Copilot Chat in JetBrains IDEs (GA) - Feedback

[Akash1134]

The purpose of this discussion is to collect feedback from our Copilot Chat users in JetBrains IDEs.

Following our Private Beta, we are thrilled to announce Copilot Chat in JetBrains IDEs is now generally available (GA) 🎉

Driven by GPT-4, GitHub Copilot Chat provides instant guidance directly within various JetBrains IDEs, such as PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, Rider, and more. This contextually-aware tool tailors suggestions to your specific coding tasks and even allows explicitly adding files for reference. It empowers developers to innovate efficiently by assisting with complex concepts, code explanations, unit testing, and many more use cases, all while effortlessly adjusting to your preferred language style.

How to get started?

• Using GitHub Copilot Chat in your JetBrains IDE
• If you were already using Private Beta – No further action is required. You can continue using the chat feature as usual.
• If you haven’t enabled Chat and want to use GitHub Copilot Chat in JetBrains IDEs
• Copilot Individual users: You automatically have access to the chat within JetBrains IDEs.
• Copilot Business and Enterprise users: Your organization admins will need to grant you access to Copilot chat in IDEs. Once you have access, please consult our getting started guide

[MementoRC]

After recent feedback, the chat window seems broken, the first few questions are answered, but then the later questions simply disappear as if sent to the bot, but no change (scrolling window with answer) is seen, so for each question, one has to start a new chat. Apart from that overall very convenient and useful to have the copilot right there, next to the work code

[badr-sl]

up

[Pawankumar271998]

up
hi

[Pawankumar271998]

hi

[Reunt]

Does the problem occur only with specific types of questions or all questions in the chat?

[detty-down]

Do you think GitHub should prioritize fixing this issue? Why does it affect the user experience so much?

[irving-vale]

In the new update, I've been having issues with the chat. The first question gets answered, but the following one stops working; it doesn't respond at all, nor does the new question appear. Additionally, if I work with two IntelliJ windows, after the first question, when I click to send, the chat from the other window I have open pops up.

[guilhermelinosp]

up

[Rahulrmhaske]

Very nice and prompt support !!!

[satri35]

good feedback

[anjul21]

its good

[ubayibnus]

Are there any error messages or logs in IntelliJ that could provide more context about why the chat stops working?

[dejan2609]

Issues while upgrading Github Copilot from 1.4.0.4986 -->> 1.5.0.5148 (IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1 Beta on Windows OS).

Environment:

IntelliJ IDEA 2024.1 Beta (Ultimate Edition)
Build #IU-241.14494.17, built on March 6, 2024
Licensed to IntelliJ IDEA EAP user: Dejan Stojadinović
Expiration date: April 5, 2024
Runtime version: 17.0.10+8-b1207.6 amd64
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
Windows 11.0
GC: G1 Young Generation, G1 Old Generation
Memory: 2048M
Cores: 8
Non-Bundled Plugins:
  com.intellij.guice (241.14494.17)
  com.github.copilot (1.4.19.4986)
  com.jetbrains.packagesearch.intellij-plugin (241.0.8)
  org.intellij.scala (2024.1.9)
Kotlin: 241.14494.17-IJ

Note: it seems that Avast antivirus is blocking it:

[dejan2609]

Update for Linux: plugin version 1.5.0.5148 works on Ubuntu (IntelliJ IDEA 2023.3.4).

Can't confirm issues mentioned by others above: Copilot Chat works for me as expected (for multiple consecutive questions, that is).

Environment:

IntelliJ IDEA 2023.3.4 (Ultimate Edition)
Build #IU-233.14475.28, built on February 13, 2024
Licensed to Dejan Stojadinović
You have a perpetual fallback license for this version.
Subscription is active until September 28, 2025.
Runtime version: 17.0.10+1-b1087.17 amd64
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
Linux 6.5.0-25-generic
GC: G1 Young Generation, G1 Old Generation
Memory: 1978M
Cores: 8
Registry:
  editor.minimap.enabled=true
Non-Bundled Plugins:
  AWSCloudFormation (233.13763.5)
  org.intellij.plugins.hcl (233.13135.65)
  org.jetbrains.plugins.go-template (233.11799.172)
  org.jetbrains.plugins.go (233.14475.9)
  com.intellij.guice (233.11799.196)
  com.intellij.aqua (233.14475.49)
  com.github.copilot (1.5.0.5148)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.core (233.14475.28)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.binary.files (233.11799.267)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.rfs (233.14475.28)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.metastore.core (233.13135.65)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.flink (233.13135.103)
  com.intellij.gwt (233.14475.28)
  com.jetbrains.packagesearch.intellij-plugin (233.11800.8)
  com.intellij.tide (233.14475.56)
  mdx.js (233.11799.172)
  mobi.hsz.idea.gitignore (4.5.2)
  org.intellij.scala (2023.3.27)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.kafka (233.13135.103)
  aws.toolkit (2.11-233)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.spark (233.13135.103)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.zeppelin (233.13135.65)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools (233.13135.65)
Kotlin: 233.14475.28-IJ
Current Desktop: ubuntu:GNOME

