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GitHub Copilot in 5 Minutes - The Three Modes

New to GitHub Copilot in VS Code? This is your fastest entry point. Learn Ask, Plan, and Agent modes, then write your first prompt.

🚀 The Three Modes: Choose Your Tool

GitHub Copilot works in three distinct modes. Each is designed for a different job. You'll use all three in a typical week, but let's start with the one that feels most natural.

ASK PLAN AGENT
Quick Q&A Design First Autonomous Execution
Chat in VS Code Review Plan Edits Files
Approve First, Then Code Runs Tests, Loops Until Done
"Explain this error" "Design a login page" "Build a complete user authentication system"

Mode 1: Ask - Your First Copilot Conversation (2 minutes)

What it does: You ask a question; Copilot explains, suggests, or generates code.

When to use it: - ✅ Understand an error message - ✅ Explain code someone else wrote - ✅ Quick code snippet generation - ✅ "What does reduce() do?"

Try It Now

Step 1: Open VS Code and install the GitHub Copilot extension (if not already installed).

Step 2: Open any file in your project (or create a new .ts or .py file).

Step 3: Open the Copilot Chat panel: - Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl + I (or Ctrl + Alt + I for inline) - Mac: Press Cmd + I

Step 4: Type this question: 

@workspace Explain what this codebase does in 2-3 sentences

Step 5: Wait for Copilot to respond. You should see: - A summary of your project structure - What the main files do - What technologies are being used

✨ You just had your first Copilot conversation!

Mode 2: Plan - Design Before Code

What it does: You describe what you want; Copilot creates a step-by-step plan before writing any code.

When to use it: - ✅ Starting a new feature - ✅ Refactoring a large section - ✅ Uncertain where to start - ✅ Need to align with team on approach

Example Workflow

  1. You describe: "Add dark mode support to the app"
  2. Copilot generates: A numbered plan (10 steps)
  3. You review: "Does this plan make sense?"
  4. You refine: "Combine steps 3-4" or "Add a step for testing"
  5. You approve: Click "Implement this plan"
  6. Copilot executes: Writes code following the plan

The magic: You agree before code is written. This avoids the common problem where Copilot solves the wrong thing well.

Mode 3: Agent - Let It Work Autonomously

What it does: A high-level goal; Copilot autonomously edits files, runs tests, fixes failures, and loops until done.

When to use it: - ✅ Complex multi-file changes - ✅ Writing test suites - ✅ Setting up boilerplate - ✅ Confident in what you want, want faster execution

Why It's Powerful

Agent mode can: - Create multiple files and folders - Run terminal commands (build, tests, install) - Read test output, see what failed - Fix the code and re-run tests - Keep working until tests pass - All without you leaving the editor

Note: Start with Ask or Plan mode. Agent mode is most powerful once you understand what Copilot can do.

💡 Pro Tips Right Now

Tip What It Does
Add @workspace Copilot includes your entire project, not just current file
Add @vscode Get answers about VS Code itself (settings, shortcuts, extensions)
Use /explain Highlight code, then type /explain for a dedicated explanation
Type /tests Copilot generates test files for the current file
Check debug view Command Palette → "Toggle Chat Debug View" shows exactly what Copilot saw

⚠️ Common First Mistakes

Mistake Why It's Wrong What To Do Instead
"Write code for my web app" (too vague) Copilot doesn't know what you want "Add a login form with email/password validation"
No context provided Copilot can't see your codebase Use @workspace or highlight relevant files
Asking in a new chat for continued work Context gets lost Keep asking in the same conversation thread
Expecting perfect code first time AI is great but not magic Use Ask mode to explain issues, iterate with Plan mode
Trusting every suggestion Some suggestions might miss edge cases Always review; test before shipping

🎯 Your Next Step

Choose your path:

📚 Still Have Questions?

Ready? Open VS Code, press Ctrl+I (or Cmd+I), and ask Copilot a question. You're already using it. 🚀