How To Use Copilot in Xcode?

Copilot currently only supports the latest versions of Xcode running on Monterey. Older versions are not compatible.

You’ll also need Node.js for some pre-installation steps. Make sure you have the required versions installed before continuing.

Install the Copilot for Xcode extension

Copilot functionality on Xcode is provided by an extension called Copilot for Xcode. To install it:

1. Launch the Terminal app on your Mac
2. Run the Homebrew command to install the extension:

brew install --cask copilot-for-xcode

• Once the installation is complete, check if it was successful by checking if you see the CopilotForXcode app in your Launchpad.

Configure access to GitHub Copilot

With the extension installed, you now need to connect it to the GitHub Copilot cloud service. To set up access:

• Open the CopilotForXcode app from your Launchpad
• click on Service > Install Copilot.Vim and language server version
• click on to install to download additional components
• When prompted, sign in with your GitHub account
• The app requests access to connect to GitHub Copilot – click Authorize to grant access

This links your GitHub account information to Copilot, enabling the code completion features within Xcode.

Enable the Xcode extension

The final step is to enable Copilot as an Xcode source editor extension:

• Go to System settings > Privacy & security > Extensions
• Scroll down and select Xcode source editor
• Check the box next to Second pilot to enable it

Once enabled, Copilot is ready to use whenever you open Xcode!

Using GitHub Copilot in Xcode

With the installation complete, Copilot is now integrated directly into Xcode’s code editor. Here are some of the most important things you can do with it:

Code additions and suggestions

As you type code, Copilot suggests autocompletes based on billions of lines of open source code. This saves you time and reduces typos.

For example, when you start typing a for loop, Copilot might automatically fill in the rest of the default code.

Find documentation

Are you stuck on memorizing a certain method? Simply type the class or API name and Copilot will automatically retrieve the relevant documentation.

Also read: How do I use LogoAI?

Code reviews

During code reviews, Copilot can scan your code and detect potential bugs, outdated APIs, security issues, etc. This allows you to proactively address issues before they are shipped.

Seek guidance during conversations

You can have an interactive “conversation” with Copilot while coding by describing in plain English what you want to achieve. It will suggest code solutions and whole blocks.

Typing, for example “Parse this JSON and store values ​​in core data” can provide a complete implementation!

Customize Copilot to suit your needs

To optimize Copilot according to your specific requirements, some customization options are available:

Privacy settings

Copilot provides standard Analytics data to GitHub to improve the service. If you want to unsubscribe:

1. Open CopilotForXcode
2. Go to Settings
3. Turn off Send analysis data

Strictness in code completion

You can determine how aggressive Copilot is when it comes to delivering completions:

1. In Xcode, go to Preferences > Text Editing
2. Adjust the setting for the strictness of the completion suggestion

Keyboard shortcuts

To invoke Copilot suggestions manually, set a custom keyboard shortcut:

1. Go to Xcode > Preferences > Key Bindings
2. Search for ‘Code Completion’ and assign a shortcut

Syntax highlighting

Enable special Copilot syntax highlighting to easily identify the auto-generated code:

1. Go to Xcode > Preferences > Fonts & Colors
2. Switch Copilot placeholder attributes

Maximize the value of GitHub Copilot

Here are some best practices to optimize your workflows while using Copilot:

Use it for monotonous tasks

Let Copilot handle mundane things like writing boilerplate code or documentation so you can focus on more meaningful programming.

###Complement your skills, don’t replace them

View Copilot as an assistant rather than a replacement for your own coding knowledge. Continue to hone your skills.

Give it context

The more context you provide around what you want to achieve, the better Copilot can help. Frame requests verbally.

Check out the suggestions

Blindly accepting Copilot’s suggestions can lead to low-quality code. Check them out before recording them.

Adjust it as you go

Continue to adjust the settings and language to suit how Copilot performs for your coding style.

Conclusion

GitHub Copilot integration with Xcode unlocks an incredibly powerful AI pair programmer for iOS and macOS developers, right within Apple’s official IDE.

It not only reduces monotonous coding work but also improves productivity by providing intelligent and contextual suggestions while you program.

By seamlessly combining its AI capabilities with Xcode’s existing rich feature set, Copilot aims to take iOS app development workflows to the next level.

By following best practices around properly framing requests, assessing output, and customizing the experience, you can get the most value out of it.

Expect Copilot to get even smarter over time by continuously training on new code and developer interactions across its massive user base.

So go ahead, supercharge your next iOS or macOS project with an AI copilot by your side! The future of coding looks more exciting than ever.

🌟 Do you have burning questions about a “Copilot in Xcode”? Do you need some extra help with AI tools or something else?

💡 Feel free to email Pradip Maheshwari, our expert at OpenAIMaster. Send your questions to support@openaimaster.com and Pradip Maheshwari will be happy to help you!