[thiago-marquezini]

It keeps failing after a few messages. Using Rider

[Akash1134]

Hi @thiago-marquezini , We'r sorry for the inconvenience caused. The new version (1.5.0.5148) containing a fix for this issue is now available. Please update the version and let us know if that helps.

[krlc]

@Akash1134 even in the latest version (1.5.0.5148) there is no way to make Copilot repeat an attempt (no 'try again' button) when questions fail, and they do fail really often. I frequently get 40-60% of a response, then "Oops, no response has returned" error (or no response from the start).

And the workaround is not exactly convenient:

1. Scroll up until my question
2. Select it (using a mouse)
3. Copy
4. Delete the failed attempt (using a mouse)
5. Paste, Send
6. Another error? Go to 1.

[Jahtribe3]

How can users provide more effective feedback or logs to help developers resolve recurring errors in Copilot?

[vkononov]

I have a business license, I am an admin. I've enabled Github Copilot for IDEs, and it works in VSCode. Why am I still seeing this message in Rubymine?

[karabasosman]

Did you update the plugin ?

[EoinMcUF]

Also getting this issue

[vkononov]

@karabasosman Thanks. Upgrading to v1.5.0.5148 and restarting Jetbrains did the trick.

[jfredt]

Could the issue be related to the version of the plugin, and should it be updated to resolve this?

[Randname666]

Currently, the plugin neither automatically retries nor warns the user when it runs into a network issue ? When a network issue happens, including temporary hiccups, the plugin will simply show "Responding..." indefinitely on each and every question asked from that point until restarting the whole IDE. Cancelling reply or deleting current conversation won't resolve the issue.

Environment:

IntelliJ IDEA 2023.3.4 (Ultimate Edition)
Build #IU-233.14475.28, built on February 13, 2024
（Licensing info omitted）
Runtime version: 17.0.10+1-b1087.17 amd64
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
Windows 10.0
GC: G1 Young Generation, G1 Old Generation
Memory: 1024M
Cores: 8
Registry:
  ide.experimental.ui=true
Non-Bundled Plugins:
  com.intellij.zh (233.287)
  com.intellij.spring.websocket (233.11799.196)
  com.github.copilot (1.4.19.4986)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.core (233.14475.28)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.binary.files (233.11799.267)
  com.intellij.bigdatatools.rfs (233.14475.28)
  JRebelPlugin (2024.1.1)
Kotlin: 233.14475.28-IJ

Example of the network issue:

2024-03-08 15:18:31,086 [1524543]   WARN - #copilot - [default] Error sending telemetry FetchError: read ECONNRESET
    at fetch (C:\snapshot\copilot-client\node_modules\@adobe\helix-fetch\src\fetch\index.js:99:11)
    at processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5)
    at cachingFetch (C:\snapshot\copilot-client\node_modules\@adobe\helix-fetch\src\fetch\index.js:288:16)
    at LG.fetch (C:\snapshot\copilot-client\lib\src\network\helix.ts:78:22) {
  type: 'system',
  _name: 'FetchError',
  code: 'ECONNRESET',
  errno: -4077,
  erroredSysCall: 'read'
}

[b-bokma]

How can I map key binding for the chat window ?
I can only see settings for the regular copilot integration in the editor itself

[rob1997]

try Ctrl + Alt + S -> Keymaps -> Plugins -> GitHub Copilot is the only place to change key shortcuts

[jfredt]

Do you think the current process for changing key bindings is intuitive enough, or would you suggest improvements?

[Hemant-GH]

They claim it uses GPT4, but when asked the same copilot chat says it uses GPT3 and isn't aware of GPT4 in IntelliJ. VSCode mentions about GPT-4

[BewaAutomatisierung-RD]

In Rider it also uses GPT3 and has no knowledge of GPT4

[Jenverse]

We use GPT-4. I understand the answer to this question is not what we do today and we would work on getting this fixed but we are on GPT-4.

[ervitis]

In my case it's the same, it uses the GPT3 model

[MaikPeters1511]

bei mir kommt gpt 4o

[alexis1314]

How can users verify the actual GPT model being used by their Copilot integration?

