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Term

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is GitHub's AI coding assistant — an extension for common editors offering tab autocomplete, chat and multi-file edits, with GPT and Claude models selectable.

GitHub Copilot — explained in more detail

GitHub Copilot is the AI coding assistant from GitHub, sitting inside the broader Microsoft ecosystem. It ships as an extension for most relevant editors — VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Neovim, Visual Studio.

Core features

The original core feature was tab autocomplete: as you type, Copilot suggests whole code blocks inline that you accept with Tab. Copilot Chat added a conversational interface, then came multi-file edits and finally an agent mode for autonomous multi-step tasks.

Models and licensing

Copilot is not tied to a single model — users can choose between variants of OpenAI’s GPT line and Anthropic’s Claude depending on the task. Usage is licence-based (monthly subscription) and tightly tied to a GitHub account, with discounts for students and open-source maintainers.

Positioning

Compared to Cursor or Windsurf, Copilot stays closer to the classic editor-plugin model: it augments the editor rather than replacing it. For teams already working in a GitHub flow, the integration is particularly seamless.

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