How to use GitHub Copilot in Android Studio

You understand how crucial it is to have the appropriate tools available to you as a developer. GitHub Copilot, a ground-breaking AI-powered coding assistant that is one of the newest solutions on the market, can help you write code faster and more effectively than ever before. In this post, the well-known integrated development environment (IDE) for Android app development, Android Studio, will be used to demonstrate how to use GitHub Copilot.

What is GitHub Copilot?

With the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence, GitHub Copilot, developers can write code more rapidly and effectively. It employs a substantial number of code snippets from GitHub’s open-source repositories to propose code completions as you type. With only a few keystrokes, GitHub Copilot enables you to create complete functions, classes, and even entire files.

Getting Started with GitHub Copilot in Android Studio

Make sure you have the most recent version of Android Studio loaded on your computer before you begin using GitHub Copilot in Android Studio. From the official website, you may get the most recent version of Android Studio. To install GitHub Copilot after setting up Android Studio, follow these instructions:

Step 1: Install the GitHub Copilot Plugin

The first step is to install the GitHub Copilot plugin in Android Studio. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Android Studio, then select File from the menu.
2. From the drop-down box, choose Settings.
3. Choose the Plugins option from the Settings window.
4. To find GitHub Copilot, select the Marketplace tab and perform a search.
5. To install the plugin, click the Install button.
6. Restart Android Studio once the installation is done.

Step 2: Sign in to GitHub Copilot

Once you have installed the GitHub Copilot plugin, the next step is to sign in to your GitHub account. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to the GitHub menu in Android Studio after it is open.
2. Choose Sign In from the menu.
3. On the Sign In page, enter your GitHub login and password.
4. You will receive a message verifying your login to GitHub Copilot once you have completed the sign-in process.

Step 3: Enable GitHub Copilot

After signing in to GitHub Copilot, you need to enable it in Android Studio. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Go to the GitHub menu in Android Studio after it is open.
2. Decide whether to enable GitHub Copilot.
3. Once activated, Android Studio will display a notice stating that GitHub Copilot is now activated.
   You can start using GitHub Copilot to write code more quickly now that you’ve installed and enabled it in Android Studio.

Using GitHub Copilot in Android Studio

1. Go to File > Settings (or Android Studio > Preferences on a Mac) after starting Android Studio.
2. Select Plugins from the Settings/Preferences dialogue.
3. Type “copilot” into the search box and hit Enter.
4. Click Install after selecting the GitHub Copilot plugin.
5. Launch Android Studio again after installation.
   Simply begin typing a remark or code snippet to utilise GitHub Copilot, and it will offer ideas based on the context.

Alternatively, an option available to you is to install the GitHub Copilot plugin specifically designed for IntelliJ IDEs, including Android Studio. Once successfully installed, you can utilize GitHub Copilot within Android Studio following the instructions provided earlier. It’s important to keep in mind that GitHub Copilot is currently in its beta phase and as a result, the code suggestions it offers may not always be entirely accurate or optimal. Furthermore, it relies on cloud-based AI models, necessitating an internet connection for its functionality.

To utilize Copilot, an active subscription to GitHub Copilot is required, priced at $10 per month. Upon obtaining a subscription, you can invoke Copilot by simply typing a comment, and it will generate the corresponding code for you. It has the capability to deduce function bodies based on the given function.

It’s worth noting that Copilot is exclusively accessible as an add-on integrated into the GitHub platform. Consequently, if your company restricts access to GitHub, this particular solution may not be suitable for your work environment. Moreover, while Copilot can expedite code production for developers, it may hinder the learning process, making it less ideal for novice developers.

Tips on using GitHub Copilot in Android Studio

Tip 1: Start Typing and Get Suggestions

You can start writing your code right away. GitHub Copilot will provide you with suggestions as you type. Just below the code you are typing, a pop-up window with these suggestions will appear. By clicking on a proposal or pressing the tab key, you can choose it.

Tip 2: Use GitHub Copilot to Generate Code

The ability to generate complete functions, classes, and even entire files is just another fantastic feature of GitHub Copilot. Just enter a few keywords relating to the code you want to generate into GitHub Copilot, and it will do the rest.

Tip 3: Customize GitHub Copilot Settings

1. To fit your coding habits, you can also alter GitHub Copilot’s settings. Some of the parameters you can modify are listed below:
2. Code style: You have a variety of options, including Google, Kotlin, and Java.
3. You can decide whether you want GitHub Copilot to provide code completion recommendations as you type or only when you press a certain key.
4. Code generation: GitHub Copilot gives you the option of generating code for you or just giving you recommendations.

Tip 4: Use GitHub Copilot with Keyboard Shortcuts

To make using GitHub Copilot even faster, you can use keyboard shortcuts. Here are some of the most commonly used keyboard shortcuts for GitHub Copilot:

• Ctrl+Shift+P: Show GitHub Copilot suggestions
• Ctrl+Shift+Enter: Generate code with GitHub Copilot
• Ctrl+Alt+Shift+S: Open GitHub Copilot settings

Conclusion

You can create code more quickly and effectively with the help of the potent coding assistant GitHub Copilot. You can get started using GitHub Copilot in Android Studio by following the instructions provided in this post, and you can start increasing the productivity of your coding right now. To use GitHub Copilot even faster, keep in mind to use keyboard shortcuts and adjust the settings to fit your coding habits. Coding is fun!