[aGitForEveryone]

When using the /docs command, the reply will include the full function body. Can you consider just replying with the docstring and to skip the function itself. The function code is just a copy of what is in file, is irrelevant for the docstring and just adds noise to the answer.

[yaroslav-tsarenko]

i can't write new questions after the previous, chat only answer on one questions, then if i try to make more request, nothing happen

[Jenverse]

We'r sorry for the inconvenience caused. The new version (1.5.0.5148) containing a fix for this issue is now available. Please update the version and let us know if that helps.

[Jarzka]

Any plans for implementing "Inline chat" functionality, similarly to VS Code, which allows Copilot to make edits directly to code files?

[sabihoshi]

This seems to be available now in the latest nightly build. But I am not sure since when was it added. Perhaps around August 16 when there were errors about "Inline Chat". There is no hotkey for it yet. Select text and the button will appear beside the line number, or Shift+Shift, then Open GitHub Copilot Inline Chat

[nicocanali]

The hotkey is Ctrl + Shift + I (on Mac)

[shivkaushal]

Anybody know if there's a way of accepting the inline chat suggestions without needing to switch to using a mouse? 🤞

[sharkBLN]

write some funny fancy monster reiten

[weldyradek]

If you could suggest features for an AI programming tool, what would be your top priority?

[zbiggs1]

My organization just enabled the chat feature and after updating the plugin I just get an error.

[mavola]

IntelliJ IDEA 2023.3.4 (Ultimate Edition)

[changshunxu520]

What can I do, he keeps not working

[changshunxu520]

2024-03-21 11:26:12,393 [6623776] WARN - #copilot - [default] Error sending telemetry FetchError: read ECONNRESET at fetch (C:\snapshot\copilot-client\node_modules\@adobe\helix-fetch\src\fetch\index.js:99:11) at processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:95:5) at cachingFetch (C:\snapshot\copilot-client\node_modules\@adobe\helix-fetch\src\fetch\index.js:288:16) at HG.fetch (C:\snapshot\copilot-client\lib\src\network\helix.ts:78:22) { type: 'system', _name: 'FetchError', code: 'ECONNRESET', errno: -4077, erroredSysCall: 'read' }
What can I do, he keeps not working
@Jenverse

[changshunxu520]

Is there no one to solve the problem or something?

[changshunxu520]

When I first open the idea, GitHub Copilot can still work and prompt messages, but after working for a while, it keeps spinning in circles without any prompt messages. Why is this? GitHub Copilot chat can still respond normally at this time. Can I see the logs somewhere?
Still the same problem

[tomerc]

Is there a way to have copilot generate commit messages based on the files in the changelist?

[evrenesat]

As a workaround;

• Create a kb shortcut for "Copy as patch to clipboard".
• Create a scratch plain text file (maybe rename it to reuse).
• Use the shortcut, paste, ask for commit message in chat.
• Copy/paste.

These steps even can be automated by recording them as a macro. Now only if Copilot team would be nice enough to do that for us...

Recently I start to use Tabnine for chat, it's autocomplete isn't as good as copilot, but chat is much better with claude 3.5, custom system prompt and custom slash commands, so I can reuse different kind of summary prompts according to nature of the changeset.

[MarcioBarrientos]

With the new update (1.5.0.5148) I can't deploy to vercel if Copilot is enabled on Webstorm (2023.3.4) + Windows (11)
When I use the command "vercel" in terminal I get this error:
Error: EBUSY: resource busy or locked, read

That error is gone if I disable copilot or close webstorm.

[luggie]

I see that there's currently no support to set up a keyboard shortcut for "explain this" (as well as any other other function from the right-click context menu of the copilot) functions(s) in pycharm. any workaround/plans on implementing this soonishly?

[kdserra]

Using Copilot Chat in Jetbrains Rider, using Shift + Enter in the chat box should start a new line, not bring up the "Data Sources and Driver" dialog window. Note I am using the Visual Studio keybinds.

[gounthar]

Oh yes, this has been bothering me for a while...

[jiec-msft]

It looks like you encountered a known issue: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/IJPL-166341. Before the issue is addressed from JetBrains side, as a workaround you can try to modify the keyboard shortcut in keymap as in comment: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/110614#discussioncomment-11556372

[RP-pl]

When using plugin inside dev contianer on the remote host it is not possible to apply autocomplete. When pressing autocomplete key deafult IDE action is performed.

