Creating-Mini-Game-with-GitHub-Copilot

Creating a Mini Game with GitHub Copilot

In this module, you'll use GitHub Copilot to build a classic rock, paper, scissors game in Python. This hands-on exercise will help you practice prompt-driven development, strengthen your Python skills, and learn how GitHub Copilot can support you as a paired programming partner.

• Who this is for: Developers, DevOps engineers, software development managers, and testers
• What you'll learn: How to use GitHub Copilot to generate, refine, and explain Python code
• What you'll build: A Python console-based rock, paper, scissors minigame
• Prerequisites: A GitHub account with access to GitHub Copilot
• Timing: About 1 hour

By the end of this module, you'll be able to:

• Use GitHub Codespaces as a development environment
• Build input and output flows in a Python console application
• Work with GitHub Copilot as a coding assistant

Before you begin

We recommend reviewing these resources before starting:

• Introduction to prompt engineering with GitHub Copilot
• Challenge project - Build a minigame with GitHub Copilot and Python
• Learn Live: Build a minigame console app with GitHub Copilot

Requirements

• Enable your GitHub Copilot service

Exercise

Right-click the "Open in GitHub Codespaces" button to open your Codespace in a new tab.

In this exercise, you'll build a Python minigame with GitHub Copilot in GitHub Codespaces.

Step 1: Verify your Codespace setup

1. Open your Codespace for this repository.

2. In Visual Studio Code, create a new file named app.py.

   Note: If Python support is not already available in your environment, install the Python extension for Visual Studio Code.

3. In app.py, type the following comment:

   # write "hello world" to the console

4. Let GitHub Copilot suggest the implementation. You should see something similar to:

   # write "hello world" to the console
   print("hello world")

5. Run the application in the terminal:

   python app.py

6. Confirm that the output is similar to:

   hello world

If this works, your Codespace and GitHub Copilot are ready.

Step 2: Build the game logic

Now that you've confirmed GitHub Copilot is working, use it to help you build a rock, paper, scissors game in Python.

Game rules

The winner of each round is determined by these rules:

• Rock beats scissors
• Scissors beats paper
• Paper beats rock

Game requirements

Your program should:

• Allow the computer to randomly choose rock, paper, or scissors
• Ask the player to enter rock, paper, or scissors
• Convert player input to lowercase before checking it
• Warn the player if they enter an invalid option
• Tell the player whether they won, lost, or tied each round
• Ask the player if they want to play another round
• Display the player's score when the game ends

Step 3: Use Copilot to build the game incrementally

A good way to work with GitHub Copilot is to build the program in small steps. Try adding comments like these to guide Copilot:

# import the random module

# define the valid options: rock, paper, scissors

# ask the player to choose rock, paper, or scissors

# convert the player's input to lowercase

# validate the player's input and show an error message if it is invalid

# randomly select rock, paper, or scissors for the computer

# compare the player choice with the computer choice

# print whether the player won, lost, or tied

# ask the player if they want to play again

# keep track of total rounds and total wins

# print the final score when the game ends

As you work, review Copilot's suggestions carefully. You can accept, reject, or edit them to improve the code.

Step 4: Example interaction

Your finished program might behave like this:

Choose rock, paper, or scissors: rock
Computer chose: scissors
You win!

Play again? (y/n): y
Choose rock, paper, or scissors: screen
Invalid option. Please choose rock, paper, or scissors.

Choose rock, paper, or scissors: paper
Computer chose: rock
You win!

Play again? (y/n): n
Final score: 2 wins out of 2 rounds.

Step 5: Verify your work

Run the game with:

python app.py

Then confirm that your game does all of the following:

• Accepts rock, paper, or scissors as valid input
• Rejects invalid input such as screen
• Converts user input to lowercase before evaluation
• Randomly selects a choice for the computer
• Correctly reports win, loss, or tie results
• Lets the player continue playing multiple rounds
• Displays the number of wins and rounds played at the end

Tips for working with GitHub Copilot

• Write clear comments before asking Copilot for suggestions
• Build one small feature at a time
• Test your program after each change
• Edit Copilot's suggestions when needed instead of accepting everything as-is
• Use Copilot as a collaborator, not a replacement for your own review

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing this challenge exercise! You've created a Python console minigame and practiced using GitHub Copilot to plan, generate, and refine code in an iterative way.