Microsoft has announced the launch of its code repository subsidiary GitHub GitHub Copilot Freean affordable version of its popular AI-powered coding assistant, now directly integrated Visual Studio Code (VS Code) integrated development environment (IDE).

To recall, Github first launched a version of Copilot based on OpenAI's Codex code completion model. again in 2022ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot before launch, and have been continuously updating it ever since.

The new free tier for VS Code focuses on extensibility Powered by AI Code Completion Assistant reaches a wide audience of developers, namely those with light usage needs and tighter budgets.

The announcement coincides with GitHub surpassing 150 million developers.

CEO Thomas Domke said the move builds on GitHub's history of providing free tools to the developer community.

Previously, GitHub offered free repositories, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) minutes, and Codespaces. Copilot Free adds another layer to these offerings aimed at casual users or small-scale projects.

Copilot Free also comes on the heels of GitHub offering free, unlimited access to the full-featured and less restrictive Copilot Pro ($10 USD per month per seat) to students, educators, and open source providers. The company says it will offer Copilot Pro for free to these users.

Features of GitHub Copilot Free

GitHub Copilot Free provides users with 2,000 code completions and 50 chat messages per month, accessible after signing in with a personal GitHub account.

Service levers advanced AI modelsincluding Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI's GPT-4o.

These models allow developers to seek help with coding questions, debug existing code, or implement edits across multiple files. However, those who want to use premium AI models, such as Google's Gemini 1.5 Pro and OpenAI's o1-preview, should look to Pro and other paid plans.

The new free tier includes:

• Editing multiple files: Users can make changes to multiple files using Copilot Edits, which combines conversational chat with code generation.

• Terminal help: Copilot can interpret errors, fix failed commands, and even recommend shell scripts via terminal chat.

• Custom Instructions: Developers can define coding preferences at the project or editor level, which can ensure consistent code generation tailored to specific frameworks or guidelines.

• Voice commands: A built-in speech interface allows users to interact with Copilot using voice commands to prototype apps or debug code.

• Awareness of the project context: Copilot's AI contributors can provide assistance based on a comprehensive understanding of the entire codebase.

Availability and future plans

GitHub Copilot Free VS Code and GitHub.com are available immediately. Developers just need a GitHub account.

In addition to these offerings, GitHub is previewing an advanced feature called Vision Copilot. This tool allows developers to create user interfaces from screenshots or markups, streamlining the design-to-code workflow.

During the preview process, Vision Copilot requires users to provide their API key to access AI services.

Commitment to developer empowerment

GitHub's launch of Copilot Free reflects its ongoing commitment to empowering developers. As part of the announcement, Dohmke highlighted the company's mission to reduce barriers for the global developer community.

The free tier complements the growing set of AI-powered tools integrated with VS Code, offering practical solutions for everyday problems like debugging, naming conventions, and creating messages.

For those interested in exploring the features of GitHub Copilot Free, the service can be run directly in VS Code or accessed through the GitHub dashboard.