How to invoke Github Copilot programmatically?

[code2graph]

I am looking for a way to control GitHub Copilot programmatically, i.e., invoking it from code.

My question is how to capture the top suggestions provided by Copilot in an automated fashion.

For example, for any given autocomplete task to Copilot, the task is to record the code suggestions and save them into a file.

I am wondering whether your project can help on that?

[thakkarparth007]

The best way I'm aware of doing this is to do UI automation on VSCodium with copilot installed. VSCodium has some UI tests in its repository, written using puppeteer. The tests show how to set the text of an editor to something, move the cursor around, etc. You can do that with copilot installed, and wherever you want a prediction, trigger a backspace and retype that character programmatically. Copilot will make an API call to the backend which you can gather, or modify vscodium to call your function whenever it shows an inline suggestion.

However I'd caution against automatically triggering copilot without ratelimiting as it would cause trouble for github and might cause your account to be flagged.

[code2graph]

Thanks for your feedback. However, Puppeteer is for headless browsing automation of web apps. A bit confused how it would be applied directly to VSCodium? Could you clarify?

[code2graph]

@thakkarparth007 I don't find any code written with puppeteer for VSCodium: https://github.com/search?q=org%3AVSCodium+puppeteer&type=code.

Probably missing something here?

(Please note I do not plan to trigger copilot for a lot of suggestions. This is just for a few 100 suggestions)

[thakkarparth007]

My bad I confused VSCodium as something else. Here's a link to one test that launches some editor, changes some text, closes vscode without saving, and restarts to see if the text has survived.

https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/blob/main/test/smoke/src/areas/workbench/data-loss.test.ts

There are many other tests in this "test/smoke" folder. They should help you. But you'll still need to figure out installing the extension (should be a matter of placing it in VSCODEROOT/extensions), and dealing with auth.

VSCODEROOT for the open source version of vscode is not ~/.code. I forgot the name but once you run some test there'll be a new folder in your home folder. You should be able to identify it.

[elsayed85]

hey @code2graph did u find any way to do that ? I'm very interested

[code2graph]

@elsayed85 can't yet figure out a concrete plan to achieve this. Will keep you informed.

[elsayed85]

@elsayed85 can't yet figure out a concrete plan to achieve this. Will keep you informed.

@code2graph im working now on copilot chat and i know how it works .. the full request from being to end .. also copilot complete

[code2graph]

@elsayed85 would love to know how you achieved this.

[elsayed85]

@code2graph sure u can dm me in twitter or LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/elsayed85_github-copilot-chat-cli-using-laravel-activity-7099244597742088192--Rp1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios