Code-server
Code-server is a browser-based, self-hosted version of Visual Studio Code (VS Code) that runs on a remote server, letting you use the full editor on any…
Platform availability
Available on 5 of 9 platforms
Health score?A 0-100 score computed nightly from four factors: maintained (40%: recent commits and steady activity), popular (25%: GitHub stars, log scale), easy to install (20%: platforms, install notes, setup guides, Docker image) and light to run (15%: minimum RAM, ARM support). When the source code has been checked, a fifth factor, security check (20%: automated scan for committed secrets, unsafe desktop-app settings, known-vulnerable dependencies and project hygiene; any serious finding caps it at 20), is added. Factors without data are left out and the rest are rescaled.
84/100 Excellent
- Maintained
- 100last commit 11 days ago
- Popular
- 661,998 GitHub stars
- Easy to install
- 755 install platforms, install notes, Docker image
- Light to run
- 801 GB minimum RAM, runs on ARM
Availability: platform listings confirmed today, links checked 14 days ago
- GitHub stars
- 1,998
- Open issues
- 1
- Last commit
- 2026-10-02
- Latest release
- 4.140.0-ls368
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Activity
- declining
Checked 7 days ago - source: GitHub (linuxserver/docker-code-server)
Resources & Compatibility
Minimum requirements: 1 GB RAM, 2 CPU core(s). ARM (e.g. Raspberry Pi) is supported.
Checked 14 days ago - source: Docker Hub image tags and published docs
First-install notes
- Create and own your install folder On macOS/Linux, create the hidden ~/.local/bin folder if it is missing and make sure your own account owns ~/.local. If this folder is absent or your user can’t write to it, the install may fail or you may not be able to launch code-server. source
Fetched 14 days ago - each note links to its source
Variants
Alternatives (9)
- Github Codespaces - GitHub Codespaces is an instant, cloud-based development environment that uses a container to provide you with common languages, tools, and…
- Icecoder
- IntelliJ IDEA - IntelliJ IDEA is a Java-based integrated development environment (IDE) offering intelligent code completion, refactoring, and debugging too…
- Ona (Previously Gitpod) - Ona is an open-source developer platform automating the provisioning of ready-to-code development environments.
- Phoenix Code - Phoenix Code is a text editor designed to make coding as intuitive and fun as playing a video game - specially crafted for web developers,…
- PythonAnywhere
- Replit - In-browser IDE supporting 50+ languages with an AI assistant, real-time collaboration, Git support, hosting, deployment, and live code shar…
- Textastic
- cloud9 - Cloud9 is a web-based integrated development environment (IDE) with terminal access.
Checked yesterday - source: AlternativeTo
Common questions
Why might code-server installation fail on Linux because of install-folder permissions?
If the hidden ~/.local/bin folder is missing, or your user cannot write to it, installation may fail or code-server may not launch. Create the folder and make sure your account owns ~/.local.
Has self-hosting code-server become an unsupported or paid model?
A self-hosting user reports that support appears to have shifted to a managed, self-hosted enterprise version. The same post says you can still self-host, but it is described as not officially supported or a paid-for solution.
Does the LinuxServer.io code-server container support mapping host user and group IDs?
Yes, the LinuxServer.io code-server container advertises easy user mappings using PUID and PGID.
Where do the official code-server docs cover exposing code-server and troubleshooting?
The code-server FAQ covers exposing code-server, using it on an iPad, installing extensions, and debugging issues.
Answers sourced from code.claude.com, coder.com, github.com, www.reddit.com
Community
- codeserver - Reddit (reddit)
- Anyone else hosting code-server? : r/selfhosted - Reddit (reddit)
- Should I self-host code-server? : r/selfhosted - Reddit (reddit)
Collected 7 days ago - public community threads