AI Coding Tools Tutorials — Cursor, Copilot & More

1 Beginner 10 min read

Getting Started with GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot was the first AI coding tool I tried, and it's a great starting point because it works right inside VS Code (the editor most people already use). The free tier gives you enough to see if AI coding is for you. Here's how to set it up.

Copilot does two main things: it autocompletes your code as you type (like a really smart autocomplete), and it has a chat feature where you can ask coding questions. Both are genuinely useful even for beginners.

Copilot showing inline code suggestions as you type — press Tab to accept

Setup (any OS, any IDE)

VS Code

              # Step 1: Open VS Code

              # Step 2: Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)

              # Step 3: Search for "GitHub Copilot"

              # Step 4: Click Install

              # Step 5: Sign in with your GitHub account

              # Key shortcuts once installed:

              Tab           → Accept suggestion

              Esc           → Dismiss suggestion

              Alt+] / Alt+[  → Cycle through alternatives

              Ctrl+I        → Open inline chat

              Ctrl+Shift+I  → Open Copilot Chat panel

Free tier available

Copilot Free gives you a limited number of completions per month — enough to try it out. No credit card needed. Just sign in with your GitHub account.

Official Copilot Quickstart Source: GitHub Docs

2 Beginner 12 min read

Getting the Most Out of Copilot in VS Code

After installing Copilot, I spent a while just accepting random code suggestions without really knowing what I was doing. This Microsoft guide changed that — it showed me the features I was completely missing, like the inline chat and using Copilot for debugging.

The Copilot Chat panel — ask questions about your code, get explanations, generate tests

Things I didn't know Copilot could do

Explain selected code

Highlight any code → right-click → "Copilot: Explain This." It breaks down what the code does in plain English. This was a game-changer for me when reading other people's code.

Fix errors automatically

When you see a red squiggly error, click the lightbulb icon → "Fix using Copilot." It reads the error and suggests a fix. Works surprisingly well for common mistakes.

Generate tests

Open Copilot Chat and type "/tests" — it'll generate test cases for whatever file you have open. Not perfect, but a great starting point.

VS Code Copilot Guide Source: VS Code Official Docs

3 Beginner 10 min read

Getting Started with Cursor

Cursor is basically VS Code with AI built directly into the editor — not just as an extension, but as a core feature. It looks and feels like VS Code (it's actually a fork of it), so if you're familiar with VS Code, you'll feel right at home. The AI features are just... more integrated.

What makes Cursor different is the Composer feature — you can describe changes across multiple files and Cursor will make them all at once. For a beginner, that's incredibly powerful because you don't have to know which files to edit.

Cursor looks like VS Code but with AI features built into every part of the editor

Key commands (cross-platform)

Cursor shortcuts

              # Inline AI edit (highlight code first, then type instruction)

              Ctrl+K (Windows/Linux)

              Cmd+K  (Mac)

              # Open AI Chat panel

              Ctrl+L (Windows/Linux)

              Cmd+L  (Mac)

              # Open Composer (multi-file AI editing)

              Ctrl+I (Windows/Linux)

              Cmd+I  (Mac)

              # Reference files or docs as context

              @filename in chat to add context

              # Accept AI code completion

              Tab

Migrating from VS Code is painless

When you first open Cursor, it offers to import all your VS Code extensions, settings, and keybindings. One click and everything transfers over. I was up and running in under 2 minutes.

Cursor Official Docs Source: Cursor Official Docs

4 Beginner 8 min read

Getting Started with Windsurf

Windsurf (formerly Codeium) is another AI code editor that's gained a lot of traction. It has a generous free tier and its standout feature is "Cascade" — an AI panel that doesn't just suggest code but can actually run commands and make changes across your project. Think of it as having a coding assistant that can take action, not just talk.

I tried Windsurf after Cursor and was impressed by how smooth the setup was. It also imports your VS Code settings, so switching is effortless.

Windsurf's Cascade panel — an AI assistant that can read, write, and execute code

Getting started

1

Download from windsurf.com — available for Windows, Mac, and Linux

2

Create a free account during first launch

3

Optionally import your VS Code or Cursor settings (it'll offer this on first run)

4

Open the Cascade panel (right sidebar) and start chatting with AI about your code

My take

Windsurf is a solid option if you want something free with powerful AI features. The Cascade panel feels more "agentic" than Copilot — it can actually take actions instead of just suggesting text. Worth trying alongside the others to see what clicks.

Windsurf Getting Started Guide Source: Windsurf Official Docs