GitHub Copilot Free: A Developer’s Game-Changer

Roobia William
5 min readDec 19, 2024

GitHub has unveiled a new free tier for GitHub Copilot, its AI-powered coding assistant, enabling developers to access intelligent code suggestions at no cost. This revolutionary update opens the doors to AI-assisted coding without any financial barriers, making advanced tools accessible to all.

For developers working in popular environments like VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Vim/Neovim, Xcode, or Azure Data Studio, this update is particularly exciting. Copilot enhances productivity with smart code completions, saving time and effort while maintaining a budget-friendly approach. Here’s how you can set up GitHub Copilot Free in these IDEs and why it’s a must-have for your toolkit.

Key Features of GitHub Copilot Free

For users of VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, GitHub Copilot Free offers:

  • Code Completion: Get intelligent suggestions for entire lines or blocks of code in multiple languages like JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and more.
  • Copilot Chat: Ask questions and receive explanations or code snippets directly in your IDE, simplifying complex coding tasks.
  • Copilot Edits: Modify multiple files simultaneously in VS Code and Visual Studio, maintaining consistency and enhancing productivity.
  • Claude 3.5 Sonnet Models: Leverage advanced AI capabilities for more accurate and contextual suggestions.
  • Public Code Blocking: Prevent suggestions that match public code, giving you control over your development process.

Setting Up GitHub Copilot Free

In VS Code

To get started with GitHub Copilot Free in VS Code, follow these steps:

  • Install VS Code: Download and set up VS Code if you haven’t already.
  • Sign Up for Copilot Free: Log in with your GitHub account and activate Copilot Free directly in the IDE.
Sign Up for Copilot Free
  • Start Coding: Begin typing, and Copilot will automatically offer context-aware code suggestions to streamline your workflow.

In JetBrains IDEs

If you’re more accustomed to JetBrains IDEs (such as IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, or WebStorm), Copilot’s free tier integrates seamlessly. Here’s how to get started:

  • Install Your Preferred IDE: Ensure you have a compatible JetBrains IDE (e.g., IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm).
  • Activate Copilot Free: Log in to your GitHub account, navigate to the GitHub Copilot section, and follow the steps to integrate it with JetBrains Marketplace.
  • Enjoy Enhanced Productivity: Use Copilot for intelligent code completions directly in your IDE.

Learn more detialed and step-by-step guide with screenshots here.

Limitations of GitHub Copilot Free

While Copilot Free is a valuable tool, it comes with some limitations:

  • Code Completion Limit: Up to 2,000 completions per month.
  • Copilot Chat Limit: Limited to 50 chat messages monthly.
  • Enterprise Restrictions: Lacks features like access management and audit logs, making it unsuitable for enterprise-level use.

GitHub Copilot Free: A Developer’s Game-Changer

GitHub has unveiled a new free tier for GitHub Copilot, its AI-powered coding assistant, enabling developers to access intelligent code suggestions at no cost. This revolutionary update opens the doors to AI-assisted coding without any financial barriers, making advanced tools accessible to all.

For developers working in popular environments like VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Vim/Neovim, Xcode, or Azure Data Studio, this update is particularly exciting. Copilot enhances productivity with smart code completions, saving time and effort while maintaining a budget-friendly approach. Here’s how you can set up GitHub Copilot Free in these IDEs and why it’s a must-have for your toolkit.

Looking to supercharge your API development workflow? Pair GitHub Copilot’s intelligent code suggestions with Apidog, the all-in-one API development platform. From API design and testing to mocking and documentation, Apidog streamlines every step, ensuring faster and more efficient development.

Sign up for Free

Download for Free

Key Features of GitHub Copilot Free

For users of VS Code and JetBrains IDEs, GitHub Copilot Free offers:

  • Code Completion: Get intelligent suggestions for entire lines or blocks of code in multiple languages like JavaScript, Python, Ruby, and more.
  • Copilot Chat: Ask questions and receive explanations or code snippets directly in your IDE, simplifying complex coding tasks.
  • Copilot Edits: Modify multiple files simultaneously in VS Code and Visual Studio, maintaining consistency and enhancing productivity.
  • Claude 3.5 Sonnet Models: Leverage advanced AI capabilities for more accurate and contextual suggestions.
  • Public Code Blocking: Prevent suggestions that match public code, giving you control over your development process.

Setting Up GitHub Copilot Free

In VS Code

  1. Install VS Code: Download and set up VS Code if you haven’t already.
  2. Sign Up for Copilot Free: Log in with your GitHub account and activate Copilot Free directly in the IDE.
  3. Start Coding: Begin typing, and Copilot will automatically offer context-aware code suggestions to streamline your workflow.

In JetBrains IDEs

  1. Install Your Preferred IDE: Ensure you have a compatible JetBrains IDE (e.g., IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm).
  2. Activate Copilot Free: Log in to your GitHub account, navigate to the GitHub Copilot section, and follow the steps to integrate it with JetBrains Marketplace.
  3. Enjoy Enhanced Productivity: Use Copilot for intelligent code completions directly in your IDE.

Limitations of GitHub Copilot Free

While Copilot Free is a valuable tool, it comes with some limitations:

  • Code Completion Limit: Up to 2,000 completions per month.
  • Copilot Chat Limit: Limited to 50 chat messages monthly.
  • Enterprise Restrictions: Lacks features like access management and audit logs, making it unsuitable for enterprise-level use.

Pairing GitHub Copilot with Apidog

Pairing GitHub Copilot with Apidog, an all-in-one API development tool, takes your workflow to the next level.

Key Benefits of Using Apidog with GitHub Copilot

  • Seamless Integration: Use the Apidog Fast Request plugin within JetBrains IDEs for API testing and debugging.
  • Faster API Development: Combine Copilot’s code generation with Apidog’s API design, documentation, and testing features.
  • All-in-One Solution: Apidog supports the entire API lifecycle, complementing Copilot’s coding assistance.

Learn how to get started with Apidog Fast Request at no cost!

Why Combine GitHub Copilot Free and Apidog?

Using GitHub Copilot and Apidog together creates a streamlined development experience:

  • Efficiency: Reduce repetitive tasks with Copilot’s AI and simplify API workflows with Apidog.
  • Quality: Ensure robust APIs and clean, optimized code.
  • Free Tools: Both tools offer free tiers, making them accessible to developers of all levels.

Conclusion

GitHub Copilot Free is a transformative tool for developers, offering AI-powered assistance in top IDEs at no cost. Combine it with Apidog’s robust API development features to supercharge your workflow, whether you’re designing APIs, testing endpoints, or generating documentation.

Start today and unlock a smarter, more efficient way to code!

Don’t let this opportunity pass — take advantage of GitHub Copilot Free and Apidog’s powerful features to elevate your coding game.

Sign up to discover human stories that deepen your understanding of the world.

Membership

Read member-only stories

Support writers you read most

Earn money for your writing

Listen to audio narrations

Read offline with the Medium app

Roobia William
Roobia William

Written by Roobia William

A seasoned backend developer with a deep expertise in API development.

No responses yet

Write a response