Task 1: Set Up My Toolset

Step 4.1 Install The Extensions

Follow the instructions there to download and install the following VS Code extensions.

1. Python by Microsoft extension - I initially installed 2023.20.0
2. Pylance by Microsoft extension - I initially installed 2023.11.0
3. GitHub Copilot extension - I initially installed 1.134.0
4. GitHub Copilot Labs extension - I initially installed 1.15.1019
5. GitHub Copilot Chat extension - I initially installed 0.10.1

Step 4.2 Disable Auto Updating for All Extensions

Initially, I disabled Extensions Auto Update because I wanted a stable environment.
Also, as a cyber security engineer, I'm always trying to minimize my attack surface.

However, when I observed my extensions set becoming outdated in a matter of days, I re-enbled Auto Update.

My cost-benefit analysis resolved that, for my Advanced Tech projects it was more desirable to maintain toolkit currency.

Step 4.3 Sign in to GitHub to Authorize VSCode

According to GitHub: the VS Code GitHub Copilot extension installer prompts you to sign in to GitHub in VS Code. This causes GitHub to request you Authorize Visual Studio Code.

You must authorize VS Code for GitHub Copilot to work in it.

Step 5.1 Hello World from the GitHub Copilot web site

To ensure this toolset worked, I first did GitHub Copilot's own JavaScript Hello World, "Getting your first suggestion"

1. Open VS Code



2. In VS Code, create a JavaScript file

Enter Command+N then Command+K release then M

From the dropdown menu of coding languages, select JavaScript.

3. In that file, type
   function calculateDaysBetweenDates(begin, end)
   Copilot suggests an implementation.



4. Enter Alt+] or Option+] or Alt+[ or Option+[ repeatedly for alternate suggestions.







I like Suggestion 3 for its simplicity, completeness, and clarity.

5. To select a suggestion, in the line you just typed in, hit Tab



You can now save or edit that code.

TIP: You can hit Ctl+Enter while in the type-it-here field to toggle a tab that contains all suggestions.

Step 5.2 Hello World from the Microsoft GitHub Copilot VS Code extension web site

Then I did the Python HW from The VS Studio GitHub Copilot installer

1. Open VS Code
2. In VS Code, create a Python file

Enter Command+N then Command+K release then M

From the dropdown menu of coding languages, select Python.

3. In that file, type
   def hello():
   Copilot suggests an implementation.







I like Suggestion 1 because it's what I normally use.

4. In the line you just typed in, hit Tab



You can now save or edit that code.

Step 5.3 Hello World from the Book

Then I did the Python HW from Learn AI-Assisted Python Programming with GitHub Copilot and Chat GPT Section 2.3.2 Check to see if your setup is working properly. Page 18.

1. Open VS Code
2. In VS Code, create a Python file

Enter Command+N then Command+K release then M

From the dropdown menu of coding languages, select Python.

3. In that file, type
   #output "Hello Copilot!" to the screen
   and hit ENTER
   
   >>> THIS IS A PROMPT ENGINEERING PROMPT <<<



No other useful suggestions suggest themselves.

4. In the suggested line, hit Tab



5. Save the file.
6. Run the file by hitting the VS Code Run button