How to use AI for coding projects

A developer using an AI coding tool for work

Coding doesn’t have to be intimidating—especially with the rise of AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot. Whether you’re building a personal website, a resume page, or a simple blog, Copilot can help you get started faster and with more confidence. This guide will show you how to use AI for coding projects, even if you’re a complete beginner.

GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot is an AI coding assistant developed by GitHub and powered by OpenAI. It works inside your code editor (like Visual Studio Code) and suggests code as you type. For beginners, it’s like having a helpful assistant that understands your goals and helps you write clean, functional code.

You can use Copilot to build personal projects such as a portfolio website, a digital resume, a blog or landing page, and more. To begin using Github Copilot, you’ll need:

A GitHub account
Visual Studio Code installed
The GitHub Copilot extension added to VS Code

Once set up, Copilot starts working immediately—offering code completions, suggestions, and even entire blocks of code based on your prompts. This AI coding tool is designed to help you learn and build at the same time.

Start coding with Copilot

Using Copilot to build a web page is a great way to streamline the development process, especially for beginners. Start by creating a new HTML file, then prompt Copilot to generate the basic structure—including a header, body, and footer. With just a few suggestions, Copilot can quickly scaffold the layout, saving you time and helping reduce potential errors. Next, enhance the visual appeal by adding CSS styling. Copilot can recommend styles for fonts, colors, spacing, and layout, making it easy to customize the look and feel of your page. Once the code is in place, preview the page in your browser to see the results instantly.

A happy developer using AI for coding in his home office setup

AI art created via Copilot

Open up a world of coding possibilities with AI

Once you've built a basic web page with Copilot, the possibilities for what you can create next are wide open. You can start adding interactivity using JavaScript—Copilot can help you write scripts for things like dropdown menus, form validation, or dynamic content updates. If you're ready to expand your project, try building a multi-page site by generating additional HTML files and linking them together with navigation elements. Beyond websites, Copilot is also a great companion for personal projects like calculators, to-do list apps, or even simple games. With just a few well-crafted prompts, you can explore new coding concepts and bring your creative ideas to life—no matter your experience level.

AI coding best practices

For more effective prompting for AI coding, follow these best practices:

Be specific about your goal: Instead of saying “Help me with HTML,” try “Generate a basic HTML page with a header, navigation bar, and footer.” Clear goals lead to more accurate and useful code suggestions.
Use contextual prompts: If you're working on a file, refer to it: “Add a new section below the existing footer in this HTML file.” Copilot will use the surrounding code to generate better suggestions.
Edit, iterate, and refine suggestions: If the first suggestion isn’t perfect, you can tweak it to better suit your needs or refine your prompt for a different response that better matches your vision.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

While Copilot is a powerful tool for accelerating coding tasks, it's important to use it wisely to avoid common pitfalls:

Over-relying on Copilot without reviewing code: Copilot can generate helpful code quickly, but it’s not infallible. Always review the output for logic errors, security issues, or inefficiencies before using it in production.
Misunderstanding Copilot’s suggestions: Sometimes Copilot generates code that looks correct but uses unfamiliar syntax or patterns. Take time to understand what the code does—ask for explanations or add comments to clarify.
Forgetting to test and debug manually: Even if Copilot writes your tests, you still need to run them and debug any issues. Manual testing ensures your code behaves as expected and catches edge cases Copilot might miss.

By staying engaged and treating Copilot as a coding assistant—not a replacement—developers can avoid these mistakes and get the most out of this AI coding tool.

Empower your coding with AI

Using AI for coding projects is no longer reserved for experts—tools like GitHub Copilot make it possible for anyone to start building a website with confidence. Whether you're creating a personal website or experimenting with new ideas, this AI coding assistant helps you learn, write, and improve code in real time. With the right prompts and a willingness to explore, you can turn your ideas into working projects faster than ever. Try Copilot today and start turning your ideas into code—one prompt at a time.

DISCLAIMER: Features and functionality subject to change. Articles are written specifically for the United States market; features, functionality, and availability may vary by region.