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NFJS2025

Gen AI: Automating Testing with GitHub Copilot

Would you like to learn to use GitHub Copilot to write tests for you? Would you like to learn how to use it to tell you how to test in a language or framework that you're not familiar with? Would you like to have it help you find edge cases to test, or validate inputs? Did you know you can have Copilot generate the tests before the code and then the code to implement Test-Driven Development?

If you're a software engineer, writing tests is part of your job. And, likely not the thing you want to spend most of your time on. Join global trainer, speaker, and author of the upcoming book, Learning GitHub Copilot, Brent Laster, in this half-day workshop, as he presents material on multiple ways to leverage Copilot for testing your code on any platform and framework.

Here's what you'll learn in this 1/2 day workshop:

  • What GitHub Copilot is and how it works
  • Basic interactivity with GitHub Copilot code suggestions and chat
  • How to leverage GitHub Copilot to quickly and easily help you get started testing in a new language or platform
  • How to use GitHub Copilot to quickly generate “boilerplate” tests in multiple ways
  • How to use advanced prompting with GitHub Copilot to identify and generate tests for additional edge cases
  • How to have GitHub Copilot generate validations for function inputs
  • How to use GitHub Copilot to simplify implementing best practices such as Test-Driven Development (TDD)
  • How to “prime and prompt” Copilot to use particular testing frameworks when generating tests and/or testing code

Brent Laster

About Brent Laster

Hi, I'm Brent Laster - a global trainer and book author, experienced corporate technology developer and leader, and founder and president of Tech Skills Transformations LLC. I've been working with and presenting at NFJS events for many years now and it is always exciting and interesting.

Through my decades in programming and management,I've always tried to make time to learn and develop both technical and leadership skills and share them with others Regardless of the topic or technology, my belief is that there is no substitute for the excitement and sense of potential that come from providing others with the knowledge they need to help them accomplish their goals.

In my spare time, I hang out with my wife Anne-Marie, 4 children and 2 small dogs in Cary, North Carolina where I design and conduct trainings and write books. You can find me on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/brentlaster), Twitter (@brentclaster) or through my company's website at www.getskillsnow.com.

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