GitHub Copilot, a powerful coding assistant, has evolved its capabilities over the years. In 2025, it introduced two new AI agents: Agent Mode and Coding Agent. These agents are designed to work together, leveraging their unique strengths to boost productivity and code quality.
Agent Mode is a real-time collaborator that works inside your editor, iterating on code, running tests, and fixing its own mistakes in real time. It’s like having a senior developer pair-programming with you. On the other hand, Coding Agent works asynchronously in issues and pull requests on GitHub, focusing on implementation details.
To get the most out of these agents, follow some best practices:
1. Clear prompts: Use well-defined and specific prompts to guide the agents.
2. Good tests: Invest in test coverage to ensure quality and avoid regressions.
3. Small scopes: Keep your scope small to focus on specific tasks and avoid overwhelming the agents.
Use both agents together to cover the full development cycle, from “Hmm, what if…?” to “LGTM, ship it.” Remember to keep humans in the loop for architecture choices, security reviews, and celebratory high-fives. AI agents won’t replace engineers; they’ll replace the boring parts of engineering, freeing up time for inventive features and better code quality.
By mastering GitHub Copilot’s AI Agents, you can unlock a new level of coding efficiency and enjoy more time for what matters most – building innovative software.
Source: https://github.blog/developer-skills/github/less-todo-more-done-the-difference-between-coding-agent-and-agent-mode-in-github-copilot