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Run VS Code in the browser via a lightweight server
OpenVSCode Server runs VS Code as a remote web‑based IDE, deployable with a single Docker command, supporting custom extensions, token security, and easy browser access.

OpenVSCode Server transforms the popular Visual Studio Code editor into a server‑side application that can be reached from any modern web browser. It targets developers, teams, and educators who need a consistent, zero‑install development environment across different devices or remote locations.
The project ships a ready‑to‑use Docker image (gitpod/openvscode-server) that starts with a single docker run command, exposing the IDE on port 3000. You can customize the image to install additional system packages or pre‑install VS Code extensions via a Dockerfile. Security is handled through optional connection‑token flags, allowing simple token‑based authentication without a full OAuth stack. The server respects upstream VS Code releases, so you benefit from the latest editor features automatically.
For Linux users, a tarball release can be extracted and launched directly with ./bin/openvscode-server. Detailed deployment guides for major cloud providers are available in the repository’s docs. The project is community‑driven and supported by companies such as GitLab, VMware, and SAP.
When teams consider OpenVSCode Server, 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.
Remote pair programming
Both participants open the same browser URL, edit code in real time without installing VS Code locally.
Self‑hosted development environment
Run the Docker image on a personal server, access the IDE from any device, and keep extensions pre‑installed.
Temporary coding sandbox for workshops
Spin up a container per participant, pre‑load language extensions, and secure access with a token.
Integrate IDE into CI pipelines
Launch the server during a build to run interactive debugging or code reviews via the web UI.
Use the Docker command `docker run -it --init -p 3000:3000 -v "$(pwd):/home/workspace:cached" gitpod/openvscode-server` or extract the tarball on Linux and run `./bin/openvscode-server`.
By default the server is open, but you can enable token authentication with `--connection-token YOUR_TOKEN` or `--connection-token-file FILE` for basic security.
Yes, you can pre‑install extensions in a custom Dockerfile or install them at runtime using the `openvscode-server --install-extension` CLI.
Minimum recommended resources are 4 CPU cores and 6 GB RAM; 8 GB RAM is recommended for a full build experience.
No, OpenVSCode Server is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.
Project at a glance
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