Ask Better Questions, Get Better Code

When you’re stuck, vague prompts won’t get you far. Copilot thrives on clear, specific questions. Instead of hoping it reads your mind, give it the context it needs. Let’s break it down!

Be Direct—Ask Copilot Chat Exactly What You Need
The better your question, the better your answer. Think about what you’d ask a teammate—and say that.

Try these examples:
Instead of this vague prompt:
# Fix this
Ask this instead:
# This function is timing out, can you suggest a more efficient approach?
Instead of:
# Add comments
Try:
# Add inline comments that explain this logic to someone new to the codebase

Want help improving a prompt?
Use Copilot to help you write better prompts!
In Copilot Chat:
# Help me write a clear prompt to generate a validation function that checks email and phone number formats

Bonus Tip: Ask Copilot to Review Your Prompt
Before submitting a long or complex prompt, try:
# Is this a good prompt? If not, suggest a better one.

Quick Takeaway
GitHub Copilot is only as smart as the question you ask. If your results seem off, it’s often the prompt—not the tool. Treat it like a coding partner, and be clear about what you need.
Got a prompt that always gets great results? Share it with the group—we’re all learning together!