AI-Assisted Programming with Copilot

This book is designed for any developer who wants to improve their productivity by using GitHub Copilot as their AI assistant. To show how to do that, this book presents examples in Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL. However, the skills and concepts apply to all programming languages.

To present the skills that you need in a manageable progression, this book is divided into two sections.

Section 1: Get started fast

Section 1 dives right in and gets you started fast with a two-chapter course in using Copilot to develop software. These chapters show how to

• Set up Copilot to work from within VS Code.
• Create a Python program with Copilot.
• Create a JavaScript web app with Copilot.
• Master the essential skills for working with Copilot’s Chat window.
• Use Copilot’s inline chat interface to edit code more efficiently.
• Follow the best practices for prompt engineering.

Section 2: More skills as you need them

After you finish section 1, you’ll be ready to jump to any of the chapters in section 2. As a result, you can jump to the chapter contains the skills that you need right now. The chapters in this section show how to

• Use docstrings and doctests to guide Copilot so it generates the Python code you want.
• Generate HTML and CSS for a responsive website.
• Use a schema to provide the context for generating SQL that works with a database.
• Implement robust unit testing for Python code with pytest.
• Implement robust unit testing for JavaScript code with Jest.
• Implement test-driven design (TDD).
• Get expert advice about software design and requirements gathering.
• Summarize a project with a README.md file.

Like all our books, this book is designed to make it as easy as possible for you to learn new skills faster and retain them better. To do that, it presents the Copilot skills you’re likely to need on the job without wasting your time by presenting background information that you aren’t likely to need. In addition, the exercises at the end of each chapter provide a way for you to gain valuable hands-on experience without extra busywork.

All of the recommended software is available for free, and our book provides complete, step-by-step instructions that for installing it on your computer.

VS Code

To write code, you need a code editor. This book shows how to use Visual Studio Code because it’s an industry-leading tool for developing code in most languages including Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and SQL. In addition, it provides an integrated way to use Copilot to generate and edit code.

Python

To test Python code that’s generated by Copilot, you need to have Python installed on your system.

Chrome

To test HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that’s generated by Copilot, you need to have a web browser. This book shows how to use Google Chrome, but you can use another web browser if you prefer.

DB Browser for SQLite

To test the SQL statements, you need to have access to a database that implements the SQL standard. This book shows how to use DB Browser to work with an embedded SQLite database. This provides a way to test SQL statements without needing to install a database server like MySQL, SQL Server, or Oracle.

This book doesn’t use the unique paired-pages layout that’s used by most Murach books. Instead, it uses the single-page layout that’s used by most other publishers. When we designed the layout for this book, we retained as many elements of our paired-pages layout as possible while converting them to a single-page layout. We think the result works significantly better for eBooks and equally well for printed books.

“This is my first exposure to Murach’s books, and I love them. I like the organization of the content, the consistent approach in each book, and the accuracy of the material.”
—Bob L., Michigan

“I can’t praise this book highly enough. The clarity used in picking what to include, when to introduce it, and how to do so is remarkable.”
—Charles Ferguson, Software Developer, Australia

“Another thing I like is the exercises at the end of each chapter. They’re a great way to reinforce the main points of each chapter and force you to get your hands dirty.”
—Hien Luu, SD Forum/Java SIG

“Your book was indispensable to me. The answers were right there at every turn. All the examples made sense, and they all worked!”
—Alan Vogt, ETL Consultant, Massachusetts

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On Murach’s Python Programming: “This is now my third book for Python, and it is the ONLY one that has made me feel comfortable solving problems and reading code.”
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