Commit c48a150

If you want to contribute to someone else's project but don’t have permission to make changes directly, you can create your own copy of the project, make updates, and then suggest those updates for inclusion in the main project. This process is often called a "fork and pull request" workflow.

When you create your own copy (or "fork") of a project, it’s like making a new workspace that shares code with the original project. This is useful for open-source projects or anytime you don’t have write access to the original project.

Once you’ve made your changes in your copy, you can submit them as a pull request, which is a way to propose changes back to the main project. For more information, see "[AUTOTITLE](/pull-requests/collaborating-with-pull-requests/working-with-forks/fork-a-repo)."

Before making changes to the project, you should create a new branch and check it out. By keeping changes in their own branch, you follow {% data variables.product.github %} flow and ensure that it will be easier to contribute to the same project again in the future. See "[AUTOTITLE](/get-started/using-github/github-flow#following-github-flow)."

Go ahead and make a few changes to the project using your favorite text editor, like [{% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %}](https://code.visualstudio.com). You could, for example, change the text in `index.html` to add your {% data variables.product.github %} username.

{% ifversion copilot %}

If you're new to a project, you can use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to help you understand the purpose of the repository, examine files, and dive into specific lines of code. See "[AUTOTITLE](/get-started/exploring-projects-on-github/using-github-copilot-to-explore-projects)."{% endif %}

- /using-github-copilot-to-explore-projects

title: Using GitHub Copilot to explore projects

intro: 'This guide will help you use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to explore projects on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}.'

versions:

feature: copilot

topics:

- Copilot

- Repositories

shortTitle: Use Copilot to explore projects

In this guide, you’ll learn how to use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_chat_dotcom_short %} to understand a repository’s purpose, examine files, and dive into specific lines of code. By following these steps, you’ll gain insights into any project faster—making onboarding, code review, and project exploration easier and more efficient.

{% data reusables.copilot.copilot-requires-subscription %}

When you’re new to a project, it can be challenging to understand the purpose of a repository and its files. {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can help you quickly understand the purpose of a repository, for example, by providing a summary of the repository’s README file.

1. On the {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} website, go to the repository you want to chat about.

1. Click the **{% octicon "copilot" aria-hidden="true" %}** {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} icon at the top right of the page.

1. The heading at the top of the chat panel should read "Chatting about" followed by the name of the current repository.

If the wrong repository name is displayed, because you were previously chatting about another repository, click **All repositories** then choose the repository you want to chat about.


1. In the "Ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}" box, at the bottom of the chat panel, type "Summarize the purpose of this repository based on the README" and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>. {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} replies in the chat panel.

You can also use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to understand the roles of different folders and files within the repository. For example, you can ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to summarize the contents of a specific file, or to explain the purpose of a specific folder.

When you’re exploring a project, you might want to understand the contents of a specific file. {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can help you quickly understand the purpose of a file, for example, by providing a summary of the file’s contents. You can also ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to explain specific lines of code within a file.

{% data reusables.copilot.chat-about-specific-lines %}

Now that you know how to use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to explore projects, you can use it to help you understand any repository, file, or line of code on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}.

* Can be started on your team's page for conversations that span across projects and don't belong in a specific issue or pull request. Instead of opening an issue in a repository to discuss an idea, you can include the entire team by having a conversation in a team discussion.

* Allow you to hold discussions with your team about planning, analysis, design, user research and general project decision making in one place.{% ifversion ghes %}

* Provide a collaborative experience outside the codebase, allowing the brainstorming of ideas.

* Often don’t have a clear owner.

* Often do not result in an actionable task.{% endif %}

{% ifversion copilot %}

If you need more context or clarity on a specific issue or discussion, you can use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} to help answer your questions. This enables you to quickly gain insights, understand complex threads, and stay aligned with the project’s goals, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing within the community.

To ask a question about an issue or discussion:

1. From anywhere on {% data variables.product.github %}, click the **{% octicon "copilot" aria-hidden="true" %}** {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} icon next to the search bar in the top right of the page.


1. In the "Ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}" box, type a question and include the relevant URL in your message. For example, you could ask:

* `Explain https://github.com/monalisa/octokit/issues/1`

* `Summarize https://github.com/monalisa/octokit/discussions/4`

* `Recommend next steps for https://github.com/monalisa/octokit/issues/2`

* `What are the acceptance criteria for ISSUE URL?`

* `What are the main points made by PERSON in DISCUSSION URL?`

If you chat with {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} from a specific issue or discussion, you don't need to include the URL in your question.

{% data reusables.copilot.stop-response-generation %}

{% endif %}

{% ifversion copilot %}

When working on an unfamiliar or complex issue, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} can help you quickly understand the context, history, and key information, so you can get started faster and with more confidence.

1. Navigate to an issue on {% data variables.product.github %}.

{% data reusables.copilot.open-copilot %}

1. At the bottom of the {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} chat panel, in the "Ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}" box, type a question and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>. For example, you could enter:

* `Summarize the main points of this issue`

* `What’s the goal of this issue?`

{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}'s summary will help you capture the purpose and scope of the work.

Issues often contain a history of discussions and decisions that can provide important context. You can use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to summarize these conversations to identify key points, such as proposed solutions or unanswered questions. For example, you might ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to summarize recent comments or highlight decisions that have already been made. This helps you focus on what’s most relevant and ensures your contributions are aligned with the team’s priorities.

Issues often mention technical terms, code, or files that might not be immediately clear. You can use {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} to get explanations or context for these references. For example, you can ask about the purpose of a file or function, or the meaning of a specific term mentioned in the issue. This helps you understand the details without spending extra time searching through documentation or code.

Once you understand the context of an issue, {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} can help you figure out how to move forward. You can ask for suggestions on how to approach the work, like fixing a bug or implementing a new feature. For example, you might ask, “What’s the best way to resolve this issue?” or “How can I start addressing this problem?” {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}'s suggestions can provide useful starting points, helping you plan your work more effectively.

{% endif %}

1. In the Activity Bar, click the **{% data variables.product.github %} Pull Request** view. This view only appears when you open a pull request in a codespace.

{% webui %}

{% ifversion copilot %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_copilot %} can help you quickly understand the changes in a pull request by providing context and explanations for specific commits. If you’re unsure about the purpose of a particular change or need more details about how it fits into the broader codebase, you can ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} questions about individual commits.

1. Navigate to a commit on {% data variables.product.github %}.

{% data reusables.copilot.open-copilot %}

1. At the bottom of the {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} chat panel, in the "Ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %}" box, type a question and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>. For example, you could enter:

* `Summarize the changes in this commit`

* `Who committed these changes?`

* `When was this commit made?`

> [!TIP]

> If you know the SHA for a commit, instead of navigating to the commit, you can ask {% data variables.product.prodname_copilot_short %} about the commit from any page in the repository on {% data variables.product.github %} by including the SHA in your message. For example, `What changed in commit a778e0eab?`

{% data reusables.copilot.stop-response-generation %}

{% endif %}

{% endwebui %}

- /viewing-and-understanding-files