Developer Global Black Belt - Intro to GitHub Copilot with VS Code Office Hours: 5-Week Program

Program Overview

• Duration: 5 weeks
• Format: 60-minute sessions
  • First 30 minutes: Structured demo/feature talk
  • Last 30 minutes: Volunteer demos, insights, Q&A, and feedback
• Delivery Method: Virtual or In-Person Workshop
• Recording: All sessions recorded for asynchronous learning
• Support: Mid-week office hours and dedicated Slack/Discord channel
• Assessment: Pre/post workshop skills evaluation and weekly mini-challenges

Pre-Session Preparation

• Week 0 Setup:
  • Complete pre-workshop skills assessment
  • Install VS Code and GitHub Copilot extension
  • Join dedicated Slack/Discord channel
  • Complete "Hello Copilot" challenge

Week 1: Introduction to GitHub Copilot

Demo Focus (30 minutes)

• Topic: Getting Started with GitHub Copilot
• Key Demonstrations:
  • Installation and setup in VS Code
  • Understanding Copilot's basic functionality
  • Configuring Copilot settings
  • First code generation examples across different languages
  • Advanced: GitHub Copilot Custom Instructions File
• Live Coding Showcase:
  • Demonstrate Copilot in Python, JavaScript, and TypeScript
  • Show how Copilot understands context and provides intelligent suggestions

Community Session (30 minutes)

• Open floor for participant introductions
• Initial Q&A about Copilot experiences
• Collecting initial expectations and use cases

Week 2: Advanced Code Generation Techniques

Demo Focus (30 minutes)

• Topic: Maximizing Copilot's Code Generation Capabilities
• Key Demonstrations:
  • Writing effective comments and prompts
  • Prompt engineering techniques specific to coding
  • Using Copilot Chat vs inline suggestions effectively
  • Handling complex code generation scenarios
  • Copilot for different programming paradigms
  • Best practices for AI-assisted coding
• Live Coding Showcase:
  • Generating entire function implementations
  • Creating complex algorithms with minimal input
  • Handling edge cases and error scenarios

Community Session (30 minutes)

• Volunteer demos of unique Copilot use cases
• Sharing tips and tricks discovered
• Collaborative problem-solving

Week 3: Copilot for Different Development Domains

Demo Focus (30 minutes)

• Topic: Copilot Across Development Domains
• Key Demonstrations:
  • Web development (React, Angular, Vue)
  • Backend development (Node.js, Django, Flask)
  • Data science and machine learning scripts
  • Testing and test case generation
• Live Coding Showcase:
  • Side-by-side comparison of Copilot suggestions in different domains
  • Demonstrating context-aware code completion

Community Session (30 minutes)

• Domain-specific breakout discussions
• Participants share domain-specific Copilot workflows
• Q&A and feedback collection

Week 4: Productivity and Workflow Integration

Demo Focus (30 minutes)

• Topic: Enhancing Developer Productivity with Copilot
• Key Demonstrations:
  • Integrating Copilot with existing workflows
  • Using Copilot for repetitive tasks (Custom Prompts)
  • Refactoring and code optimization
  • Understanding Copilot's limitations
• Live Coding Showcase:
  • Rapid prototype development
  • Refactoring legacy code
  • Generating boilerplate code efficiently

Community Session (30 minutes)

• Productivity hack sharing
• Discussion on balancing AI assistance with personal coding skills
• Ethical considerations of AI-assisted coding

Week 5: Advanced Features and Future of AI Coding Assistance

Demo Focus (30 minutes)

• Topic: Advanced Copilot Features and Future Trends
• Key Demonstrations:
  • GitHub Copilot "Agent Mode" vs. GitHub Copilot "Coding Agent"
  • Advanced use: "Custom Chat Modes"
  • AI-powered code completion in complex projects
  • Preview of upcoming AI coding technologies
• Live Coding Showcase:
  • Complex project setup with Copilot
  • Demonstration of advanced AI coding assistants

Community Session (30 minutes)

• Final feedback collection
• Future workshop suggestions
• Open discussion on AI in software development

Additional Resources

• GitHub Copilot Documentation
• VS Code Extension Repository
• Recommended learning paths
• Community forums and support channels

Participant Preparation

• Install VS Code
• Create GitHub account
• Install GitHub Copilot extension
• Prepare development environment
• Bring specific coding challenges or projects

Feedback Mechanism

• Mid-workshop surveys
• Final comprehensive feedback form
• Continuous improvement tracking

Participant Preparation

• Install VS Code
• Create GitHub account
• Install GitHub Copilot extension
• Prepare development environment
• Bring specific coding challenges or projects

Feedback Mechanism

• Mid-workshop surveys
• Final comprehensive feedback form
• Continuous improvement tracking

Note: Participants are encouraged to come prepared with specific coding challenges, questions, and a spirit of collaborative learning.