GitHub Copilot Modes: Edit, Ask & Action

The Developer's AI Toolbox – Expanded with Real-World Use Cases

Modern development is about speed, clarity, and reducing repetitive work. GitHub Copilot now offers three smart ways to collaborate with AI inside your IDE:

Edit Mode – Inline code rewriting and refactoring

Ask Mode – Conversational help and documentation

Action Mode – Context-aware automation and file-level operations

Let’s look at how these can be used together across real workflows, with a deeper focus on Action Mode’s potential.

Edit Mode: Improve What’s Already There

 When to Use:

• Quick changes to existing code
• Language or style conversions
• Bug fixes or optimizations

Common Examples:

• “Convert this callback to a Promise”
• “Make this function pure”
• “Add JSDoc comments”

Ask Mode: Learn Without Leaving the IDE

When to Use:

• Understanding unfamiliar code
• Exploring best practices
• Generating code snippets

Common Prompts:

• “What is the best way to debounce in React?”
• “Why is this API call failing with 401?”
• “Show me a Python function to validate email addresses”

 When to Use:

• Quick changes to existing code
• Language or style conversions
• Bug fixes or optimizations

Common Examples:

• “Convert this callback to a Promise”
• “Make this function pure”
• “Add JSDoc comments”

Ask Mode: Learn Without Leaving the IDE

When to Use:

• Understanding unfamiliar code
• Exploring best practices
• Generating code snippets

Common Prompts:

• “What is the best way to debounce in React?”
• “Why is this API call failing with 401?”
• “Show me a Python function to validate email addresses”

Action Mode: Automate Repetitive and Complex Dev Tasks

This is where GitHub Copilot really stretches its wings. It performs entire tasks — like setting up config files, writing tests, or fixing code — with deep awareness of your project context.

More Real-World Use Cases

Auto-Generate Storybook Stories

“Add Storybook stories for all components in /components/ui”

Copilot:

• Generates .stories.jsx or .mdx files
• Automatically handles props and examples

Internationalize a Component

“Update this page to use i18n translation hooks”

Copilot:

• Replaces hardcoded strings with translation keys
• Imports and uses your project’s i18n hook or context

Prepare Code for Open Source

“Generate a README and MIT license for this repo”

Copilot:

• Write a polished README.md with usage instructions
• Adds a LICENSE file based on common standards

Clean Up a Legacy Codebase

“Find and refactor all functions using var to use let/const”

Copilot:

• Traverses multiple files
• Applies consistent ES6+ syntax
• Preserves logic while modernizing style

Combining All Three Modes in Dev Workflows

Here are a few combined-mode scenarios that mimic how real developers work:

Workflow: Build a New Auth Feature

1. Ask Mode:

“How do I build a login form with NextAuth.js?”

1. Action Mode:

“Scaffold a login page with NextAuth.js and Tailwind”

1. Edit Mode:

“Refactor login handler to separate concerns”

Result: You’re up and running with a full auth flow in 10 minutes — including UI, logic, and backend integration.

Workflow: Secure an Existing App

1. Ask Mode:

“What are common Node.js security best practices?”

1. Action Mode:

“Add Helmet and configure CSP headers”

1. Edit Mode:

“Refactor middleware to include rate limiting”

What's Coming Next for Copilot?

The direction Copilot is heading suggests even more robust AI developer agents:

• Code-aware project planning
  “Add JWT-based user roles and permissions” → Action Mode could generate routes, guards, and models.
• End-to-end scaffolding
  Full CRUD modules, dashboard UIs, and test coverage with one command.
• Code reviews and PRs
  AI that opens PRs with detailed descriptions, test coverage reports, and inline comments.
• Terminal + CLI control
  “Set up Docker for this project” → Copilot builds Dockerfile, .dockerignore, and docker-compose.yml.

Developer Takeaway

GitHub Copilot is no longer just autocomplete. It’s a collaborative AI that adapts to how you code. The key is learning when and how to use each mode:

Pro Tip: Use all three modes in tandem. Ask → Edit → Act = maximum efficiency.

Conslusion:

In a world where speed and clarity are king, Copilot’s Action Mode is your silent productivity engine. It’s your setup script writer, test generator, and context-aware problem solver — always ready, never tired.

About CloudThat

Established in 2012, CloudThat is an award-winning company and the first in India to offer cloud training and consulting services for individuals and enterprises worldwide. Recently, it won Google Cloud’s New Training Partner of the Year Award for 2025, becoming the first company in the world in 2025 to hold awards from all three major cloud giants: AWS, Microsoft, and Google. CloudThat notably won consecutive AWS Training Partner of the Year (APJ) awards in 2023 and 2024 and the Microsoft Training Services Partner of the Year Award in 2024, bringing its total award count to an impressive 12 awards in the last 8 years. In addition to this, 20 trainers from CloudThat are ranked among Microsoft’s Top 100 MCTs globally for 2025, demonstrating its exceptional trainer quality on the global stage.  

As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, AWS Advanced Tier Training Partner, Google Cloud Platform Partner, and collaborator with leading organizations like HPE and Databricks, CloudThat has trained over 850,000 professionals across 600+ cloud certifications, empowering students and professionals worldwide to advance their skills and careers.