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GitHub Copilot Chat Interaction Patterns

Effective Question Patterns

1. Code Understanding

/explain
What does this code do? Focus on:
- Main functionality
- Key algorithms
- Data flow
- Error handling

2. Problem Solving

I'm trying to [goal]. My current approach is:
[code or description]

The issue I'm facing is:
[problem description]

What's the best way to solve this?

3. Code Review

/analyze
Review this code for:
- Potential bugs
- Performance issues
- Security concerns
- Style violations

Chat Commands

1. Code Generation

/fix
- Specific error fixes
- Implementation improvements
- Style updates

/test
- Unit test generation
- Test case suggestions
- Edge case coverage

2. Documentation

/doc
- Function documentation
- API descriptions
- Usage examples

/explain
- Code explanations
- Algorithm breakdowns
- Architecture overview

Conversation Strategies

1. Iterative Refinement

1. Start with high-level request
2. Clarify specific requirements
3. Refine generated code
4. Add error handling
5. Optimize performance

2. Context Building

1. Describe project context
2. Explain technical constraints
3. Specify requirements
4. Share example patterns
5. Iterate on solutions

Best Practices

1. Clear Communication

  • Specific questions
  • Complete context
  • Expected outcomes
  • Constraints and requirements

2. Efficient Interaction

  • Break down complex requests
  • Use appropriate commands
  • Provide feedback
  • Build on responses

3. Learning Approach

  • Ask for explanations
  • Request alternatives
  • Explore trade-offs
  • Understand patterns

Common Scenarios

1. Debugging

I'm getting [error]. Here's my code:
[code snippet]

What's causing this and how can I fix it?

2. Optimization

This code works but is slow:
[code snippet]

How can I improve its performance?

3. Refactoring

I need to refactor this code to:
- Improve readability
- Reduce complexity
- Enhance maintainability
- Follow best practices

Advanced Techniques

1. Multi-step Problem Solving

1. Break down problem
2. Solve components
3. Integrate solutions
4. Optimize result

2. Pattern Recognition

1. Identify common patterns
2. Apply known solutions
3. Adapt to context
4. Validate approach

Tips for Quality Results

1. Input Quality

  • Clear requirements
  • Complete context
  • Specific constraints
  • Example cases

2. Output Validation

  • Review generated code
  • Test functionality
  • Check edge cases
  • Verify performance

3. Iterative Improvement

  • Refine requests
  • Build on responses
  • Learn from feedback
  • Document patterns