Week Four: Build Applications with Copilot Agent [Copilot Skills Challenge]

[ghostinhershell]

Alt text: Copilot Skills Challenge Week Four banner with the Copilot mascot on a geometric landscape, promoting the third week of the GitHub Copilot learning challenge.

Welcome to part four of the GitHub Copilot Skills Series! This week, we'll harness the power of GitHub Copilot Agent to build complete applications from concept to completion, leveraging AI assistance throughout the entire development process.

Missed the previous weeks? Check out Part One, Part Two, and Part Three, then join us back here.

Step One: Skills Exercise 💪

To begin, complete the Build Applications with Copilot Agent Mode exercise where you'll learn how to:

• Use GitHub Copilot Agent to architect and design applications
• Generate entire application structures and boilerplate code
• Implement complex features with multi-file context awareness
• Debug and optimize your application with AI-powered insights

Then, come back for part two to deepen your learning with our challenge and be entered to win a GitHub Shop Voucher!

Step Two: Community Challenge 🧠

Answer these multiple choice questions in the comments section:

Question One: What is the primary advantage of using GitHub Copilot Agent mode when building applications?
a) It automatically deploys your application to production
b) It maintains context across multiple files and can help with application-wide changes
c) It eliminates the need for any testing
d) It only works with JavaScript applications

Question Two: When using Copilot Agent to scaffold a new application, what information should you provide for the best results?
a) Just the programming language you want to use
b) A detailed description of the application's purpose, key features, tech stack preferences, and any specific requirements
c) Only the database schema
d) The color scheme and UI preferences

Question Three: GitHub Copilot Agent suggests a specific architecture pattern for your application. How should you evaluate this suggestion?
a) Always accept it since AI knows best
b) Consider your project requirements, team expertise, scalability needs, and maintenance implications
c) Reject it and always use MVC pattern
d) Wait for other developers to validate the suggestion in forums

Question Four: While building an application with Copilot Agent, it generates code that includes external dependencies. What should you verify?
a) The licensing compatibility of the dependencies with your project
b) The security and maintenance status of the packages
c) Whether the dependencies align with your project's performance requirements
d) All of the above

Question Five: How can Copilot Agent best assist when you encounter a bug in your application?
a) By automatically fixing all bugs without your input
b) By analyzing error messages, suggesting debugging strategies, and helping trace issues across multiple files
c) By removing the problematic code entirely
d) By only adding console.log statements everywhere

🎯 Community Engagement

**Themed App Challenge: Build Your Personal Learning Assistant! ** 📚🤖

This week's challenge: Use GitHub Copilot Agent to build an application that helps you study based on YOUR unique learning style!

Your Mission:
Create a study helper app that caters to different learning styles (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, reading/writing). Your app could include features like:

• Visual learners: Mind map generators, diagram creators, or color-coded note systems
• Auditory learners: Text-to-speech summaries, podcast-style explanations, or musical mnemonics
• Kinesthetic learners: Interactive quizzes, gesture-based learning, or gamified exercises
• Reading/Writing learners: Smart note-taking, automated summaries, or writing prompts

Share in the comments:

1. Your App Name & Description: What does your study app do?
2. Learning Style Focus: Which learning style(s) does it support?
3. Key Features: What makes your app unique?
4. Code Snippet: Share a piece of code where Copilot Agent really shined
5. Demo Link (optional): Share a link to your repo or live demo

The most creative and useful study app will be featured in next week's post!

---

We'll be sharing the answers in the comments on Friday 🧠

Use the discussion below to share additional resources, ask questions for our team to answer, respond to the challenge, and showcase your learning assistant applications.

**No Purchase Necessary. Open only to Github community members 14+. Game ends February 17, 2026. For details, see Official rules.

[ghostinhershell]

Missed Week 3? Check that out here! Week Three: Modernize Your Legacy Code with GitHub Copilot [Copilot Skills Challenge]

[WojakGra]

Question One: b) It maintains context across multiple files and can help with application-wide changes

Question Two: b) A detailed description of the application's purpose, key features, tech stack preferences, and any specific requirements

Question Three: b) Consider your project requirements, team expertise, scalability needs, and maintenance implications

Question Four: d) All of the above

Question Five: b) By analyzing error messages, suggesting debugging strategies, and helping trace issues across multiple files

[MOHAMED-MUHNI]

My Quiz Answers

1. b) It maintains context across multiple files and can help with application-wide changes
2. b) A detailed description of the application's purpose, key features, tech stack preferences, and any specific requirements
3. b) Consider your project requirements, team expertise, scalability needs, and maintenance implications
4. d) All of the above
5. b) By analyzing error messages, suggesting debugging strategies, and helping trace issues across multiple files

---

🎯 Community Challenge Submission

App Name: OctoFit Tracker

Description: A fitness tracking app for Mergington High School students that gamifies exercise through team competitions and leaderboards.

