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Giatec Elevates Innovation with GitHub Copilot Training

a bunch of coders sitting in an office and coding using Visual Studio code seen from behind their backs

Client: Giatec Scientific Inc.
Industry: Concrete Technology
Training Delivered By: Ziton AI Consulting
Date: September 11, 2024
Focus: Prompt Engineering and GitHub Copilot for Generative AI
Format: Hybrid (In-person & Virtual)

Overview

Giatec Scientific Inc., a global leader in concrete technology, partnered with Ziton to elevate their team's knowledge of Generative AI through focused training on Prompt Engineering and GitHub Copilot. GitHub Copilot, an AI-powered code completion tool, was a primary focus during the training, offering Giatec the ability to streamline their coding processes and unlock new levels of productivity.

This training empowered Giatec’s team to effectively integrate GitHub Copilot into their workflow, enhancing their development capabilities while staying aligned with their mission of transforming the concrete industry through intelligent, data-driven solutions.

Objectives

The key objectives for Giatec were:

  1. Understand Generative AI and its capabilities: Gain foundational knowledge of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs), especially in relation to how GitHub Copilot can accelerate their development processes.

  2. Master GitHub Copilot for software development: Equip the team with the skills to leverage GitHub Copilot in real-time coding, improving both speed and quality.

  3. Enhance productivity and collaboration: Identify ways GitHub Copilot can enhance creativity, reduce repetitive coding tasks, and boost productivity through AI-powered pair programming and real-time code suggestions.

Training Structure

The training was designed to balance theory and hands-on practice, ensuring Giatec’s team could quickly apply what they learned. The agenda was divided into two parts:

Part 1: Introduction to Generative AI and Prompt Engineering

  • Understanding Generative AI & LLMs: Overview of AI technologies, focusing on Large Language Models and their applications in software development.
  • Prompt Engineering Fundamentals: Techniques for crafting prompts to guide AI tools effectively, ensuring that outputs from tools like GitHub Copilot are relevant, accurate, and high-quality.

Part 2: Hands-on with GitHub Copilot

  • Real-time Code Assistance with GitHub Copilot: Practical demonstrations of how Copilot can assist with code suggestions, auto-completion, and error detection during live coding tasks.
  • Pair Programming with GitHub Copilot: Participants explored how Copilot enhances collaboration by functioning as an AI-powered third pair of hands, assisting both the "Driver" and the "Navigator" during programming tasks.
  • Interactive Coding Exercises: Real-world scenarios where Giatec's team used GitHub Copilot to solve coding challenges, with a focus on improving code quality and reducing repetitive coding tasks.

Outcomes & Impact

The feedback from Giatec’s team was highly positive, with several tangible benefits observed during and after the training, specifically related to their use of GitHub Copilot:

  • Increased Coding Efficiency: GitHub Copilot significantly reduced time spent on repetitive coding tasks, enabling Giatec’s developers to focus more on creative problem-solving and less on boilerplate code.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: GitHub Copilot facilitated seamless pair programming, providing real-time suggestions and improving the quality of collaborative coding sessions. This reduced the cognitive load on developers, allowing them to focus on high-level problem-solving.
  • Improved Code Quality: By utilizing Copilot’s AI-powered code suggestions and error-checking capabilities, Giatec’s developers saw improvements in their code’s consistency and accuracy, with fewer errors and faster debugging.

Feedback from Participants

The session received excellent feedback from participants, particularly appreciating the in-depth coverage of GitHub Copilot. Developers noted that the hands-on exercises allowed them to see immediate productivity gains, while the practical focus on prompt engineering helped them tailor Copilot’s suggestions to their specific needs.

Client Testimonial

Ian Rintoul, MBA, from Giatec, shared his thoughts on the training via LinkedIn, stating:

"At Giatec, integrity, creativity, and passion are at the heart of everything we do, and our recent Prompt Engineering and GitHub Copilot training session was no exception! We had the privilege of working with Ziton to elevate our team's knowledge of Generative AI. The training provided exciting insights into how we can push the boundaries in our use of GitHub Copilot, furthering our commitment to transforming the concrete industry with intelligent, data-driven solutions."

Looking Forward

With GitHub Copilot integrated into their development workflows, Giatec is now well-equipped to leverage AI to innovate faster and more effectively. As Giatec continues to explore the possibilities of Generative AI, Ziton remains a trusted partner, ready to support their journey in adopting AI-driven technologies.

Contact Us

If your organization is looking to harness the power of GitHub Copilot and Generative AI, Ziton can help! Reach out to us at info@ziton.ca for custom AI training and services tailored to your needs.