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Introduction to GitHub Copilot in VSCode for AL Development

GitHub Copilot in VSCode offers multiple AI-powered modes - Inline Suggestions, Chat, Ask, Edit, Agent, and Plan - to assist AL developers with code generation, refactoring, and understanding existing code. This guide explains how to set up Copilot and when to use each mode for different development tasks.

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post think about IT

Steven Renders · 2025-12-16 · 892 words · about 4 min

"GitHub Copilot has quietly become one of the most helpful tools for anyone working with Business Central."
Show the post hereRead on think about IT

Key points

  • Copilot provides six distinct modes tailored to different AL development workflows, from quick autocomplete to workspace-wide refactoring
  • Chat mode allows developers to generate full AL objects, explain code, troubleshoot errors, and propose refactors through conversation
  • Agent mode performs multi-step changes across multiple files, such as applying ApplicationArea properties or adding telemetry hooks
  • Plan mode previews changes before applying them, which is important for AL projects with dependencies and object IDs
  • Ask mode provides lightweight code explanations by selecting and highlighting code snippets

Quotes

  • “GitHub Copilot has quietly become one of the most helpful tools for anyone working with Business Central.” (Establishes Copilot’s practical value for BC developers across various development scenarios)
  • “Agent is where Copilot begins to feel like a collaborator rather than a suggestion engine.” (Highlights the evolution from autocomplete to multi-step workspace-wide automation capabilities)
  • “Used well, it saves time, reduces repetition, and helps you maintain higher-quality code - without taking away your control or expertise.” (Summarizes the key benefits of Copilot adoption for AL developers while emphasizing developer autonomy)

Context

  • Features: Inline Suggestions, Chat, Ask, Edit, Agent, Plan

Source: think about IT - Steven Renders, community blog. Summary, key points and quotes are derived (CONTENT-NOTICE.md); read the original for the full text.