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Part 08: Commit Summary Descriptions

In this section, you’ll learn how to use GitHub Copilot to generate commit messages and customize them.

  1. Open the Git Changes view in Visual Studio (View -> Git Changes).

  2. Select the sparkle emoji pencil button to automatically generate a commit message using Copilot.

    VS commit dialog with AI button

  3. In Solution Explorer, expand the GitHub Node and open copilot-instructions.md.

  4. At the bottom of the file, add:

    ## Commit Messages
    When creating Commit messages, summarize in a few sentences and then highlight the top 5 changes with emoji and short descriptions
  5. Return to the Git Changes view and generate a new commit message.

  6. Observe how the new commit message reflects the updated customization.

Key Takeaway: Copilot can help you create meaningful and well-structured commit messages, saving time and improving collaboration.

  1. Before submitting your changes, use the Code Review feature to analyze your code for potential improvements and suggestions.

    Code Review Assistance toggle

  2. Review the suggestions provided by Copilot and apply any necessary changes if there are any.

Key Takeaway: Copilot’s Code Review feature can help you identify potential issues and improve code quality before submission.


Back: Part 07 - Debugging with Copilot | Next: Part 09 - MCP Servers

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