Configure GitHub Copilot in VS Code

Domino supports coding assistants such as GitHub Copilot to improve the development experience in VS Code Workspaces. Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that provides real-time suggestions as you type, ranging from single lines to full code blocks.

This guide explains how to install and use GitHub Copilot in two scenarios:

  • VS Code running directly in a Domino Workspace

  • VS Code connected to a Workspace via Remote SSH

Prerequisites

Make sure your Workspace and GitHub account are ready for Copilot. You’ll need access to install extensions and upload files in a VS Code-compatible environment.

  • A Domino Workspace that supports VS Code

  • A GitHub account with Copilot access

  • One of the following access methods:

    • Direct access to VS Code from the Domino UI

    • Remote SSH access to the Workspace (see SSH access setup)

  • Ability to download and upload files into the Workspace

  • VS Code must be installed in your Domino Environment

Launch your workspace

Start by launching a Workspace that uses a VS Code-enabled Environment with GitHub Copilot installed.

  1. Open any Domino project and create a new VS Code Workspace.

  2. Select a Compute Environment that includes GitHub Copilot.

  3. Click Launch to start the Workspace.

Set up GitHub Copilot

You can use Copilot in VS Code directly within Domino or through Remote SSH. Follow the steps below based on your access method.

For Remote SSH

If you’re using the VS Code Remote - SSH extension to connect from your local VS Code to a running Domino Workspace:

  1. Install GitHub Copilot and Copilot Chat from the Microsoft Extension Marketplace in your local VS Code.

  2. Authenticate with GitHub when prompted (see below).

  3. Begin coding.

Set up for in-browser VS Code (code-server)

Follow the steps below to manually install Copilot in your Domino Workspace.

Step 1: Download the GitHub Copilot Extension

To install Copilot manually, you’ll need to download the .vsix files for both Copilot and Copilot Chat.

  1. Identify the required versions of Copilot and Copilot-Chat.

    1. If unsure, locally install the same VS Code version Domino uses, install the extensions, and check the version numbers.

  2. Use the following URLs to download the .vsix files. Replace COPILOT_VERSION and CHAT_VERSION with your target versions:

    https://github.gallery.vsassets.io/_apis/public/gallery/publisher/github/extension/copilot/COPILOT_VERSION/assetbyname/Microsoft.VisualStudio.Services.VSIXPackage
    https://github.gallery.vsassets.io/_apis/public/gallery/publisher/github/extension/copilot-chat/CHAT_VERSION/assetbyname/Microsoft.VisualStudio.Services.VSIXPackage

  3. Upload the .vsix files into your Workspace through the Domino UI or mount a shared volume.

Step 2: Install the Copilot extension

Use the VS Code Extensions view to install the downloaded .vsix file directly in your Workspace.

  1. Open the Extensions panel:

    1. Click the square icon in the left sidebar, or

    2. Press Ctrl+Shift+X.

  2. Click the ⋯ (More Actions) menu in the top-right corner of the Extensions panel.

  3. Select Install from VSIX…

  4. Locate and select the uploaded .vsix file.

Step 3: Authenticate with GitHub

After installing the extension, sign in with your GitHub account to activate Copilot and link it to your subscription.

  1. Once installed, a prompt appears in the bottom-right corner asking you to sign in to GitHub.

  2. Click Sign in to GitHub and follow the prompts.

  3. A GitHub login window opens with a device code.

  4. Click Copy & Continue to GitHub, then paste the code on the GitHub login page.

  5. Log into a GitHub account with an active Copilot subscription.

  6. Click Authorize Visual-Studio-Code to complete the setup.

Once authenticated, a small GitHub logo appears in the bottom-right corner of the VS Code interface. Click it to view Copilot status and logs. The status should show: Status: Ready.

Step 4: Enable Copilot (if not already active)

Sign in with your GitHub account to activate Copilot and link it to your subscription.

  1. Follow the prompts to sign in with your GitHub account.

  2. If required, generate a GitHub personal access token for authorization.

  3. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P), search for Copilot, and select GitHub Copilot: Enable.

  4. Configure any desired settings.

Step 5: Start coding

Once Copilot is enabled, begin typing in any editor window. Copilot will automatically offer suggestions:

  • Press Tab to accept a suggestion.

  • Press Esc to dismiss it.

Copilot works across many languages and is especially helpful when working with unfamiliar APIs or boilerplate code.

Optional: Install Copilot automatically in Dockerfile

To add Copilot to your compute environment permanently, use these commands in your Dockerfile (replace COPILOT_VERSION and CHAT_VERSION with your target versions):

RUN curl -o /tmp/github.copilot.vsix -LSsf https://github.gallery.vsassets.io/_apis/public/gallery/publisher/github/extension/copilot/COPILOT_VERSION/assetbyname/Microsoft.VisualStudio.Services.VSIXPackage && \
    code-server --install-extension /tmp/github.copilot.vsix --force --extensions-dir /home/ubuntu/.local/share/code-server/extensions && \
    rm /tmp/github.copilot.vsix

RUN curl -o /tmp/github-chat.vsix -LSsf https://github.gallery.vsassets.io/_apis/public/gallery/publisher/github/extension/copilot-chat/CHAT_VERSION/assetbyname/Microsoft.VisualStudio.Services.VSIXPackage && \
    code-server --install-extension /tmp/github-chat.vsix --force --extensions-dir /home/ubuntu/.local/share/code-server/extensions && \
    rm /tmp/github-chat.vsix

Next steps

  • Jupyter AI provides an AI-powered assistant that you can configure to use with Domino.