Enhancing Infrastructure as Code Generation with GitHub Copilot for Azure

We are excited to announce a major update to GitHub Copilot for Azure, introducing an intuitive new way to generate and update Infrastructure as Code (IaC) files. This latest enhancement simplifies the process of configuring your cloud infrastructure, making it more efficient and user-friendly than ever before. 

What’s New in This Update?

With this latest release, you can now seamlessly update project details, hosting and target services, binding configurations, and environment variables—all within a streamlined UI. Previously, these updates required interactions through Copilot Chat. Now, you can make modifications directly in an easy-to-use update panel, improving workflow efficiency and reducing errors.

How to Use the New GitHub Copilot for Azure Features

Follow these steps to take advantage of the enhanced update experience:

1. Ensure You Have the Latest Extensions Installed

Make sure you have the most recent versions of the following extensions installed in Visual Studio Code:

• GitHub Copilot
• GitHub Copilot Chat
• GitHub Copilot for Azure

VSCode extensions for GitHub Copilot, GitHub Copilot Chat, and GitHub Copilot for Azure

2. Ask GitHub Copilot for Azure Recommendations

Open GitHub Copilot Chat and request recommendations for Azure services that best fit your application’s needs.

Ask GitHub Copilot chat to recommend Azure services for my app

3. Access the New Update Experience

Once Copilot provides recommendations, click the “Update” button beneath the suggestions. This action will open a dedicated update panel, allowing you to fine-tune your infrastructure settings before generating IaC files.

Click on the update button in the recommendations to open the IaC editor

4. Customize Your Infrastructure Configuration

Inside the update panel, you can modify:

• Project Information – Adjust metadata and key details about your application.

Update project information

• Hosting Service – Choose between Azure Container Apps or Azure App Service (currently supported).

Update hosting service

• Target Services & Bindings – Define how your application interacts with other Azure services.

Update target service and bindings

• Environment Variables – Specify configuration settings crucial for your app’s deployment.

Update environment variables

5. Save Changes and Generate IaC Files

Once you’ve customized your settings, click “Save” to generate the IaC files in either Bicep or Terraform format. This automated approach significantly accelerates infrastructure setup and deployment.

Save and generate IaC files

Why This Update Matters

This new update experience enhances efficiency, accuracy, and usability for developers working with GitHub Copilot for Azure. Key benefits include:

• Faster Infrastructure Deployment – Automate the creation of IaC files with minimal manual effort.
• Improved Customization – Fine-tune configurations easily through an intuitive UI.
• Reduced Complexity – Avoid errors and inconsistencies by managing infrastructure settings in a structured update panel.

Try the New Experience Today!

We invite you to explore the enhanced GitHub Copilot for Azure update experience and streamline your IaC workflow. Your feedback is invaluable—try it out today and let us know how it improves your cloud development process!