Learning Style Focus: Kinesthetic learners - interactive activity logging and gamified team challenges

Key Features:

• Team-based competitions (Team Marvel vs Team DC)
• Real-time leaderboard
• Activity tracking with points system
• Personalized workout suggestions

Repo Link: https://github.com/MOHAMED-MUHNI/skills-build-applications-w-copilot-agent-mode

[levanhaulevanhau007-cell]

0947772656

[yuvraj707sharma]

Answer 1: b) It maintains context across multiple files and can help with application-wide changes
Answer 2: b) A detailed description of the application's purpose, key features, tech stack preferences, and any specific requirements
Answer 3: b) Consider your project requirements, team expertise, scalability needs, and maintenance implications
Answer 4: d) All of the above
Answer 5: b) By analyzing error messages, suggesting debugging strategies, and helping trace issues across multiple files

Community Engagement Task

I built my personal learning assistant " LearnMate ". It adapts to my unique learning style, offering mind maps for visual learners, text-to-speech for auditory learners, interactive quizzes for kinesthetic learners, and smart note-taking for reading/writing learners all in one app!

Learning Style Focus:
Supports Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, and Reading/Writing learners.

Key Features:

• Visual: Mind map generator with draggable nodes
• Auditory: Text-to-speech summaries
• Kinesthetic: Interactive quick quizzes
• Reading/Writing: Smart note-taking

Code Snippet (where Copilot Agent Shined):

// Mind Map Generator (Visual Learner Feature)
function MindMap() {
  const [nodes, setNodes] = useState([
    { id: 1, text: 'Main Topic', x: 200, y: 100 }
  ]);
  const [newNodeText, setNewNodeText] = useState('');

  const addNode = () => {
    if (!newNodeText.trim()) return;
    setNodes([
      ...nodes,
      { id: nodes.length + 1, text: newNodeText, x: 200 + nodes.length * 40, y: 100 + nodes.length * 40 }
    ]);
    setNewNodeText('');
  };

  return (
    <div style={{ margin: '2rem 0' }}>
      <h2>Mind Map Generator</h2>
      <div style={{ marginBottom: '1rem' }}>
        <input
          value={newNodeText}
          onChange={e => setNewNodeText(e.target.value)}
          placeholder="Add a node..."
        />
        <button onClick={addNode}>Add</button>
      </div>
      <svg width="500" height="300" style={{ border: '1px solid #ccc', background: '#f9f9f9' }}>
        {nodes.map((node, idx) => (
          <g key={node.id}>
            <circle cx={node.x} cy={node.y} r="30" fill="#90caf9" />
            <text x={node.x} y={node.y} textAnchor="middle" dy=".3em" fontSize="14">{node.text}</text>
            {idx > 0 && (
              <line x1={nodes[0].x} y1={nodes[0].y} x2={node.x} y2={node.y} stroke="#1976d2" strokeWidth="2" />
            )}
          </g>
        ))}
      </svg>
    </div>
  );
}

Demo Link:
You can go and check out my github repo and can run it: https://github.com/yuvraj707sharma/Study-App

[abhi478jeetur-rgb]

Great challenge! Here are my answers:

Question One: b) It maintains context across multiple files and can help with application-wide changes

Question Two: b) A detailed description of the application's purpose, key features, tech stack preferences, and any specific requirements

Question Three: b) Consider your project requirements, team expertise, scalability needs, and maintenance implications

Question Four: d) All of the above

Question Five: b) By analyzing error messages, suggesting debugging strategies, and helping trace issues across multiple files

🎯 My Learning Assistant App: "CodeMentor 🧠"

Description: An interactive learning platform that helps beginners master Python and web development through Copilot-powered code explanations and practice challenges.

Learning Style Focus: Reading/Writing + Kinesthetic learners

Key Features:

• AI-powered code explanation (converts complex code into simple, readable explanations)
• Step-by-step problem solving with visual diagrams
• Interactive coding challenges with hints powered by Copilot
• Progress tracking and personalized learning paths
• Code snippet library with explanations

Copilot Agent really shined when I asked it to generate the entire application structure with proper separation of concerns. It understood my requirements from a simple description and created a well-organized codebase with proper error handling!

