Migrating from GitHub Copilot | Bootspring Docs

Guide to transitioning from GitHub Copilot to Bootspring.

Overview#

GitHub Copilot provides AI-powered code completion in your IDE. Bootspring offers a different approach: structured context, expert agents, and development workflows. Many teams use both together.

Key Differences#

Feature	Copilot	Bootspring
Integration	IDE extension	CLI + Claude Desktop
Suggestions	Inline completion	Structured responses
Context	Automatic	Explicit CLAUDE.md
Specialization	General	35+ expert agents
Patterns	None	55+ skill patterns
Workflows	None	Multi-phase orchestration

Using Both Together#

Bootspring and Copilot complement each other:

Use Copilot for line-by-line completion
Use Bootspring for complex tasks, patterns, and workflows
Share context - Copilot sees the code, Bootspring provides structure

Migration Steps#

Step 1: Install Bootspring#

npm install -g bootspring

Step 2: Keep Copilot Running#

No need to uninstall Copilot. It continues working in your IDE.

Step 3: Initialize Bootspring#

cd your-project
bootspring init

Step 4: Connect Claude Desktop#

bootspring mcp install

Now you have:

Copilot for inline suggestions
Bootspring for complex development tasks

Feature Comparison#

Code Completion#

Copilot: Real-time, inline suggestions Bootspring: On-demand, structured responses

Copilot wins for quick completions. Bootspring wins for complex generation.

Chat (Copilot Chat)#

Copilot: Chat panel in IDE Bootspring: Claude Desktop with expert agents

# Bootspring: Use expert agents
bootspring agent invoke frontend-expert "Create a form component"

# vs Copilot Chat: General assistant

Code Explanation#

Copilot: "/explain" in chat Bootspring: Context-aware agents

# Get expert explanation
bootspring agent invoke code-review-expert "Explain this authentication flow"

Test Generation#

Copilot: "/tests" command Bootspring: Testing expert with patterns

# Generate tests with expert
bootspring agent invoke testing-expert "Write tests for UserService"

# Or apply test pattern
bootspring skill apply patterns/testing-vitest

Documentation#

Copilot: "/doc" command Bootspring: Documentation with context

The CLAUDE.md file serves as living documentation that AI assistants understand.

When to Use Each#

Use Copilot For#

Quick line completions
Boilerplate code
Simple functions
Familiar patterns

Use Bootspring For#

Complex features
Multi-file changes
Architecture decisions
Security reviews
Performance optimization
Database design
Business logic

Migration Examples#

From Copilot Chat to Bootspring#

Copilot Chat prompt:

Create a React component that fetches user data and displays it

Bootspring equivalent:

# More focused with expert
bootspring agent invoke frontend-expert "Create a React component that fetches user data and displays it"

# Or use a pattern
bootspring skill apply patterns/react-data-fetching

From Test Generation#

Copilot /tests:

Generate tests for this function

Bootspring equivalent:

# Testing expert understands patterns
bootspring agent invoke testing-expert "Create comprehensive tests for lib/auth.ts including unit and integration tests"

From Code Review#

Copilot: Limited review capability

Bootspring:

# Get expert code review
bootspring agent invoke code-review-expert "Review src/api/users.ts for best practices"

# Or run quality checks
bootspring quality pre-commit

Configuration#

Copilot Settings#

Copilot settings are in your IDE.

Bootspring Configuration#

bootspring.config.js:

module.exports = {
  project: {
    name: 'my-app',
    type: 'nextjs',
  },
  agents: {
    enabled: ['frontend-expert', 'backend-expert', 'testing-expert'],
  },
  quality: {
    preCommit: {
      lint: true,
      types: true,
    },
  },
};

Team Adoption#

Gradual Rollout#

Week 1: Install Bootspring, keep Copilot
Week 2: Use Bootspring for complex tasks
Week 3: Adopt workflows for features
Week 4: Full team adoption

Unlike Copilot (personal suggestions), Bootspring's context is shareable:

# Check in context
git add CLAUDE.md
git commit -m "Add project context"

Team members get the same context understanding.

Cost Comparison#

Service	Pricing
Copilot Individual	$10/month
Copilot Business	$19/user/month
Copilot Enterprise	$39/user/month
Bootspring Free	$0
Bootspring Pro	$19/month
Bootspring Team	$49/user/month

Many teams use both:

Copilot for completions
Bootspring Pro for advanced features

Common Questions#

Do I need to uninstall Copilot?#

No. They work together.

Will suggestions conflict?#

Copilot works in the editor; Bootspring works via CLI/Claude. No conflicts.

Can I use Copilot's model in Bootspring?#

Bootspring uses Claude/OpenAI. Copilot uses its own model. No cross-compatibility.

Which is better for code generation?#

Simple code: Copilot (faster, inline)
Complex features: Bootspring (expert agents, patterns)

Tips for Copilot Users#

1. Use Copilot for Speed#

Keep using Copilot for quick completions. It's faster for simple code.

2. Use Bootspring for Complexity#

For anything requiring expertise:

bootspring agent invoke security-expert "Review auth implementation"
bootspring agent invoke performance-expert "Optimize database queries"

3. Adopt Patterns Over Prompts#

Instead of writing the same prompts:

# Save time with patterns
bootspring skill apply patterns/api-endpoint
bootspring skill apply patterns/prisma-crud

4. Use Workflows for Features#

For full features, use structured workflows:

bootspring workflow start feature-development

Unlike Copilot's personal context:

# Generate and share
bootspring generate
git add CLAUDE.md
git commit -m "Update project context"