
• Context-aware, task-specific guidance capabilities
• Integration with external tools and services
• GitHub Copilot Agents as the underlying extensibility platform
• Key capabilities of Copilot Agents

How do GitHub Copilot Extensions and Agents work?

• Components of a Copilot Agent: Actions, Directives, and Tools
• Leveraging context in Copilot Agents
• Creating a Copilot Agent using Copilot Extensions
• API/SDK usage for extending Copilot

When to use GitHub Copilot Extensions and Agents

• Querying third-party documentation services
• Providing AI-assisted coding through third-party models
• Retrieving data from external services
• Executing specific actions in external systems

Your first extension for GitHub Copilot

• Setting up a Copilot extension
• Implementing a basic extension with defined actions and directives
• Testing and refining agent responses
• Configuring a web service to support your extension
• Creating and configuring a GitHub App for Copilot
• Adding custom abilities to make your extension unique
• Testing your extension on github.com and VS Code
• Optional deployment to Azure and publishing to the marketplace

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do GitHub Copilot Extensions differ from standard GitHub Copilot?

• A: While standard GitHub Copilot provides inline code suggestions, Extensions offer context-aware, task-specific guidance and can integrate with external tools and services to perform specialized tasks beyond basic code completion.

Q: What programming languages are required to create GitHub Copilot Extensions?

• A: The course focuses on creating Extensions using Python or JavaScript, though the principles can be applied to other languages supported by GitHub Copilot's extensibility framework.

Q: Can GitHub Copilot Extensions access my private repositories and code?

• A: Yes, Extensions can be configured to access private repositories and code bases with appropriate permissions, making them valuable for company-specific implementations and workflows.

Q: Do I need administrative access to my GitHub organization to implement Extensions?

• A: While not required for the course exercises, administrative access may be necessary for deploying production Extensions that integrate with organization-wide tools and services.

Q: How customizable are GitHub Copilot Extensions?

• A: Extensions are highly customizable and can be tailored to specific development workflows, company standards, and industry requirements, making them adaptable to virtually any development environment.

Q: Can I share my custom Extensions with my team or organization?

• A: Yes, Extensions can be shared within teams or organizations, and there's an option to publish them to the Copilot Extensions marketplace for broader distribution.