Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to GitHub Copilot

  • ● What is GitHub Copilot?
  • ● Where Copilot can be used (VS Code, JetBrains, GitHub.com, CLI).
  • ● Why developers use Copilot – productivity, quality, reasoning.
  • ● How Copilot works (high-level AI concepts).
  • ● Installation & setup in VS Code.

Module 2: Core Copilot Features

  • ● Code Completions
  • ○ Inline suggestions, multi-line completions, full function scaffolding.
  • ● Next Edit Suggestions
  • ○ AI-driven improvements during iterative coding.
  • ● Multiple Language Models
  • ○ Difference between global and local models.
  • ○ When Copilot automatically chooses a model.

Module 3: Copilot Premium Features

  • ● What is included in Copilot Premium.
  • ● Why and when advanced features matter.
  • ● Where to access Premium features inside GitHub.com and IDEs.

Module 4: Copilot Chat Modes

  • ● Ask Mode – general queries and coding help.
  • ● Edit Mode – direct code modifications.
  • ● Agent Mode – guided, multi-step reasoning.
  • ● Plan Mode – task breakdown and project structuring.

Module 5: Providing Effective Context to Copilot

  • ● Techniques for giving code, files, or instructions as context.
  • ● Multi-file context and repository awareness.
  • ● Using context windows effectively.

Module 6: Copilot Vision (Image as Context)

  • ● How to attach and describe images in prompts.
  • ● Practical examples: reading code screenshots, UI screenshots, diagrams.
  • ● Transforming images into usable code or documentation.

Module 7: Code Review & PR Assistance

  • ● Copilot for automated code review suggestions.
  • ● PR review on GitHub.com with Copilot comments.
  • ● Improving readability, security, and best practices.

Module 8: Developer Productivity with Copilot

  • ● Commit message generation.
  • ● Test case generation for different languages.
  • ● Using inline chat for faster iteration.
  • ● Creating Prompt Files inside projects.

Module 9: Customizing Copilot

  • ● Custom Instructions (IDE & GitHub).
  • ● Specific instruction files inside repositories.
  • ● Building custom Copilot Agents for tasks (refactoring, documentation, testing).

Module 10: Copilot on GitHub.com

  • ● Using Copilot as a coding agent (web editor).
  • ● AI-guided code review and repository-level understanding.
  • ● Creating custom agents for your repositories.
  • ● Understanding and applying GitHub Copilot Policies.

Module 11: Model Context Protocol (MCP)

  • ● What is MCP and why it matters.
  • ● How Copilot uses MCP as a standard interface.
  • ● Tools, toolsets, and resource providers.
  • Hands-on with MCP
  • ● Building a simple MCP server.
  • ● Writing MCP prompts.
  • ● Elicitation and server instructions.
  • ● Implementing custom tools and resources.
  • ● Using MCP tools inside Copilot or ChatGPT.

Module 12: Prompt Management & Tools

● Saving prompts for reuse.

● Sharing prompt templates with teams.

● Organizing prompt libraries.

Module 13: Copilot Settings & Environment

● Copilot settings in VS Code (model settings, telemetry, chat settings).

● Managing workspace trust.

● Switching between cloud and local inference.

Module 14: Copilot CLI

● Installing and configuring Copilot CLI.

● CLI-based coding, generating files, and using agents.

● Integrating CLI into development workflows.

Module 15: Agent Sessions

● Local agent sessions.

● CLI agent sessions.

● GitHub.com agent sessions.

● OpenAI Codex-style agent workflows.

  • Git fundamentals for version control and repository management.
  • Advanced Git workflows like Gitflow and Forking Workflow.
  • GitHub collaboration tools for team projects and pull requests.
  • CI/CD integration with GitHub Actions and Jenkins.
  • Managing merge conflicts and code reviews.
  • Best practices for secure and efficient version control