AWS Cloud9
Cloud IDE to write, run, and debug code in the browser
Coder
Self‑hosted cloud workspaces defined by Terraform, auto‑scaled securely
Deploy secure, Terraform‑defined cloud workspaces that run on EC2, Kubernetes, or Docker, auto‑shut idle resources, and integrate with VS Code and JetBrains for rapid developer onboarding.
Overview
Overview
Coder lets engineering teams turn any public or private cloud into a fleet of ready‑to‑code workspaces. By describing environments with Terraform, organizations can provision EC2 VMs, Kubernetes pods, Docker containers, or other resources in a reproducible, version‑controlled way.
Capabilities & Deployment
Each workspace connects through a high‑speed Wireguard tunnel, providing a secure, low‑latency link to the developer’s IDE—whether VS Code, JetBrains, or any compatible editor. Coder automatically suspends idle resources, cutting cloud spend, and its quick‑start installer lets you spin up a full server locally with Docker in minutes. Production deployments require a PostgreSQL instance and an external access URL, after which the platform scales to support hundreds of concurrent developers while maintaining centralized administration and auditability.
Highlights
Terraform‑defined environments for reproducible infrastructure
Supports EC2 VMs, Kubernetes pods, Docker containers
Automatic idle shutdown to reduce cloud costs
Secure Wireguard tunnel for low‑latency IDE connections
Pros
- Flexible infrastructure across major cloud providers
- Cost‑efficient with auto‑shutdown of unused resources
- Fast developer onboarding via simple installer
- Rich IDE integrations (VS Code, JetBrains, dev containers)
Considerations
- Production requires external PostgreSQL and access URL
- Self‑hosting adds operational responsibility
- Initial Terraform template learning curve
- Advanced features may require paid Premium tier
Managed products teams compare with
When teams consider Coder, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.
Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.
Fit guide
Great for
- Engineering teams needing secure remote development
- Organizations with existing cloud infrastructure
- Companies focused on controlling cloud spend
- Developers who prefer VS Code or JetBrains workflows
Not ideal when
- Small hobby projects without cloud resources
- Teams lacking ops or DevOps expertise
- Users seeking a fully managed SaaS solution only
- Environments that cannot run Terraform templates
How teams use it
Rapid onboarding of new engineers
Create a workspace in seconds, reducing setup time from days to minutes.
Scaling compute for heavy CI builds
Provision high‑performance VMs on demand and shut them down when idle.
Cost control for idle development machines
Automatically suspend unused resources, lowering monthly cloud bills.
Isolated environments for contractors
Provide secure, temporary workspaces that can be revoked instantly.
Tech snapshot
Go77%
TypeScript20%
Shell1%
HCL1%
PLpgSQL1%
Makefile1%
Frequently asked questions
What cloud platforms does Coder support?
It can provision EC2 instances, Kubernetes pods, Docker containers, and other resources via Terraform on any cloud that Terraform supports.
How does automatic shutdown work?
Coder monitors workspace activity and suspends resources after a configurable idle period, freeing cloud capacity and reducing costs.
What database is required for production?
A PostgreSQL instance version 13 or higher is needed for persistent state in production deployments.
Is there a license cost for using Coder?
Coder is released under AGPL‑3.0. Core functionality is free; premium features are offered under a commercial license.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 12,030
- Watchers
- 12,030
- Forks
- 1,139
LicenseAGPL-3.0
Repo age4 years old
Last commit3 hours ago
Primary languageGo
Last synced 2 hours ago