Awesome challenge! 🚀

[schneidergithub]

Answers: b,b,b,d,b

App idea: A study companion that turns existing material (PDFs, slides, articles, lecture notes) into a structured audio experience for blind learners. It detects headings, definitions & keypoints, then provides navigable audio playback with jump to keypoint controls.

type Segment = { level: number; text: string; id: string };

function playEarcon(level: number) {
  // Simple “audio cue”: higher pitch for higher-level headings
  const ctx = new (window.AudioContext || (window as any).webkitAudioContext)();
  const osc = ctx.createOscillator();
  const gain = ctx.createGain();
  osc.type = "sine";
  osc.frequency.value = 880 - Math.min(level, 6) * 110; // H1=770Hz, H2=660Hz, ...
  gain.gain.value = 0.03;

  osc.connect(gain);
  gain.connect(ctx.destination);

  osc.start();
  setTimeout(() => {
    osc.stop();
    ctx.close().catch(() => void 0);
  }, 120);
}

export function useSpeechNavigator(segments: Segment[]) {
  const synth = window.speechSynthesis;
  let idx = 0;
  let rate = 1.0;

  function speakCurrent() {
    synth.cancel();

    const seg = segments[idx];
    if (!seg) return;

    playEarcon(seg.level);

    const utter = new SpeechSynthesisUtterance(seg.text);
    utter.rate = rate;
    utter.onend = () => {
      // Auto-advance for continuous listening
      // (Can be toggled off with a setting)
      idx = Math.min(idx + 1, segments.length - 1);
    };

    synth.speak(utter);

    // Optional: announce navigation state to assistive tech
    const live = document.getElementById("aria-live-status");
    if (live) live.textContent = `Playing section ${idx + 1} of ${segments.length}`;
  }

  function next() { idx = Math.min(idx + 1, segments.length - 1); speakCurrent(); }
  function prev() { idx = Math.max(idx - 1, 0); speakCurrent(); }
  function faster() { rate = Math.min(1.6, +(rate + 0.1).toFixed(1)); speakCurrent(); }
  function slower() { rate = Math.max(0.7, +(rate - 0.1).toFixed(1)); speakCurrent(); }

  function onKeyDown(e: KeyboardEvent) {
    // Keyboard-first, screen-reader compatible controls
    if (e.key === "j") next();
    else if (e.key === "k") prev();
    else if (e.key === "+") faster();
    else if (e.key === "-") slower();
    else if (e.key === " ") { e.preventDefault(); synth.paused ? synth.resume() : synth.pause(); }
  }

  window.addEventListener("keydown", onKeyDown);

  return { speakCurrent, next, prev, faster, slower };
}

Agent Exercise completed:

[ghostinhershell]

Week four answers:

Details

Answer Key

Question One: What is the primary advantage of using GitHub Copilot Agent mode when building applications?
Answer: b) It maintains context across multiple files and can help with application-wide changes
Explanation: GitHub Copilot Agent mode excels at understanding your entire project context, allowing it to make intelligent suggestions that consider relationships between different files and components.

Question Two: When using Copilot Agent to scaffold a new application, what information should you provide for the best results?
Answer: b) A detailed description of the application's purpose, key features, tech stack preferences, and any specific requirements
Explanation: The more context and specific requirements you provide, the better Copilot Agent can generate relevant and tailored application structure and code.

Question Three: GitHub Copilot Agent suggests a specific architecture pattern for your application. How should you evaluate this suggestion?
Answer: b) Consider your project requirements, team expertise, scalability needs, and maintenance implications
Explanation: While Copilot Agent's suggestions are valuable, you should always evaluate them against your specific context, including team capabilities, project constraints, and long-term maintenance considerations.

Question Four: While building an application with Copilot Agent, it generates code that includes external dependencies. What should you verify?
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: When incorporating external dependencies, it's crucial to verify licensing compatibility, security status, maintenance activity, and performance impact to ensure they align with your project's requirements and constraints.

Question Five: How can Copilot Agent best assist when you encounter a bug in your application?
Answer: b) By analyzing error messages, suggesting debugging strategies, and helping trace issues across multiple files
Explanation: Copilot Agent can be a powerful debugging companion, helping you understand error messages, suggesting potential fixes, and tracking down issues that span multiple files in your application.

[ghostinhershell]

A huge thank you to everyone that has participated over the last 4 weeks. Check out our recap post, where we announce the winners 🏆 for this campaign, here: That's a Wrap! Recapping the Copilot Skills Challenge 🎉 🚀

[schneidergithub]

@ghostinhershell @queenofcorgis Thank you for the great learning experience with this challenge!

[ghostinhershell]

Right back at ya, thank you for participating @schneidergithub!!!

[saiteja492]

1.b) It maintains context across multiple files and can help with application-wide changes
2.b) A detailed description of the application's purpose, key features, tech stack preferences, and any specific requirements
3.b) Consider your project requirements, team expertise, scalability needs, and maintenance implications
4.d) All of the above
5.b) By analyzing error messages, suggesting debugging strategies, and helping trace issues across multiple files