GitHub Copilot Workshops Across Continents

Over the past two weeks, we had the incredible opportunity to conduct a series of GitHub Copilot workshops in collaboration with our friends at Cyara and ReadyTech. These workshops were a blend of virtual, in-person, and hybrid formats, accommodating participants from across the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, India, Romania, and Ireland. In total, we held seven engaging sessions that provided a hands-on experience with GitHub Copilot, enabling attendees to build a version of the classic word search game.

The workshops kicked off with an introduction to GitHub and GitHub Codespaces. Participants were given a comprehensive overview of GitHub's features and functionalities, followed by an exploration of GitHub Codespaces—a cloud-based development environment that streamlines the setup and management of development projects.

Next, we dove into the world of GitHub Copilot. This AI-powered code completion tool quickly became the star of the workshops. Attendees learned how Copilot can significantly enhance productivity by providing intelligent code suggestions and automating repetitive coding tasks. We demonstrated the seamless integration of Copilot with various coding environments, showcasing its capabilities through practical examples.

With a solid understanding of GitHub Copilot, we proceeded to set up a .NET environment for the Word Search game project. Participants were guided through the initial steps of creating the project, laying the foundation for the hands-on coding sessions that followed. These sessions were designed to be highly interactive, allowing attendees to actively engage in building the core mechanics of the Word Search game. Guided by Copilot's suggestions, participants implemented basic game logic and saw firsthand how AI can assist in coding.

One of the highlights of the workshops was the introduction to prompt engineering. We demonstrated how crafting effective prompts can maximize the utility of AI code suggestions. This session included live demonstrations and hands-on exercises, enabling participants to experiment with different prompt techniques and see the impact on Copilot's code generation.

Debugging and refining code is a crucial aspect of software development, and our workshops addressed this with practical lessons on bug identification and fixing. We showcased techniques for identifying bugs and leveraged GitHub Copilot to suggest improvements and solutions. Participants engaged in debugging sessions, refining their Word Search game projects and enhancing their problem-solving skills.

As the workshops progressed, we explored advanced features and functionalities. Attendees learned how to add complex features to their Word Search game using advanced prompt engineering techniques. These interactive coding sessions allowed participants to expand their game's functionality, implementing additional features with Copilot's assistance.

The importance of code documentation was another key topic covered in the workshops. We emphasized best practices for documenting code and demonstrated how GitHub Copilot can assist in creating comprehensive and clear documentation. Participants practiced documenting their enhanced Word Search game code, ensuring their projects were well-documented and maintainable.

Testing is an integral part of the software development lifecycle, and our workshops concluded with a focus on generating test cases and frameworks. Attendees learned to utilize GitHub Copilot to create test cases, ensuring the reliability and functionality of their code. The practical activity of writing tests for the Word Search game provided participants with valuable hands-on experience in testing.

The GitHub Copilot workshops were a resounding success, providing a valuable learning experience for developers from diverse backgrounds and regions. The hands-on approach and interactive sessions allowed participants to gain practical skills and insights into using GitHub Copilot effectively. We are thrilled with the positive feedback and look forward to conducting more workshops in the future, continuing to empower developers with the tools and knowledge they need to excel in their coding adventures.

Check out Arkahna Nexus for more training and workshop options.