A self-described “.NET boomer” shares his experience using GitHub Copilot CLI to build and deploy a live website, mvplove.com, showcasing Microsoft MVPs with features like search, sorting, and dashboards, all generated with minimal manual coding. Despite initial skepticism, he highlights the AI tool’s ability to produce clean, functional code and streamline development, while also reflecting on its quirks and limitations.
In this video, a self-described “.NET boomer” shares his experience using the GitHub Copilot CLI to build an entire project from the command line. Initially skeptical about AI tools, his perspective shifted after attending a Tokyo.NET developers meetup where Scott Hanselman demonstrated the GitHub Copilot CLI. Inspired, he created a live website, mvplove.com, which allows users to browse Microsoft MVPs, showcasing features like search and displaying MVPs with the longest tenure.
The project was built without a traditional database; instead, it uses a JSON file to store MVP data and a C# 10 file-based application to scrape and manage the data. The developer highlights how the Copilot CLI generated readable and well-structured code with minimal manual intervention. He also demonstrates how he used the tool to implement requested features, such as sorting country options alphabetically instead of by popularity, showcasing the AI’s ability to understand and modify code effectively.
Further customization included changing the website’s header gradient from the default purple to a more appealing blue, and adding a landing page with a dashboard. The dashboard features three columns displaying the top 10 longest-tenured MVPs, MVPs who speak the most languages, and 10 new MVPs with only one year in the program. The developer also fixed navigation issues, such as a non-working browse link, by adjusting the code to use Html.ActionLink instead of tag helpers, which he personally dislikes.
Throughout the video, the developer reflects on the AI’s capabilities and limitations, noting moments of “cringe” inner monologue from the AI and his preference for traditional coding methods. Despite this, he acknowledges the efficiency and quality of the code generated by GitHub Copilot CLI. He also mentions running the project inside GitHub Actions and deploying it to Azure App Service, demonstrating a full development and deployment workflow powered largely by AI assistance.
In conclusion, the developer shares the GitHub repository link for viewers interested in exploring the code and invites them to like and subscribe for more coding content. He humorously notes that the site mvplove.com is blocked on the Microsoft network due to its name, which the network mistakenly flags as adult content. Overall, the video serves as a practical and entertaining exploration of how AI tools like GitHub Copilot CLI can assist developers in building real-world applications efficiently.