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

[KhanhTQ08]

very good

[Fayrouzmansour]

yes same issue !

[badr-sl]

up

[Pawankumar271998]

up
hi

[Pawankumar271998]

hi

[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.

[afilp]

+1

[endrelovas]

+1

[AlexDevMobile]

+1

[guilhermelinosp]

up

[Rahulrmhaske]

Very nice and prompt support !!!

[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.

[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.

[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

[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

[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?

[aubrey-ford-nutrien]

I'm slowly moving over to Cursor (fork of VSCode) because this and many other AI features are missing in Jetbrains IDEs

[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

[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?

[r-vangreveninge]

I keep all my versions up to date on jetBrain, github Copilot and all...

I'm facing

all the time... And I'm voting down again and again...

Pls, what can we do to avoid this ?

[roanosullivan-work]

Github Copilot chat stops working from time to time. It only resumes working after restarting the IDE. I'm using

Intellij Version:

• 2024.3
• Build #JBC-243.21565.193, built on November 12, 2024
• Runtime version: 21.0.5+8-b631.16 amd64 (JCEF 122.1.9)
• VM: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM by JetBrains s.r.o.
• Controller in Remote Development

Plugin Version:

• 1.5.30-242

[jiec-msft]

Thanks for reaching out. We have created an issue to track this.

[AlexBurdu]

There's a bug with Copilot that changes the font in the IDE to Inter-Regular (I'm using Intellij Mono) when I zoom in / out.
This only happens when Copilot chat is open; I'm guessing it's some conflict with the font used by copilot in its code boxes.

[jiec-msft]

Hi @AlexBurdu, thanks for reaching out. I did a quick try with latest stable version of copilot plugin and unfortunately I didn't find the issue. Could you share more details?

[AlexBurdu]

@jiec-msft here's a few more details/repro steps that I think are relevant:

• I am using MacOS, but can reproduce the issue on Linux as well. Repro rate 100%
• I am using JetBrainsMono Nerd Font (sorry for mentioning a wrong font initially) as my Colorscheme font.
• I am using the Accessibility Zoom feature to increase the font, depending on whether I am on the laptop monitor or have a monitor plugged in.

What happens:

• If I Zoom in/out with Copilot chat closed, the font stays JetBrainsMono Nerd Font
• If I have Copilot chat open and the chat is empty, when I Zoom in/out, the font stays JetBrainsMono Nerd Font
• If I have Copilot chat open and in the chat there is a code box, when I Zoom in/out, the color scheme font gets set to Inter-Regular.
• I have to go to settings, uncheck "Use color scheme font instead of the default" (this sets back the color scheme font to JetBrainsMono Nerd Font), then check back the box.

What I expect to happen:

• The Colorscheme font should not be changed by interaction with copilot.

[dreamstaion]

I come from China, although I have set Chinese, but every time I chat, It still use English to communicate with me.

[jiec-msft]

Thanks for reaching out. We have created an issue to track this.

[changshunxu520]

I have the same issue, and it has been bothering me for a very long time. Please prioritize this issue; otherwise, the chat interface is pretty much useless to me.

[chris-ac]

Pressing Shift+Enter in Github Copilot Chat opens up a "Data Sources and Drivers" form, rather than just adding a newline in the current conversation. This is extremely frustrating and makes it essentially impossible to format the chat when typing. Am running Pycharm in remote WSL mode

[jiec-msft]

Thank you for reporting this issue.

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 the Settings (⌘ + , or Ctrl + Alt + S) > Keymap: https://github.com/orgs/community/discussions/80395#discussioncomment-11412870.

[superdon22]

I signed up for a free account and used gifthub copilot to help me solve a coding problem. It worked better then Bing Copilot and Chatgpt for the same programing problem. Since that day, when I log back in and ask gifthub copilot anything, I get the response "I'm sorry but there was an error. Please try again.". I tried logging in on different browsers and got the same thing. I am wondering if anyone else has this same problem and if there is a solution.

[gennadiykostrov]

I asked copilot chat to help me with re-wring and extending readme. It simply glitches on bash code blocks, and is not capable to provide me the contents of the file in the panel - some file part is in editor and another part is rendered as html preview.

[gennadiykostrov]

Moreover, it refers to wrong line numbers stating there is no 3-backticks, but they are there.

[GiorgioG]

CoPilot is the most frustrating piece of technology I've ever used. It's truly amazing people don't see what a waste of electricity LLMs are.

[TurnerDevour]

I would like to ask when Copilot will add the feature of solving problems by uploading images.

[tallior]

Would love to change the color theme of the Copilot chat window in Rider IDE.
Especially the code blocks - very hard to read, i wish i could control the color theme somehow (or maybe re-use the theme used in the IDE)

[gyaaniguy]

• Accessibility issues. Its keyboard unfriendly
• Open new chat should be default. currently it takes several keyboard shortcuts to start a new chat, significantly slowing me down !
• inline chat is trash many times. I think it has too much context from past queries ?

[trodrigues]

Can we expect to see the possibility to use other models like Claude, or even the Copilot Edits feature that the VSCode extension got?

[BenSpex]

yes please this would be super helpful, and I would like to have this as well!

[alexanderruch]

push! we need a model selection option

[pgarrett-twc]

When I click the + button for New Conversation in the chat window, the input cursor should focus on the chat text box. Currently it stays in the editor window, so when I start typing my question, it goes into the "wrong" place.

I'm using the plugin version 1.5.30-242 on IDEA 2024.3.1.1 Ultimate.

[jiec-msft]

Thanks for sharing the feedback. We've also noticed this and working on a fix for this.

[NguyenMinhDuc163]

Feedback on the Features
Contextual Awareness:

The ability to tailor suggestions based on specific coding tasks and added reference files is a game-changer. It makes Copilot Chat feel like a true assistant rather than a generic AI tool.
It would be great to expand support for deeper integrations with more frameworks and libraries to further enhance contextual understanding.
Versatility:

Features like code explanations, help with complex concepts, and unit testing are incredibly helpful. These save time and boost productivity, especially for developers juggling multiple tasks.
The flexibility to adapt to different language styles is a valuable addition, particularly for global teams with diverse coding standards.
User Experience in JetBrains IDEs:

Integration with JetBrains IDEs (like PyCharm, IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, etc.) feels seamless. The interface is intuitive and doesn’t disrupt the development flow.
One suggestion is to include quick-access shortcuts or commands to activate specific types of guidance, like “Explain this code” or “Generate a unit test.”
Room for Improvement
Performance:
While the tool performs well, there are occasional delays in generating responses. Optimizing the speed for large files or more complex queries would enhance usability.
Multi-file References:
The ability to reference multiple files at once is useful, but expanding this capability to entire projects could make the tool even more powerful.
Business and Enterprise Access:
For business users, making the access process smoother (e.g., better admin tooling for enabling Copilot Chat) would reduce friction and encourage adoption.
Suggestions for Future Enhancements
Customizable Responses:
Allow users to set specific preferences for response length, level of detail, or tone (e.g., beginner-friendly, technical, etc.).
Advanced Debugging Assistance:
Adding features like automated debugging suggestions or real-time issue detection in code would further elevate the tool.
Learning Resources:
Integrating with GitHub Learning Lab or JetBrains educational tools to offer contextual learning based on the user’s queries or challenges.
Thank you for providing such a powerful tool for developers. I look forward to seeing how GitHub Copilot Chat evolves in JetBrains IDEs!

[iseif]

Any ETA when you will add support for model selection option in Jetbrains IDEs as you have in VS Code plugin? I want to use Claude for example and not ChatGPT 4o. I don't have this option.