[nameswhisper]

Copilot Chat in JetBrains IDEs (GA) offers an AI-powered assistant directly within the development environment. It enables developers to ask questions, get code explanations, fix bugs, and optimize code through natural language interaction. Fully integrated into JetBrains IDEs, Copilot Chat provides contextual assistance by analyzing your codebase, helping you write, debug, and refactor code more efficiently. The tool enhances productivity by acting as a conversational partner, supporting real-time collaboration and learning. With its general availability (GA) release, Copilot Chat is now accessible to a wider audience, making intelligent coding assistance an integral part of JetBrains' development ecosystem. Click here for further information

[ingeniumdesign]

After the New PlugIn Update, i cant edit Files!
If i deactivate the PlugIn in the Settings from PHPstrom, i can edit all my files (php,html,js,css...)

Since version 1.5.30.8497-242-nightly (and the previous one), GitHub Copilot breaks the keyboard. I cannot use the following keys anymore:
backticks
caret ^
backspace
enter
tab
all four arrow keys
page up, page down

[Alazoral]

I also have this issue, running 1.5.30.8497-242-nightly

IntelliJ IDEA 2024.3.1.1 (Ultimate Edition)
Build #IU-243.22562.218, built on December 18, 2024
Runtime version: 21.0.5+8-b631.28 aarch64 (JCEF 122.1.9)
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
Toolkit: sun.lwawt.macosx.LWCToolkit
macOS 15.2
GC: G1 Young Generation, G1 Concurrent GC, G1 Old Generation
Memory: 24576M
Cores: 10

[zZHorizonZz]

Same here, running on 1.5.30.8497-242-nightly:

WebStorm 2024.3.1.1
Build #WS-243.22562.222, built on December 18, 2024
Runtime version: 21.0.5+8-b631.28 amd64 (JCEF 122.1.9)
VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
Toolkit: sun.awt.windows.WToolkit
Windows 11.0
GC: G1 Young Generation, G1 Concurrent GC, G1 Old Generation
Memory: 8048M
Cores: 8
Registry:
ide.experimental.ui=true
i18n.locale=

[desig]

For now, it works if you downgrade to the non-nightly release(copilot).

[Alazoral]

Looks like this has been resolved by 1.5.30.8514-242-nightly. Thanks for the quick resolution, and I hope this will lead to improvements in acceptance testing to prevent this kind of instantly obvious, application-wide malfunction from reoccurring.

[jedijoff]

Great response, got me unstuck just at the right time :)

[Macfly]

how can I select the model used like in VS code?

[paramadeep]

lot of times, the chat is timing out. even opening of chat window takes lot of time, while the editor itself is highly responsive.

[gustavodemorais]

On intellij on plugin version 1.5.30-242, I can only submit one prompt and then pressing enter leads to nothing being submitted. I have then to start a new prompt

[gustavodemorais]

When we'll we have something like #codebase command supported for vscode to use the whole codebase as context?

[RunninglVlan]

After reaching monthly code completion limit, the warning keeps popping every 15min telling to upgrade/wait for limit reset. It has Dismiss button, but it doesn't do anything. Would be good if it actually dismissed the warning until the limit resets. Alternatively add a button to mute this warning for specific time.

[MaikPeters1511]

Hello, is it also possible to make the commits for git? Insert a button.

[mjohnson-ionline]

it would be great to ask copilot to analyze an entire project

[yozian]

Could the plugin offer similar capabilities to VS Code, such as file editing and support for instruction files?

[zakkor]

They are a small company with limited funding. Don't expect a feature like this for another 1-2 years at least

[tomekred]

For some time already, Copilot Nightly conflicts command - right arrow shortcut which is normally used as move caret to line end (which is also a default shortcut in any text editor). Please remove it or change into some less used one, as this is a basic editing shortcut.

[Eskibear]

Looks like Copilot in VS Code is also using cmd + right as the same shortcut. I think you can change the shortcut yourself, to whatever you want.

[hsq125]

We would need to be able to reference files in the text of the prompt, something like #file:my_file.txt, as it is possible to do so with Jetbrains AI Assistant.

This is a must have feature, as it allows to craft and maintain a list of re-usable prompt setting the context of the conversations based on external files.

Some examples

When you are asked to generate a service operation, proceed with the convention listed in #file:service_operation_generation_instruction.md. You can find an example of operation implementation that complies with theses conventions in #file:SendCampaign.py

Regarding external dependencies, use the following provider for injection: 
- #file:a_fw_environment.py provides code to access the environment variables. Do not use os.envion directly.
- #file:a_fw_secrets_service.py provides a way to access secrets.
- #file:a_fw_tenant_configuration_service.py allows accessing the configuration of the tenant, for a given a tenant_id.
- #file:a_fw_time.py provides with the time service.

These files can be a bit everywhere in the project hierarchy, and that would be very cumbersome to have to select them one by one for each conversation again and again.

Thank you :)