The Download: GitHub Copilot app, GitHub Universe, new HTTP query method & more

GitHub recaps this week’s developer news, including the general availability of the GitHub Copilot app (now supporting free and education plans plus bring-your-own-key), GitHub Issue Fields reaching general availability, and quick updates on new ECMAScript JavaScript methods and the new HTTP QUERY method.

Overview

This episode of The Download covers:

• GitHub Copilot app updates (GA)

  • The GitHub Copilot app is now generally available.
  • It supports free and education plans.
  • It also supports bring your own key (BYOK).

• GitHub Issue Fields (GA)

  • New GitHub issue fields are generally available.
  • The feature is positioned as a way to track structured metadata across repositories.

• GitHub Universe

  • A reminder/announcement that GitHub Universe is happening in October in San Francisco.

• Platform/web standards updates

  • A segment on new JavaScript methods in ECMAScript.
  • A segment on the new HTTP QUERY method.

Resources

• GitHub Copilot app on all plans: https://github.blog/changelog/2026-07-07-github-copilot-app-available-to-all/
• Issue fields are now generally available: https://github.blog/changelog/2026-07-02-issue-fields-are-now-generally-available/
• GitHub Universe: https://githubuniverse.com/
• New updates to ECMAScript: https://pawelgrzybek.com/whats-new-in-ecmascript-2026/
• New HTTP QUERY method: https://kreya.app/blog/new-http-query-method-explained/