AI Chat for Development

Chat vs Inline: Choosing the Right Mode

Slash Commands (GitHub Copilot Chat)

/explain   → Explain selected code in plain English
/fix       → Fix the bug or error in selected code
/tests     → Generate unit tests for selected code
/doc       → Generate documentation for selected code
/simplify  → Refactor selected code to be simpler
/new       → Scaffold a new file/project

# In VS Code chat, you can also use:
@workspace  → Ask about your entire codebase
@terminal   → Ask about terminal commands
#file       → Reference a specific file
#selection  → Reference your current selection

Examples:
> /explain  [select 30 lines of complex regex]
> /fix      [select the function with the bug]
> @workspace where is the authentication middleware defined?
> #file:user.service.ts what does this service do?

High-Value Chat Patterns

// Pattern 1: Understand unfamiliar code
"Explain this middleware step by step.
What does each part do and why?"

// Pattern 2: Design before you code
"I need to add rate limiting to my Express API.
What are my options? Compare Redis vs in-memory
vs a library approach. I have 5 API instances."

// Pattern 3: Diagnose an error
"I'm getting this error: [paste full stack trace]
Here's the relevant code: [paste code]
What's causing it and how do I fix it?"

// Pattern 4: Improve existing code
"This function works but feels wrong.
What are the code smells here?
How would a senior engineer rewrite it?"

// Pattern 5: Generate with constraints
"Write a React hook that fetches user data.
Requirements:
- TypeScript with proper types
- Handle loading, error, and success states
- Cancel on unmount (cleanup)
- Use React Query under the hood"

// Pattern 6: Rubber duck + solution
"I'm trying to [goal]. I thought I could [approach].
But I'm running into [problem]. What am I missing?"

Claude Code Chat Mode

# Claude Code is terminal chat with full codebase access
# Start a session in your project:
claude

# Ask about your own code (Claude has read the whole repo)
> How does authentication work in this app?
> Find all places where we query the users table directly
> What's the difference between UserService and UserRepository?

# Combine understanding with action
> Explain the current rate limiting approach, then
  suggest how to make it distributed-safe

# Reference specific files naturally
> Look at src/middleware/auth.ts and explain
  the token refresh logic

# Claude Code remembers context in the session
> OK based on that, now add refresh token rotation

Getting Better Answers: Prompting for Code