Comparing Python Coding Tools: Copilot, CodeGPT, Tabnine

Three Python coding tools, GitHub Copilot, CodeGPT, and Tabnine, were tested to explore their differences. The experiment aimed to observe the unique features of each tool using free versions accessible to all. The tests were conducted in VS Code.

The chosen application was a simple calculator app designed for terminal interaction. Initially, a more complex tip calculator with HTML and CSS was considered, but a simpler app was ultimately developed.

GitHub Copilot, functioning as a chatbot, identified the coding language upon file selection and provided code. An initial syntax error was quickly resolved by Copilot, resulting in a fully operational calculator after approximately 1.5 iterations.

CodeGPT was accessed via the command palette and handled one prompt at a time. It successfully ran the calculator on the first attempt, including error handling, but the app terminated after a single calculation.

Tabnine offered prompts similar to CodeGPT but continued indefinitely. The first attempt failed due to an error, but a second attempt following the prompts was successful.

GitHub Copilot emerged as the preferred tool due to its chatbot format and swift bug resolution.