A hands-on learning lab for mastering GitHub Copilot through building a real chess game in C++.
→ Open LAB_GUIDE.md and follow the step-by-step instructions!
Everything you need is in that one guide:
- ✅ Installation instructions (beginner-friendly, explains package managers)
- ✅ Building the project
- ✅ All 6 lab exercises (2.5 hours total)
- ✅ Troubleshooting help
- ✅ Instructor guidance
- ✅ Extension ideas
Through hands-on exercises, you'll master:
- Lab 1 (15 min): Ask Mode - Query code naturally
- Lab 2 (20 min): Copilot Instructions - Customize AI behavior
- Lab 3 (25 min): Agent Mode - Fix bugs autonomously
- Lab 4 (20 min): Prompt Files - Create reusable prompts
- Lab 5 (25 min): Custom Chat - Build specialized AI assistants
- Lab 6 (30 min): Advanced - Master best practices
Just want to play chess right now?
# Download the project
git clone https://github.com/HarvirChima/chess-lab.git
cd chess-lab
# Build and play
mkdir build && cd build
cmake .. && make
./chessUse arrow keys to move, SPACE to select/move pieces, Q to quit.
- 🆕 Complete beginners learning to code with AI assistance
- 💻 Developers exploring GitHub Copilot capabilities
- 🎓 Students learning C++ and game development
- 👨🏫 Instructors teaching AI-assisted development
- 🤖 Anyone wanting hands-on experience with AI coding tools
No prior chess or C++ experience required! Everything is explained step-by-step.
- Complete chess game with standard rules
- Beautiful terminal display with Unicode pieces (♔♕♖♗♘♙)
- Interactive gameplay with arrow key navigation
- Intentional bugs for learning (you'll fix them!)
- Comprehensive GitHub Copilot exercises
- Unit tests and build system included
- LAB_GUIDE.md - Complete step-by-step lab guide (START HERE!)
- CONTRIBUTING.md - How to contribute improvements
- REFERENCE.md - Quick reference for commands and controls
- BUG_GUIDE.md - Details about intentional bugs
- PROJECT_SUMMARY.md - Technical architecture details
Found a bug? Want to add a feature? Contributions welcome!
See CONTRIBUTING.md for details on how to contribute.
Q: Do I need to know chess?
A: No! You'll learn by playing and coding.
Q: Do I need GitHub Copilot?
A: For the full lab experience, yes. Students can get it free at education.github.com.
Q: How long does it take?
A: 5 minutes to build and play. 2.5 hours for the complete lab. You can do it in chunks!
Q: What if I get stuck?
A: Check the Troubleshooting section in LAB_GUIDE.md or open an issue.
Q: Can I use this for teaching?
A: Absolutely! See the "For Instructors" section in LAB_GUIDE.md.
This project is open source for educational purposes.
→ Start the Lab Guide ← Click here to begin!
Enjoying the lab? Give it a ⭐ star on GitHub!
Built by developers, for developers, with ❤️ and GitHub Copilot.