code-server

code-server is an open-source project by Coder that runs Visual Studio Code in the browser, letting you develop on a remote machine while using a familiar VS Code interface. It’s designed for remote development, enabling consistent environments and access from any device via a web URL.

Key Features

• Browser-based VS Code experience backed by a server-side environment
• Supports installing and running many VS Code extensions (Open VSX marketplace support)
• Built-in authentication options and the ability to run behind a reverse proxy for HTTPS
• Terminal access inside the IDE for running builds, tests, and CLI tooling on the host
• Settings sync-like portability via dotfiles/config management approaches (bring-your-own config)
• Multiple installation options (standalone binary, Docker) and Linux-first deployments

Use Cases

• Remote development on a workstation, VM, or homelab server from low-power devices
• Standardized dev environments for teams, classrooms, or workshops
• Securely accessing project code and tooling without copying source to a local machine

Limitations and Considerations

• Some VS Code extensions—especially those tightly coupled to Microsoft services/marketplace—may not work as expected
• Requires careful security hardening when exposed to the internet (auth, TLS, network controls)

code-server is a practical way to centralize development environments while keeping the editing experience close to desktop VS Code. It works well for remote-first workflows, disposable environments, and scenarios where you want tooling to run near compute resources.