Write Better PR Descriptions in Minutes with GitHub Copilot (Inside VS Code)
A practical workflow to turn diffs into clear, reviewer-friendly summaries using Copilot Chat.
Writing solid PR descriptions is tedious—and reviewers feel the pain. With GitHub Copilot Chat in VS Code, you can turn a diff into a clear, structured summary in minutes. This guide shows the exact steps, prompts, and a reusable template so your team ships faster with fewer review loops.
Step 1: Install & Sign In
Install GitHub Copilot Chat (Preview) in VS Code and sign in with your GitHub account. Ensure your org policy allows Copilot.
VS Code → Extensions → “GitHub Copilot Chat” → Install
Step 2: Open the PR Diff
Open the repo, check out the PR branch, and view changes in VS Code.
gh repo clone <owner>/<repo>
gh pr checkout <PR_NUMBER>
code .
Step 3: Ask Copilot to “Explain changes”
Select the whole PR or a specific hunk and run the command (via context menu or Copilot Chat). Start with a simple ask, then refine.
Explain the changes in this diff for a PR description.
Step 4: Use a Structured Prompt (Better Results)
Give Copilot a skeleton to fill for consistent output.
Act as a senior reviewer. Summarize this PR with:
- Context/Problem
- Key changes (bullets, file paths)
- Impact (UX, perf, API)
- Risks/Migration
- Test plan (steps)
Keep it under 200 words.
Step 5: Paste into PR & Edit for Clarity
Use a PR template and paste the draft. Edit for correctness, add links (issue, design doc), screenshots, and any metrics.
### Summary
<copilot-output>
### Motivation
<why we did this>
### Impact
<perf, DX, user-facing notes>
### Testing
<steps, cases, screenshots>
### Risks & Rollback
<what could break, revert plan>
Step 6: Real-World Workflow (Daily Use)
Generate a draft from diff in seconds
Paste + tweak context and links
Publish; reviewers get the “why” and “impact” upfront
R
eview time ↓ Rework ↓ Confidence ↑
Gotchas & Policy Notes
Verify facts. AI can omit edge cases—your name is on the PR.
No secrets. Don’t paste tokens/logs into prompts.
Org rules. Ensure Copilot is allowed on private code.
Power Tips
Bind a keyboard shortcut to open Copilot Chat fast.
Keep your structured prompt as a VS Code snippet.
Maintain a default PR template in
.github/pull_request_template.md.
Template + Prompt = one-minute PR summaries
Conclusion
Copilot makes good PR descriptions the default—not the exception. Use a structured prompt, a PR template, and a quick edit pass. Your reviewers (and future you) will thank you.