TL;DR:
- Github Copilot is now available in Visual Studio Code for free, offering 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages monthly to all GitHub users.
- Devs can choose between Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI’s GPT-4o for coding assistance.
- Some key features includes debugging, code explanation, multi-file edits, and third-party extension support via Copilot agents.
- Free access continues for educators, students, and open-source maintainers; GitHub emphasizes lowering barriers for developers globally.
GitHub has hit a new milestone with over 150 million developers now on its platform. As part of this achievement, it is offering a free tier of GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code (VS Code).
GitHub Copilot, the company’s AI-powered tool, is now accessible for free to all users who log into VS Code with a personal GitHub account.
The free tier provides up to 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages monthly.
GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke highlighted the impact of this move, especially for developers in India.
According to Dohmke, “With GitHub Copilot Free in VS Code, India can accelerate the timeline forward to becoming the largest developer community in the world. But only if we make it happen.”
Key Features in the Free Tier
With GitHub Copilot Free in VS Code, you can:
- Ask coding questions.
- Debug or get explanations for existing code.
- Perform edits across multiple files.
- Build and use third-party extensions through Copilot agents.
Developers can also choose between two AI models, Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI’s GPT-4o, ensuring flexibility based on user preferences.
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Additionally, GitHub Copilot Chat is integrated directly into the GitHub dashboard for easier access.
Accessibility and Focus on Education
GitHub continues to lower barriers in software development. Previous initiatives include free private repositories and unlimited GitHub Actions storage. With this release, GitHub reinforces its commitment to accessibility.
Educators, students, and open-source maintainers benefit the most, as they retain unlimited access to GitHub Copilot Pro accounts at no cost.
Why This Matters
The free tier simplifies access to AI-powered development tools, particularly for budding developers and those without enterprise-level budgets.
Its availability in VS Code—the preferred IDE for many—ensures that more people can access powerful coding tools.
GitHub’s approach is to encourage a global developer community. Tools like Copilot Free bridge gaps for individual developers by making sophisticated coding capabilities readily available.
