Competitive Programming with GitHub Copilot

A comprehensive Visual Studio Code extension designed for competitive programming, algorithm practice, and coding interview preparation. This extension transforms your editor into a fully-featured competitive programming environment with integrated AI assistance, automated testing, and performance analytics.

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Features
• Installation
• Getting Started
• Configuration
• Roadmap
• Support and Feedback
• Contributing
• License

Overview

Competitive Programming with GitHub Copilot is built for students, learners, and competitive programmers who want to practice algorithms and data structures efficiently. Whether you are preparing for ICPC, Codeforces rounds, LeetCode interviews, or academic coursework, this extension provides the tools you need to solve problems faster and learn more effectively.

Who This Extension Is For

• Students learning algorithms and data structures
• Competitive programmers participating in online contests
• Software engineers preparing for technical interviews
• Educators teaching programming and problem-solving
• Self-learners building their problem-solving skills

Features

Integrated Test Runner

Execute your solutions against test cases directly within Visual Studio Code. The test runner supports C++, Python, and Java with configurable timeout limits and detailed output comparison.

• Run all test cases with a single command
• View pass/fail status with execution time
• Compare expected vs actual output for failed tests
• Support for custom test case files

Problem Setup and Organization

Create structured problem folders with a single command. Paste a problem statement and the extension automatically generates:

• Solution file with language-specific boilerplate
• Test case files parsed from the problem statement
• Problem metadata in JSON format for reference

Code Templates and Snippets

Start coding immediately with optimized templates for competitive programming:

• C++: Fast I/O, common macros, debug utilities
• Python: Optimized imports, input handling
• Java: BufferedReader setup, helper methods

Pre-loaded algorithm snippets include binary search, BFS, DFS, Union-Find, and segment tree implementations.

AI-Powered Assistance

Leverage GitHub Copilot integration for intelligent coding support:

• Get contextual hints when stuck on a problem
• Analyze time and space complexity of your solution
• Debug failing test cases with AI explanations
• Optimize code for better performance

Performance Analytics

Track your progress with built-in analytics:

• Session timing with pause and resume
• Test case pass rate tracking
• Problem history and statistics
• Skill assessment across problem categories

Contest Timer

Built-in stopwatch for timed practice sessions with start, pause, and reset controls. Visible in both the status bar and sidebar for easy access during contests.

Installation

From Visual Studio Code

1. Open Visual Studio Code
2. Navigate to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
3. Search for "Competitive Programming with GitHub Copilot"
4. Click Install

From Marketplace

Visit the Visual Studio Marketplace or Open VSX Registry and click Install.

Requirements

• Visual Studio Code version 1.95.0 or higher
• GitHub Copilot extension (recommended for AI features)
• Language-specific compilers/interpreters:
  • C++: g++ or clang++
  • Python: Python 3.x
  • Java: JDK 11 or higher

Getting Started

Quick Start

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P)
2. Run "CP: Setup Problem from Statement"
3. Paste your problem statement
4. Start coding in the generated solution file
5. Run tests with Ctrl+Shift+R / Cmd+Shift+R

Sidebar Panel

Click the star icon in the Activity Bar to access the CP Coach sidebar with:

• Dashboard with practice statistics
• Problem browser with recommendations
• Focus mode for active problem solving
• Quick access to all commands

Keyboard Shortcuts

Configuration

Access settings through File > Preferences > Settings and search for "Competitive Programming".

Roadmap

Current Release

• Boilerplate generation for C++, Python, and Java
• Integrated test case runner with diff output
• Algorithm snippet library
• GitHub Copilot integration
• Contest timer with session tracking
• Performance analytics dashboard

Planned Features

• Direct integration with Codeforces, LeetCode, and AtCoder APIs
• Custom test case management with save and load functionality
• Contest countdown timer with notifications
• Advanced analytics with skill radar and progress tracking
• Practice recommendations based on performance history
• Multi-language submission support

Long-Term Vision

• One-click problem fetching and submission
• Team collaboration features
• Learning path recommendations
• Integration with educational platforms

Support and Feedback

Your feedback is valuable for improving this extension. For bug reports, feature requests, or general inquiries:

• Email: suhaib@suhaib.in
• GitHub Issues: Report an Issue
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions

If you find this extension helpful, please consider:

• Rating it on the Visual Studio Marketplace
• Starring the GitHub repository
• Sponsoring the project

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. Please read the contributing guidelines and submit pull requests to the main repository.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Submit a pull request

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

Developed by Suhaib Bin Younis