Write your first prompt in the GitHub Copilot app | Tutorial for beginners
Summary
GitHub Copilot's app removes friction from AI-assisted coding by letting you start with plain English prompts and voice input—no expertise required. The interface strategically surfaces context (repos, issues, PRs) and lets you swap between AI models based on task complexity, making it accessible for beginners while powerful enough for complex reasoning.
Key Takeaways
- Use voice input to lower the barrier to starting tasks—speak your prompt out loud, review the transcribed text, and refine before sending. This is especially useful when facing prompt box intimidation.
- Match AI models to task complexity: start with the default fast model for quick edits, switch to a stronger model only when initial attempts miss or reasoning feels tricky. This balances speed and cost.
- Give Copilot maximum context by connecting either a GitHub repo or local folder—files, issues, and pull requests all inform better suggestions. More visibility = more useful help.
- Enable remote sessions to maintain continuity across devices—close your laptop, pick work back up later on another device without losing progress or state.
- Start with low-stakes requests on real repos to build confidence—the tutorial emphasizes you 'can't really break anything by trying,' making experimentation the fastest way to learn.
Related topics
Transcript Excerpt
Opening a new tool can feel like staring at a blank page. So let’s remove the mystery and write our very first prompt together, step by step. Don’t worry about doing it perfectly. A prompt is just you telling Copilot what you want in plain English, and you can always refine it. By the end of this video, we’ll have Copilot working on a real change, in a real project, and you’ll know exactly how to start one yourself. When you open the app, the landing page is built around one thing: a box that asks what you want to do. This is your starting point for everything, so it’s worth getting comfortable here. The ‘Up next’ area suggests work to pick up, like issues or pull requests waiting on you, so you’re never starting cold. It’s a friendly nudge toward what probably matters most right now. But …