What is GitHub Copilot? Explore the popular AI productivity tool for software engineers

Using GitHub Copilot

What is GitHub Copilot? It’s a popular AI-powered coding assistant that software engineers are using in growing numbers. We teach the tool in our coding bootcamps because of its power to complement and boost the role of the software engineer, particularly when they learn to use it with care and responsibility.

In this post, we’ll explore what the tool does, how it’s used in the field, and how we teach it to our students.

GitHub Copilot popularity by the numbers

Every year, Stack Overflow conducts its wide-ranging Developer Survey, which asks new and experienced developers about learning to code, their on-the-job experiences, and the tools and technologies they use, including AI tools.

The 2024 survey results show that “76% of all respondents are using or are planning to use AI tools in their development process this year, an increase from last year (70%).”

The top two most-used AI tools among developers are ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot. Roughly 41% of all developers said they used Copilot in the past year.

According to GitHub’s data, 50,000 organizations have adopted GitHub Copilot, and according to Softonic, Copilot has 1.3 million paid users and is being used by organizations like BBVA, FedEx, H&M, Infosys, and many others. Additionally, Copilot users are increasing by 60% each quarter.

Why is GitHub Copilot so popular?

GitHub Copilot has become a popular tool for software engineers because it improves productivity and efficiency. 81% of Stack Overflow respondents indicate that “productivity” is the biggest benefit of using AI tools, while 58.5% point to “greater efficiency.”

Tools like GitHub Copilot are also popular because of their range. Aspiring and professional engineers can use AI tools to learn how to code, write code, test code, search for answers, document code, and a lot more.

But these tools aren’t perfect, and it’s important that software engineers have a firm grasp of how to code without using AI tools in order to get the most use out of them. Combined with a solid understanding of how coding works, GitHub Copilot can boost your efficiency and productivity, which can provide you with more time to brainstorm big ideas, work on projects with your team, and find creative solutions.

Why aspiring developers should learn GitHub Copilot

The use of AI tools in software engineering is growing and will continue to grow, making now a great time to learn how to use them.

Tools like GitHub Copilot will be critical for the future of this profession. For beginners, Copilot is a user-friendly tool that helps them build on foundational skills and become more efficient, productive, and impressive to employers. The best developers will not rely completely on AI tools, but will integrate them to enhance, streamline, and improve the quality of their work.

On this topic, Course Report recently published an article looking at the 2024 tech hiring market. They interviewed Zubair Desai, our Curriculum & Instruction, Lead Software Engineer. He discussed the importance of training to be a well-rounded software engineer who has an understanding of how AI tools fit into the wider job and industry. According to Zubair, this means learning about AI tools as you’re also developing other vital skills related to the software engineering craft.

“If you deliberately improve your critical thinking/problem-solving skills, software engineering fundamentals, and teamwork experience, you can position yourself as someone who can safely leverage the latest technologies – including generative AI – many times over compared to someone who is only able to highlight their programming knowledge,” he said.

In our coding bootcamps, we first teach students the vital foundations of coding, then we introduce AI tools that can help them continue to learn and boost their productivity in the bootcamp and as they launch new careers. By training students how to use these tools, we’re preparing them for long-lasting coding and software engineering careers.

Learn GitHub Copilot and launch your new tech career today!

If you’re interested in learning how to effectively use GitHub Copilot as you learn to code and transform your career, start your application today!

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