Step 5: Leveraging AI Chat for Development Tasks

Copilot Chat (accessible inline via Ctrl+I / Cmd+I or in the dedicated Chat view via Ctrl+Alt+I / Cmd+Alt+I) allows for powerful, conversational interactions to perform various coding tasks.

Asking Effective Questions

Get better results by:

  • Being Clear & Specific: Explicitly state your goal or the problem.
  • Providing Context:
    • Select relevant code before invoking inline chat (Ctrl+I).
    • Use context variables: #selection for selected code, #file for the active file, #file:myFile.js for a specific file.
    • Use participants like @workspace (VS Code) or @project (JetBrains) to reference the broader project context.
  • Breaking Down Problems: Ask for smaller, manageable steps for complex tasks.

Generating Code Snippets

Generate code directly within the chat.

Example Prompt:

Generate a C# method to calculate the SHA256 hash of a string input.

You can then copy, insert, or preview the generated code using the buttons provided in the chat response.

Explaining Existing Code

Understand code faster.

  • Select the code block in your editor.
  • Open inline chat (Ctrl+I) or the Chat view.
  • Use the /explain slash command, or type a prompt like:
/explain

Or:

Explain the purpose of the code in #selection

Debugging Assistance

Get help fixing errors or finding potential issues.

  • Select the problematic code or paste an error message.
  • Open Chat.
  • Use the /fix slash command or ask specific questions:
/fix the errors in #selection
Why is this code throwing a NullPointerException? #selection
Suggest improvements to make #selection more robust against errors.

Generating Documentation

Add comments or docstrings.

  • Select the function, class, or block.
  • Open Chat.
  • Use the /doc slash command or prompt:
/doc
Add XML documentation comments to the selected C# method.

Writing Unit Tests

Generate test cases for selected code.

  • Select the function or method to test.
  • Open Chat.
  • Use the /tests slash command:
/tests

Copilot will attempt to generate relevant unit tests using common frameworks for the language.

Translating Code (Use with Caution!)

Copilot Chat can attempt to translate code between languages.

  • Select the code block.
  • Open Chat.
  • Prompt for translation:
Translate #selection from Python to C#.
Caution

AI code translation is often imperfect. Always thoroughly review translated code for logical errors, syntax issues, and language-specific best practices. It's a starting point, not a final solution.

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