Copilot Chat for Neovim

Note

A new command, CopilotChatInPlace has been introduced. It functions like the ChatGPT plugin. Please run ":UpdateRemotePlugins" command and restart Neovim before starting a chat with Copilot. To stay updated on our roadmap, please join our Discord community.

Authentication

It will prompt you with instructions on your first start. If you already have Copilot.vim or Copilot.lua, it will work automatically.

Installation

Lazy.nvim

pip install python-dotenv requests pynvim==0.5.0 prompt-toolkit
pip install tiktoken (optional for displaying prompt token counts)
Put it in your lazy setup

return {
  {
    "jellydn/CopilotChat.nvim",
    dependencies = { "zbirenbaum/copilot.lua" }, -- Or { "github/copilot.vim" }
    opts = {
      show_help = "yes", -- Show help text for CopilotChatInPlace, default: yes
      debug = false, -- Enable or disable debug mode, the log file will be in ~/.local/state/nvim/CopilotChat.nvim.log
    },
    build = function()
      vim.notify("Please update the remote plugins by running ':UpdateRemotePlugins', then restart Neovim.")
    end,
    event = "VeryLazy",
    keys = {
      { "<leader>cce", "<cmd>CopilotChatExplain<cr>", desc = "CopilotChat - Explain code" },
      { "<leader>cct", "<cmd>CopilotChatTests<cr>", desc = "CopilotChat - Generate tests" },
      {
        "<leader>ccv",
        ":CopilotChatVisual",
        mode = "x",
        desc = "CopilotChat - Open in vertical split",
      },
      {
        "<leader>ccx",
        ":CopilotChatInPlace<cr>",
        mode = "x",
        desc = "CopilotChat - Run in-place code",
      },
    },
  },
}

Run command :UpdateRemotePlugins, then inspect the file ~/.local/share/nvim/rplugin.vim for additional details. You will notice that the commands have been registered.

For example:

" python3 plugins
call remote#host#RegisterPlugin('python3', '/Users/huynhdung/.local/share/nvim/lazy/CopilotChat.nvim/rplugin/python3/copilot-plugin.py', [
      \ {'sync': v:false, 'name': 'CopilotChat', 'type': 'command', 'opts': {'nargs': '1'}},
      \ {'sync': v:false, 'name': 'CopilotChatVisual', 'type': 'command', 'opts': {'nargs': '1', 'range': ''}},
      \ {'sync': v:false, 'name': 'CopilotChatInPlace', 'type': 'command', 'opts': {'nargs': '*', 'range': ''}},
      \ {'sync': v:false, 'name': 'CopilotChatAutocmd', 'type': 'command', 'opts': {'nargs': '*'}},
      \ {'sync': v:false, 'name': 'CopilotChatMapping', 'type': 'command', 'opts': {'nargs': '*'}},
     \ ])

Restart neovim

Manual

Put the files in the right place

$ git clone https://github.com/jellydn/CopilotChat.nvim
$ cd CopilotChat.nvim
$ cp -r --backup=nil rplugin ~/.config/nvim/

Install dependencies

$ pip install -r requirements.txt

Open up Neovim and run :UpdateRemotePlugins
Restart Neovim

Usage

Configuration

You have the ability to tailor this plugin to your specific needs using the configuration options outlined below:

{
  debug = false, -- Enable or disable debug mode
  show_help = 'yes', -- Show help text for CopilotChatInPlace
  prompts = { -- Set dynamic prompts for CopilotChat commands
    Explain = 'Explain how it works.',
    Tests = 'Briefly explain how the selected code works, then generate unit tests.',
  }
}

You have the capability to expand the prompts to create more versatile commands:

return {
    "jellydn/CopilotChat.nvim",
    opts = {
      debug = true,
      show_help = "yes",
      prompts = {
        Explain = "Explain how it works.",
        Review = "Review the following code and provide concise suggestions.",
        Tests = "Briefly explain how the selected code works, then generate unit tests.",
        Refactor = "Refactor the code to improve clarity and readability.",
      },
    },
    build = function()
      vim.notify("Please update the remote plugins by running ':UpdateRemotePlugins', then restart Neovim.")
    end,
    event = "VeryLazy",
    keys = {
      { "<leader>cce", "<cmd>CopilotChatExplain<cr>", desc = "CopilotChat - Explain code" },
      { "<leader>cct", "<cmd>CopilotChatTests<cr>", desc = "CopilotChat - Generate tests" },
      { "<leader>ccr", "<cmd>CopilotChatReview<cr>", desc = "CopilotChat - Review code" },
      { "<leader>ccR", "<cmd>CopilotChatRefactor<cr>", desc = "CopilotChat - Refactor code" },
    }
}

For further reference, you can view @jellydn's configuration.

Chat with Github Copilot

Copy some code into the unnamed register using the y command.
Run the command :CopilotChat followed by your question. For example, :CopilotChat What does this code do?

Code Explanation

Copy some code into the unnamed register using the y command.
Run the command :CopilotChatExplain.

Generate Tests

Copy some code into the unnamed register using the y command.
Run the command :CopilotChatTests.

Token count & Fold with visual mode

Select some code using visual mode.
Run the command :CopilotChatVisual with your question.

In-place Chat Popup

Select some code using visual mode.
Run the command :CopilotChatInPlace and type your prompt. For example, What does this code do?
Press Enter to send your question to Github Copilot.
Press q to quit. There is help text at the bottom of the screen. You can also press ? to toggle the help text.

Tips

Debugging with `:messages` and `:CopilotChatDebugInfo`

If you encounter any issues, you can run the command :messages to inspect the log. You can also run the command :CopilotChatDebugInfo to inspect the debug information.

How to setup with `which-key.nvim`

A special thanks to @ecosse3 for the configuration of which-key.

  {
    "jellydn/CopilotChat.nvim",
    event = "VeryLazy",
    opts = {
      prompts = {
        Explain = "Explain how it works.",
        Review = "Review the following code and provide concise suggestions.",
        Tests = "Briefly explain how the selected code works, then generate unit tests.",
        Refactor = "Refactor the code to improve clarity and readability.",
      },
    },
    build = function()
      vim.notify("Please update the remote plugins by running ':UpdateRemotePlugins', then restart Neovim.")
    end,
    config = function()
      local present, wk = pcall(require, "which-key")
      if not present then
        return
      end

      wk.register({
        c = {
          c = {
            name = "Copilot Chat",
          }
        }
      }, {
        mode = "n",
        prefix = "<leader>",
        silent = true,
        noremap = true,
        nowait = false,
      })
    end,
    keys = {
      { "<leader>ccc", ":CopilotChat ",                desc = "CopilotChat - Prompt" },
      { "<leader>cce", ":CopilotChatExplain ",         desc = "CopilotChat - Explain code" },
      { "<leader>cct", "<cmd>CopilotChatTests<cr>",    desc = "CopilotChat - Generate tests" },
      { "<leader>ccr", "<cmd>CopilotChatReview<cr>",   desc = "CopilotChat - Review code" },
      { "<leader>ccR", "<cmd>CopilotChatRefactor<cr>", desc = "CopilotChat - Refactor code" },
    }
  },

Create a simple input for CopilotChat

Follow the example below to create a simple input for CopilotChat.

-- Create input for CopilotChat
  {
    "<leader>cci",
    function()
      local input = vim.fn.input("Ask Copilot: ")
      if input ~= "" then
        vim.cmd("CopilotChat " .. input)
      end
    end,
    desc = "CopilotChat - Ask input",
  },