Microsoft has officially opened the GitHub Copilot chat extension for Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and put the previously high-quality AI-powered coding assistant in the hands of developers, which is free. Under the release of MIT licenses allowed by MIT, everyone now has access to the entire feature set that needed to be subscribed for at one point. This shift represents a major milestone that makes AI augmented developer tools widely available and paves the way for improving innovation in customization, transparency and coding environments.
The extension is hosted on GitHub on Microsoft/Vscode-Copilot-Chat and includes four core components: proxy mode, edit mode, code suggestions, and chat integration. Together, these components create a highly interactive, context-aware coding assistant that goes beyond simple code completion.
1. Agent mode: Automate complex coding tasks
Agent mode is designed to automatically handle multi-step coding workflows. It goes well beyond autocomplete or static advice – it actively assists developers by diagnosing compile-time errors, redesigning tests, and even iterating on changes until they reach the desired output.
For example, if a developer requests “Implementing a cache layer for this API call,” the proxy can break it down into subtasks: create a cache interface, integrate a cache library and wire it into existing service logic. If an error occurs or the test fails, a corresponding response is made without manual intervention.
This model is essentially a co-developer who can self-correct and adapt to dynamic coding environments.
2. Editing mode: Natural language-driven multi-file editing
How edit mode transformation developers interact with their code base. It enables natural language commands to perform structured edits (across multiple files) without writing single-line boilerplate or navigation code.
For example, prompts such as “logging to all HTTP requests” can be translated into consistent modifications across different modules and are equipped with functional wrappers or instrument logic.
The integration also includes a live preview of changes, allowing developers to review differences and apply them selectively. This conversational editing process significantly speeds up repetitive or cross-cut changes and reduces cognitive overhead.
3. Code suggestions: context-aware, prediction completion
While traditional autocomplete tools provide basic token prediction, Github Copilot Chat’s code suggests further development by leveraging context and developer styles to predict meaningful code completion. The system learns from the current file, project structure and even past edits to propose the next logical change.
It is recommended to appear seamlessly and can be accepted through the tabs, making the flow of writing code smoother. Whether writing boilerplate code, refactoring functions or drafting new modules, the system is adapted to patterns with impressive responsiveness.
4. Chat Integration: Ask code-specific questions without leaving the IDE
One of the most powerful features is its editing chat interface, which provides instant support for the current workspace. Unlike the universal LLM chat interface, this tool has a deep understanding of the files, dependencies and structure of your project.
You can ask targeted questions like “Why does this test fail?” or “What does this feature do?” and receive inline answers based on actual code. This enables timely documentation, debugging assistance and building guidance – all without leaving vs code.
Impact on the developer ecosystem
Open source of co-pilot chats under MIT license has wide impact. First, developers and organizations can now extend autonomously and customly, to suit proprietary workflows or constrained environments. Second, it invites the open source community to contribute to improve performance, add functionality, or integrate with non-Microsoft LLM backends.
The move also gives access to powerful AI development tools democratic, especially for developers in education or underfunded environments where paid subscriptions are barriers to education or underfunded environments.
in conclusion
Microsoft has reshapes the boundaries of AI-assisted development by releasing the GitHub Copilot chat extension for free under an open license. What used to be a closed-end advanced feature set is now a solid, scalable foundation for smart coding workflows – for everyone.
Developers no longer need to choose between features and costs. With features like proxy mode, edit mode, code suggestions and context chat, now free to access, the coding experience in VS code becomes faster, smarter, and more cooperative.
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Sana Hassan, a consulting intern at Marktechpost and a dual-degree student at IIT Madras, is passionate about applying technology and AI to address real-world challenges. He is very interested in solving practical problems, and he brings a new perspective to the intersection of AI and real-life solutions.
