Before you build the Space Quiz, confirm that you have what you need, install the GitHub Copilot app, and get familiar with its workspace.
In this lesson, you will:
- verify the workshop prerequisites.
- install and sign in to the GitHub Copilot app.
- choose a model for your sessions.
- identify the app’s primary work areas.
- try a quick chat.
Prerequisites
You need:
- a GitHub account. Create a GitHub account, or use your existing account.
- an active Copilot plan. Activate Copilot Free or a paid Copilot plan. If your organization already provides Copilot access, use that account.
- a computer running macOS, Windows, or Linux.
The app ships with Git, so there is nothing else to install.
Install and configure the app
- Download and install the GitHub Copilot app for your operating system.
- Open the app.
- Select Sign in to GitHub and authenticate.
- Choose a theme, then select Finish.
Choose a model
Use the following preference order when you choose a model, and select the first option available to you:
- GPT-6-Luna (recommended).
- Auto, as a balanced backup.
- Any model from the list of active models.
Model availability depends on your plan, organization policy, and product version.
Find your way around
The app brings the development workflow into one place:
- New: Start a session on a project, or choose Chat for a quick question.
- Pull requests: Review and track your pull requests across every repository.
- Issues: Find issues assigned to you, created by you, or mentioning you.
- Automations: Schedule recurring agent work on a repository.
- Customize: Change themes and models, and manage Canvas extensions.
- Projects: Open your repositories, with each one’s sessions listed underneath.
Try a quick chat
Not every question needs a workspace. From New, choose Chat instead of a project. A chat has no repository attached and cannot edit files, so it is the fastest way to ask a question, get an explanation, or think through an approach before you start a real session.
Send the following prompt in a chat:
How does the GitHub Copilot app use worktrees?Summary and next steps
You verified the prerequisites, installed the app, chose a model, and explored its main work areas. Continue to Lesson 1: Create the Space Quiz workspace.