How GitHub Copilot Agent Helped Me Fix Python Errors (And What to Watch Out For)
I’ve been using the new GitHub Copilot Agent for a few days, and it already feels like a big upgrade from the older version. This new tool does more than just suggest a few lines of code. It can read your whole project, understand what you're trying to do, and even make changes across different files. It feels like working with a junior developer who helps you get things done faster.
One example really stood out. I had a KeyError in my Python script using pandas. I was trying to compare df["rtn"] > df["threshold"]
, but it kept breaking. I asked Copilot Agent to fix the error. It looked through the code and noticed that I never created the rtn
column. It added a new line: df["rtn"] = df["price"].pct_change()
. It even added checks to make sure the required columns were in the DataFrame. That saved me from spending extra time debugging.
But not everything went smoothly. When I asked it to improve how my script handled missing values, it rewrote large parts of the code. Some of my special logic for edge cases was removed. It added a basic fillna()
without really thinking about why I had written things the way I did. I had to go back, understand the changes, and fix the new problems. That was frustrating.
From this experience, I learned a few tips. Be clear and specific with your instructions. Instead of saying “fix my code,” say something like “fix the KeyError when accessing 'rtn' column.” Also, give it one small task at a time. Don’t ask it to do too much at once. And always check the changes it makes, just like you would check a pull request from a teammate.
I also tried using another tool called Cursor. It works well for searching through your code and making edits using natural language. But since it's a different version of VS Code, I had to set up my tools again. Replit is another tool I tested. It’s good for writing simple code in the browser, but it’s not powerful enough for large projects.
After trying these tools, I started to wonder if AI agents will replace developers. I don’t think they will. These tools are helpful, but they don’t understand the full picture. They don’t know your business rules or why your code works a certain way. They can write and fix simple code, but they can’t design systems or make smart decisions.
In the end, GitHub Copilot Agent is like a helpful teammate. It makes your work faster and sometimes easier. But just like a teammate, it still needs your guidance, your review, and your experience to really get things right.