Contextual Copilot Query Option for Terminal Outputs

georgekosmidis commented 1 year ago

Feature Description

While building or running applications, the terminal window in Visual Studio Code generates valuable information, such as exceptions or warnings. It would be beneficial to have a feature where users can select this information and directly query Copilot by simply right-clicking on the selected text.

Use Case

User runs/builds an app: The user initiates the run/build process of an application (e.g. python) within VS Code.
Encounter an Issue: The user encounters a warning/exception which is displayed in the terminal window.
Select & Right-Click: The user selects the relevant error message or warning and right-clicks to reveal a context menu.
Query Copilot: An option in the context menu to "/Ask" appears. The user selects this option.
Receive Assistance: Copilot processes the query and provides relevant suggestions or solutions to the user.

Benefits

Efficiency: This feature can increase developer efficiency by reducing the steps needed to troubleshoot issues.
Accessibility: Providing an immediate option to query Copilot makes the tool more accessible and integrated into the developer's workflow.
Learning Opportunity: Direct interaction with Copilot can enhance learning by offering immediate feedback and solutions.

Other possibilities

Deeper Integration: Depending on the technology used, a deeper integration with "Run & Debug" will offer massive benefits in debugging and productivity in general (e.g. get an inline suggestion when an exception comes)

Tyriar commented 1 year ago

FYI Copilot already has an explain selection entry, I'm not sure if it's in stable or just the pre-release currently.

georgekosmidis commented 1 year ago

FYI Copilot already has an explain selection entry, I'm not sure if it's in stable or just the pre-release currently.

You are absolutely right, but it doesn't appear when you right click, for example, in the terminal (which makes sense, its a terminal not VS Code but still an integration with panels like Output or Debug Console would be awesome)

Tyriar commented 1 year ago

@georgekosmidis yes it does:

Right click's behavior depends on the OS though, you may need to use shift+right click. See https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/terminal/basics#_rightclick-behavior

georgekosmidis commented 1 year ago

Ah, you are right, its there... I am closing this then, thank you!

microsoft / vscode-copilot-release