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coder/code-server

Run VS Code on any machine and access it in the browser, so you can code from any device.

Open-source alternative to:GitHub Codespaces

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What is it?

code-server runs Visual Studio Code on a remote Linux machine and serves the editor through a web browser. All compilation, file access and other intensive work happens on the server, so the client device only needs a browser.

This makes it practical to keep one consistent development environment that you can reach from a laptop, tablet or other device, and to use a cloud server for heavier tasks such as builds, tests and downloads. Installation can be done with an install script, a manual install, a devcontainer feature, or through one-click cloud deployment guides.

The project requires a Linux machine with WebSockets enabled, with roughly 1 GB of RAM and 2 vCPUs listed as the minimum. Team-wide management on your own infrastructure is handled by the separate coder/coder product.

Key features

  • 01Runs the full VS Code editor in a browser tab.
  • 02Keeps compilation and intensive tasks on the server, not the client device.
  • 03Provides an install script with a dry-run preview option.
  • 04Supports deployment through devcontainers and cloud provider guides.
  • 05Licensed under MIT.

Use cases

  • Coding from a tablet or a low-powered laptop while the heavy work runs on a cloud server.
  • Keeping a consistent development environment accessible from multiple devices.
  • Offloading builds, tests and downloads to a remote Linux machine.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Review the requirements (Linux machine with WebSockets, 1 GB RAM, 2 vCPUs)

  2. 2

    Run the official install script from the README

  3. 3

    Start code-server and open the URL it prints in your browser, as the install script's output describes

Things to know

  • The README's TL;DR requires a Linux machine with WebSockets enabled, 1 GB RAM, and 2 vCPUs.

Topics

#vscode#browser-ide#remote-development#ide#typescript#self-hosted#dev-tools#development-environment#remote-work#vscode-remote

FAQ

What is code-server?
Run VS Code on any machine and access it in the browser, so you can code from any device. code-server runs Visual Studio Code on a remote Linux machine and serves the editor through a web browser. All compilation, file access and other intensive work happens on the server, so the client device only needs a browser.
Is code-server free to use? What license does it have?
code-server is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is code-server still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to code-server was on Oct 20, 2026.
What can I use code-server for?
Coding from a tablet or a low-powered laptop while the heavy work runs on a cloud server. Keeping a consistent development environment accessible from multiple devices. Offloading builds, tests and downloads to a remote Linux machine.
How do I install code-server?
Review the requirements (Linux machine with WebSockets, 1 GB RAM, 2 vCPUs) Run the official install script from the README Start code-server and open the URL it prints in your browser, as the install script's output describes
Where can I get code-server?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/coder/code-server

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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