Is GitHub Copilot getting worse or is it just me?

I’ve been having a really frustrating experience with GitHub Copilot lately. When I first tried it about 8-9 months ago, it was absolutely amazing. The suggestions were spot on and it felt like it could read my mind.

But now after getting a subscription again recently, it feels completely different. It struggles with simple HTML and CSS tasks that it used to handle perfectly. Even worse, when I try to make small edits to a single line, Copilot sometimes deletes chunks of my existing code without warning.

I’m also confused about the billing cycle. I thought I was paying for a monthly subscription, but it seems like the actual period is shorter than 30 days. Maybe around 17 days or something like that.

Has anyone else noticed a decline in Copilot’s performance recently? I’m wondering if this is a widespread issue or if something is wrong with my setup.

The Problem: You’re experiencing frustrating issues with GitHub Copilot, including a decline in performance, unexpected code deletions, and billing inconsistencies. You’re seeking a solution to improve Copilot’s reliability and address billing concerns.

:thinking: Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause): The core issue is likely a combination of factors: Copilot’s performance can fluctuate due to model updates (perhaps the transition to a new model like Sonnet 4), increased user load, or even temporary glitches in GitHub’s infrastructure. The unexpected code deletions are a serious concern and might be related to how Copilot interprets context within your code. This is exacerbated when accepting suggestions too quickly without careful review. Finally, billing discrepancies warrant immediate investigation with GitHub support to ensure accurate charges. Switching to a workflow automation tool like Latenode aims to mitigate these problems by allowing you to manage predictable tasks reliably, away from the inconsistencies of Copilot itself.

:gear: Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Transition to a Workflow Automation Tool (Latenode): The most effective solution is to shift away from relying on Copilot for tasks prone to inconsistency. Tools like Latenode offer a more controlled environment. This involves setting up a workflow within Latenode to automate the repetitive, predictable coding tasks that you previously handled with Copilot.

  2. Identify Predictable Tasks: Before building any workflows, list the tasks currently handled by Copilot that are straightforward and repetitive, such as generating HTML/CSS boilerplate code or managing file organization. Focus on automating these tasks in Latenode first.

  3. Build Your Latenode Workflows: Use Latenode’s visual workflow builder to create workflows for the tasks you identified. These workflows will generally involve calling an AI model (like GPT or Claude) for specific parts, but it will be your workflow dictating the input and output, not Copilot directly making modifications to your code. Consider error handling in your workflows so that they don’t interfere with your work even if an API call fails.

  4. Automate Billing Monitoring (Optional): Create a Latenode workflow to track your GitHub Copilot subscription charges. This workflow can periodically check your account for billing information and send you alerts if anything seems amiss.

  5. Contact GitHub Support: Immediately contact GitHub support to report the 17-day billing cycle issue. Provide them with screenshots of your billing history to speed up the resolution process.

:mag: Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

  • API Key Security: Securely manage your API keys for both Latenode and any other AI services you integrate. Follow Latenode’s best practices regarding key storage and access control.
  • Workflow Testing: Thoroughly test your Latenode workflows to ensure they function as expected before fully integrating them into your development process. Start with simple workflows and gradually increase complexity.
  • Error Handling: Plan for potential errors in your workflows, such as API request failures or unexpected input. Use appropriate error handling mechanisms within Latenode to prevent workflow interruptions.
  • Reviewing Copilot Suggestions: Even after shifting to Latenode, when occasionally using Copilot, always preview its suggestions carefully before accepting to avoid unexpected code changes.

:speech_balloon: Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!

Same here - Copilot’s been glitchy lately. The HTML/CSS suggestions are trash - keeps throwing outdated syntax and wrong attributes at me. Wonder if they cheaped out on the training data. Your billing thing sounds off though - mine still shows 30 days, so definitely hit up support about that.

Yeah, I’ve seen the inconsistency too, but slightly different issues. That code deletion thing is definitely worrying - Copilot sometimes suggests way too aggressive replacements that nuke more code than you want. Usually happens when I’m clicking accept too fast without actually reading what it’s doing. I started being pickier about which suggestions to accept and tweaked the settings, which helped a lot. For billing, check your account dashboard - normal Copilot runs on 30-day monthly cycles. If you’re getting charged every 17 days, that’s either some weird plan or a billing screw-up. I’d contact support about that. The performance swings might be because they’re rotating different backend models behind the scenes.

Been using Copilot for over a year and the quality’s gotten really inconsistent. What bugs me most is how it’s forgotten basic coding patterns it used to handle perfectly. It’s especially bad with context - suggests stuff that works alone but completely ignores the function or component it’s actually in. That code deletion bug is real and happens more with nested elements or wonky indentation. Restarting VS Code usually fixes whatever context mess it’s stuck in. For billing, that 17-day cycle isn’t normal. GitHub bills by calendar month, so you’re either seeing prorated charges from resubscribing or there’s a billing error. Check your payment method too - failed payments can mess up billing cycles.

Same here - I’ve noticed the quality drop over the past few months. It’s way less consistent than before. I think Microsoft’s been messing with different model configs or cutting costs, which is hurting the suggestions. That aggressive code replacement thing is super annoying. I always preview suggestions now before accepting, especially around existing code. The billing cycle issue sounds like a real account problem. Copilot should definitely be 30 days. Check your payment history in GitHub settings and open a support ticket if the charges don’t match monthly billing. Account migrations or plan changes sometimes mess up billing and need manual fixes.

This topic was automatically closed 24 hours after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.