Setting up GitHub Copilot for your development workflow

  • 2/25/2026
Contents

Install Copilot in your development environment

GitHub Copilot is compatible with a wide range of integrated development environments (IDEs), enabling developers to integrate AI-assisted coding seamlessly into their existing workflows. From web-based editors to powerful desktop environments, Copilot enhances productivity across languages and platforms. The following table lists the supported IDEs and briefly describes each of them, highlighting how Copilot functions within these environments. The sections after the table provide further information on the IDEs.

IDE Name

Description

GitHub Codespaces

Supports Copilot in browser via GitHub.dev or Codespaces for quick editing.

Visual Studio Code

Provides full-featured support for Copilot, including inline suggestions and Copilot Chat.

Visual Studio

Works with Visual Studio 2022+ for .NET, C#, VB.NET, and enterprise development.

VS Code for Web

Supports browser-based use of Copilot with Provides VS Code (GitHub.dev) for light development.

JetBrains IDEs

Includes IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc. and supports Copilot via official plugin.

Neovim

Provides an advanced text editor with Copilot using community plugins.

Azure Data Studio

Enables SQL/database development through use of Copilot with extensions.

Eclipse

Enables the Java IDE with Copilot support via a plugin. (This is less seamless than VS Code.)

GitHub Codespaces

Installation required: No

Access method: Cloud based

How to use:

  1. Create or sign in with a GitHub account that has an active Copilot subscription or trial.

  2. Open https://github.com/codespaces In your browser.

  3. Launch or create a Codespace. Copilot will already be integrated and available in this cloud-hosted development environment.

02fig02.jpg

The GitHub Codespaces environment, displaying a Jupyter Notebook interface with Python kernel and welcome terminal instructions

Visual Studio Code (VS Code)

Installation required: Yes

Access method: Desktop app

How to use:

  1. Download and install VS Code from https://code.visualstudio.com.

  2. Open VS Code and select the Extensions panel.

  3. Search for GitHub Copilot.

  4. Click Install as shown in the following image

02fig03.jpg

The GitHub Copilot Extensions panel in Visual Studio Code, highlighting the Install button, extension details, and version information

  1. Sign in with your GitHub account to activate Copilot.

  2. Begin coding. Copilot suggests completions as you type.

02fig04.jpg

Visual Studio Code interface, showing the GitHub Copilot icons highlighted in both the top menu and bottom status bar, indicating ways to launch the AI assistant

Visual Studio (2022 and later)

Installation required: Yes

Access method: Desktop app

How to use:

  1. Install Visual Studio from https://visualstudio.microsoft.com.

  2. Go to Extensions, search for GitHub Copilot, and install it.

  3. Sign in with your GitHub account to enable Copilot.

  4. Start coding in supported languages (e.g., C#, VB.NET). Copilot provides suggestions.

VS Code for Web (GitHub.dev)

Installation required: No

Access method: Cloud based

How to use:

  1. Go to https://github.dev and create or sign in with a GitHub account.

  2. Navigate to any GitHub repository

02fig05.jpg

The Visual Studio Code browser-based interface at github.dev, with a Python file open in the editor and the file explorer displaying the project structure

JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.)

Installation required: Yes

Access method: Desktop app

How to use:

  1. Download the JetBrains IDE of your choice from https://www.jetbrains.com.

  2. Go to Settings > Plugins, search for GitHub Copilot, and click Install.

  3. Log in with your GitHub account to activate Copilot. Copilot suggestions appear inline as you write code.

Neovim

Installation required: Yes

Access method: Terminal/desktop

OS: Linux

How to use:

  1. Download and install Neovim from https://neovim.io/

  2. Install the github/copilot.vim plugin using a plugin manager (such as vim-plug).

  3. Launch Neovim and authenticate Copilot through terminal login. Start coding; Copilot will suggest completions inline as you type.

Azure Data Studio

Installation required: Yes

Access method: Cloud based

How to use:

  1. Download Azure Data Studio from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure-data-studio/.

  2. Install the Azure Data Studio in Visual Studio Code.

  3. Go to Extensions, search for GitHub Copilot, and click Install.

  4. Sign in with your GitHub account.

  5. Begin working with SQL. Copilot provides AI assistance.

Eclipse

Installation required: Yes

Access method: Desktop app

How to use:

  1. Download Eclipse from https://www.eclipse.org.

  2. Go to Help > Eclipse Marketplace, search for GitHub Copilot, and install the plugin.

  3. Log in with your GitHub account.

  4. Start coding. Copilot provides AI-powered suggestions for Java and other supported languages.

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