851: The Future of VS Code and Copilot

Key takeaways

Live demos showcase AI's capabilities: Cassidy's keynote emphasized the importance of live demonstrations to highlight the real-world application of AI tools.
Enhanced user control with Copilot: The new custom instructions for Copilot empower developers to dictate how AI handles coding tasks.
UI improvements lead to better workflow: The recent updates to VS Code’s UI are designed to provide a smoother and more efficient coding experience.
Integration with various editors is key: The discussions emphasized the aim of integrating Copilot in a variety of development tools, including Xcode.
Real-time user feedback drives development: Active communication with users helps shape the evolution of features in VS Code and Copilot.

Summary

Introduction to New Features in VS Code and GitHub Copilot

In this episode, Wes and Scott chat with Cassidy Williams and Harald Kirschner, both involved with GitHub, about some exciting new features they presented at GitHub Universe. They discuss the live demo of Cassidy's keynote and the innovative advancements being made in GitHub Copilot and VS Code, particularly focusing on AI-driven functionality.

Keynote Highlights and Live Demos

Cassidy reflects on her experience presenting the keynote and the importance of delivering a smoothly working live demo, especially with the unpredictability of AI. They emphasize the strategies used, such as creating multiple backup systems and rehearsing different scenarios to ensure a successful presentation.

Breakthroughs in GitHub Copilot Features

The conversation dives into the new Copilot features, notably the multi-file editing capability, which allows users to edit multiple files simultaneously and auto-generate code. They also discuss 'Copilot custom instructions', enabling users to customize how the AI generates code, as well as best practices for prompt engineering to achieve desired outputs.

Innovations in UI/UX within VS Code

Wes, Scott, Cassidy, and Harold explore new UI approaches in VS Code, including experimental elements that make coding more intuitive. They share their user experiences, focusing on how inline chat can transform coding workflows by allowing developers to interactively modify code within files more efficiently.

Future Visions for AI in Development Environments

The group discusses the overarching vision for integrating AI features across various development environments, including Copilot's transition to Xcode, highlighting the potential implications for developers. They suggest that as AI capabilities grow, its seamless integration might redefine how developers approach coding tasks in their preferred tools.

Show notes

Wes and Scott talk with Cassidy Williams and Harald Kirschner about exciting new features in VS Code and GitHub Copilot, including custom instructions, UI/UX improvements, and the future of AI and Copilot within different editors.
Show Notes 00:00 Welcome to Syntax!
00:32 Cassidy’s keynote at GitHub Universe

03:23 New Copilot features
04:55 Use cases for prompt engineering
09:20 UI and UX enhancements
19:18 Copilot Extensions

20:38 Brought to you by Sentry.io

21:26 Multi-line suggestions?
27:00 How do you develop new ideas in this space? GitHub Next

35:42 Copilot in Xcode GitHub Copilot code completion in Xcode is now available in public preview

39:16 VS Code experimental features @code

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