Randy Pagels demonstrates how GitHub Copilot Chat can act as a planning companion for developers, helping clarify structure and logic before starting code.

Use GitHub Copilot Chat to Plan Before You Code

By Randy Pagels

Overview

Starting a new feature or coding project can be daunting—especially when facing a blank editor. GitHub Copilot Chat isn’t just for auto-completing lines of code; it’s a valuable tool for planning, outlining, and discussing your implementation before you write functions or classes.

Why Plan with Copilot Chat?

Engaging Copilot Chat in early planning stages helps with:

  • Breaking a problem into logical steps
  • Surfacing edge cases and hidden assumptions
  • Structuring code before jumping into details
  • Reducing rework later on

Sample Workflow

Step 1: Start a Conversation

Ask Copilot Chat to outline your approach before you code.

Help me outline the steps to build a login flow that checks credentials, tracks failed attempts, and redirects users based on roles.

Copilot typically responds with:

  • Key steps in the flow
  • Checks and logic needed for security and roles
  • Edge conditions you might overlook

Step 2: Refine with Follow-Up Prompts

Push further with targeted follow-ups.

Now turn that into a JavaScript function with placeholders for the missing logic.

Copilot produces skeleton code, leaving slots for you to fill in specialized details.

Benefits for Developers

  • Clarified logic: See the roadmap before getting stuck in implementation details
  • Higher quality structure: Identify issues up front, not after refactoring
  • Faster starts: No more staring at blank screens
  • Knowledge sharing: Share your planning prompts with the team to boost everyone’s productivity

Takeaway

GitHub Copilot Chat is more than a code autocomplete—it’s a planning partner that helps you thoroughly map out features before coding. Try starting your next project with a conversation, and notice how much smoother and more predictable your workflow becomes.

What surprising insights has Copilot Chat helped you uncover before you even wrote code? Have a favorite prompt? Share your experience with the community!

This post appeared first on “Randy Pagels’s Blog”. Read the entire article here