ADP Live Blog Series #6
This blog post is part of our ADP Live Blog Series, in which we share the insights gained during our internal development opportunity called ADP Live (Agdiwo Delivery Process). During this session, Stefan, one of our team members shared his expertise on how to use AI in our daily work. We talked about the ways AI can simplify complex tasks, speed up workflows, and provide insights and guidance on various topics. In this blog post we summarize what we learned.
ChatGPT & Powershell
AI can be very beneficial in the workplace, particularly when it comes to working with PowerShell. This section focuses on how AI can be leveraged with PowerShell to generate scripts, debug code, provide documentation and comments, and provide training and mentoring.
Here are some ways in which AI can be leveraged in the daily work:
- Script generation: PowerShell has a vast library of cmdlets and modules that can be used to perform various tasks. However, sometimes it can be challenging to find the right cmdlet or module to use. By using AI, it’s possible to generate PowerShell script examples that can be used to solve specific tasks or improve existing scripts. This can save time and effort in searching for the right cmdlet or module.
- Debugging: When writing PowerShell scripts, it’s not uncommon to encounter syntax errors or logical problems. These errors can be time-consuming to identify and fix, especially when dealing with large scripts. AI can help to identify and fix these errors quickly, allowing developers to focus on more critical tasks.
- Documentation and comments: PowerShell scripts can become quite complex, making it difficult for colleagues to follow and understand the code. By using AI to create understandable documentation and comments, it becomes easier for colleagues to understand the code’s purpose and functionality. This can save time and reduce the risk of errors when making changes to the script.
- Training and mentoring: PowerShell can be a challenging language to learn, especially for those new to scripting. By using AI to provide training and mentoring, it becomes easier for individuals to learn PowerShell and understand its syntax, commands, functions, and techniques. This can help to reduce the learning curve and improve the productivity of team members.
We deliberately sent ChatGPT a broken code snippet to see how it would react. ChatGPT was able to not only understand our queries but also provide us with the correct code and add comments.
Github Copilot
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding tool developed by OpenAI in collaboration with Microsoft. Copilot uses a technique called “deep learning” to train a model based on OpenAI’s GPT that can generate code based on natural language or code input from the user.
GitHub Copilot is integrated directly into the Visual Studio Code editor and works as an extension or plugin. As the user types in code or comments, Copilot provides suggestions on how the code can be completed based on previous inputs, user history, and other context. Github copilot is a useful tool for programmers and IT workers and can help streamline the coding process. It understands many different code-languages for example, Powershell , C++, Python, Java, Javascript and Typescript.
Follow these steps to get started with Github Copilot
- Install Visual Studio Code: GitHub Copilot is currently only available as a plugin for Visual Studio Code, so you will need to have this code editor installed on your computer. You can download it for free from the Visual Studio Code website.
- Install the GitHub Copilot plugin: Once you have Visual Studio Code installed, you can install the GitHub Copilot plugin by going to the Visual Studio Code extensions marketplace and searching for “GitHub Copilot”. Click on “Install” to add the plugin to your editor.
- Connect to GitHub: To use GitHub Copilot, you will need to connect it to your GitHub account. Open Visual Studio Code, go to the “Extensions” tab on the left sidebar, and click on “GitHub Copilot”. Click on “Sign in with GitHub” and enter your GitHub credentials.
- Start using GitHub Copilot: Once you have installed the plugin and connected it to your GitHub account, you can start using GitHub Copilot by opening a new file in Visual Studio Code and typing code. As you type, GitHub Copilot will suggest code snippets and complete lines of code based on the context of your project.
You can choose between two priceplans, Copilot for Indivduals or Copilot for Business.
In our demo example, we asked Github CoPilot to create a function that counts to five. See how quickly it generated the function!
Work smarter not harder
Overall, there are many reasons why AI can be a valuable tool for IT experts looking to streamline their work processes and enhance their coding skills. Here are some benefits of using tools like Chatgpt and Github Copilot:
- Increased productivity: Both ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot can help streamline tasks and generate code quickly, which can save time and increase productivity.
- Improved accuracy: Both tools use advanced AI algorithms to suggest appropriate responses or generate code, which can help reduce errors and improve accuracy.
- Learning opportunities: By using these tools, individuals can learn new programming languages, techniques, and ideas by observing how they generate code or respond to prompts.
- Collaboration: Both ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot can facilitate collaboration among developers or between teams by suggesting code or responses that follow best practices or adhere to established coding standards.
- Accessibility: These tools can make programming more accessible to individuals with different levels of experience or expertise by providing a way to generate code or responses based on natural language input.
We are very impressed by these AI-tools capabilities and are excited to see how it will continue to evolve and improve in the future.
Read more blog posts in the ADP Live! Blog Series here, here and here
