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Visual Studio Code
:atom: The hackable text editor
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition & IntelliJ Platform
Java language server
VS Code in the browser
Run upstream VS Code on a remote machine with access through a modern web browser from any device, anywhere.
Quick Overview
VSCodium is a free and open-source distribution of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code editor. It provides the same features and functionality as VS Code but removes Microsoft-specific customizations and telemetry, offering a more privacy-focused alternative. VSCodium is built from the VS Code source code but with a different build process and branding.
Pros
- Telemetry-free: No built-in tracking or data collection
- Open-source: Fully transparent and community-driven development
- Identical functionality: Offers the same features as VS Code
- Easy migration: Compatible with most VS Code extensions and settings
Cons
- Limited marketplace access: Some proprietary extensions may not be available
- Potential update delays: May lag slightly behind official VS Code releases
- Smaller community: Less widespread adoption compared to VS Code
- Manual updates: Auto-update feature may not be as seamless as VS Code
Getting Started
To get started with VSCodium:
- Visit the VSCodium releases page on GitHub.
- Download the appropriate version for your operating system.
- Install VSCodium following the standard installation process for your OS.
- Launch VSCodium and start using it as you would VS Code.
For Linux users, you can also install VSCodium using package managers:
# For Debian/Ubuntu-based systems
sudo apt install software-properties-common
wget -qO - https://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/raw/master/pub.gpg | gpg --dearmor | sudo dd of=/usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg
echo 'deb [ signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg ] https://download.vscodium.com/debs vscodium main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.list
sudo apt update && sudo apt install codium
# For Arch Linux
yay -S vscodium-bin
# For macOS (using Homebrew)
brew install --cask vscodium
After installation, you can customize VSCodium by installing extensions from the Open VSX Registry or by importing your existing VS Code settings.
Competitor Comparisons
Visual Studio Code
Pros of vscode
- Larger community and more frequent updates
- Official Microsoft support and integration with other Microsoft services
- More extensive marketplace with a wider range of extensions
Cons of vscode
- Includes telemetry and tracking by default
- Not fully open-source, contains proprietary Microsoft components
- Larger installation size due to additional features and integrations
Code comparison
VSCodium:
"telemetry.enableTelemetry": false,
"telemetry.enableCrashReporter": false,
"update.enableWindowsBackgroundUpdates": false,
"update.mode": "none"
vscode:
"telemetry.enableTelemetry": true,
"telemetry.enableCrashReporter": true,
"update.enableWindowsBackgroundUpdates": true,
"update.mode": "default"
The code comparison shows default settings related to telemetry and updates. VSCodium disables telemetry and automatic updates by default, while vscode enables them.
VSCodium is a community-driven, fully open-source fork of vscode that removes Microsoft-specific customizations and proprietary code. It provides a more privacy-focused alternative to vscode while maintaining most of its functionality. However, vscode offers a more polished experience with official support and a larger ecosystem of extensions and integrations.
:atom: The hackable text editor
Pros of Atom
- More mature and established project with a larger community
- Extensive package ecosystem with a wide range of plugins
- Built-in Git integration and GitHub features
Cons of Atom
- Development officially discontinued by GitHub in December 2022
- Slower performance and higher resource usage compared to VSCodium
- Less frequent updates and potential security concerns
Code Comparison
Atom (CoffeeScript):
class MyView extends View
@content: ->
@div class: 'my-view', =>
@h1 'Hello, Atom!'
@p 'This is a custom view.'
VSCodium (TypeScript):
import * as vscode from 'vscode';
export function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
console.log('VSCodium extension activated');
// Extension code here
}
VSCodium is a community-driven, binary distribution of Microsoft's VS Code without telemetry/tracking. It aims to provide a more privacy-focused alternative to VS Code while maintaining full compatibility with VS Code extensions and features.
Atom, on the other hand, was a popular open-source text editor developed by GitHub. While it had a strong following and extensive customization options, its development has been discontinued, making VSCodium a more viable option for those seeking an actively maintained, open-source code editor.
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition & IntelliJ Platform
Pros of intellij-community
- More comprehensive IDE features and tools for Java development
- Robust plugin ecosystem with a wide range of extensions
- Advanced code analysis and refactoring capabilities
Cons of intellij-community
- Larger resource footprint and slower startup times
- Steeper learning curve for new users
- More complex configuration and setup process
Code Comparison
intellij-community (Java):
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
}
vscodium (JavaScript):
console.log("Hello, World!");
intellij-community is a full-featured IDE primarily focused on Java development, offering advanced tools and plugins. It provides robust code analysis and refactoring capabilities but comes with a larger resource footprint and a steeper learning curve.
vscodium is a lightweight, open-source build of VS Code without Microsoft branding or telemetry. It offers a more streamlined experience with faster startup times and easier configuration. However, it may lack some of the advanced features and specialized tools found in intellij-community, particularly for Java development.
Both projects are open-source and actively maintained, with vscodium being more focused on providing a privacy-respecting alternative to VS Code, while intellij-community serves as the foundation for JetBrains' commercial IntelliJ IDEA product.
Java language server
Pros of eclipse.jdt.ls
- Specialized for Java development with deep language support
- Integrates well with Eclipse ecosystem and plugins
- Robust debugging capabilities for Java applications
Cons of eclipse.jdt.ls
- Heavier resource usage compared to VSCodium
- Limited language support beyond Java
- Steeper learning curve for non-Eclipse users
Code Comparison
eclipse.jdt.ls:
@Override
public CompletableFuture<List<? extends CodeLens>> codeLens(CodeLensParams params) {
return CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(() -> {
return Collections.emptyList();
});
}
VSCodium:
export function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
console.log('Congratulations, your extension "vscodium" is now active!');
let disposable = vscode.commands.registerCommand('vscodium.helloWorld', () => {
vscode.window.showInformationMessage('Hello World from VSCodium!');
});
}
The code snippets demonstrate the different focus areas of the projects. eclipse.jdt.ls shows Java-specific functionality, while VSCodium's example is more general-purpose TypeScript code for extension development.
VSCodium is a community-driven, telemetry-free distribution of VS Code, offering a wide range of language support and extensions. It's lighter and more versatile than eclipse.jdt.ls but may lack some specialized Java features. The choice between the two depends on the specific development needs and preferences of the user.
VS Code in the browser
Pros of code-server
- Enables remote development through a web browser
- Supports collaborative coding with real-time sharing
- Offers easy deployment on various cloud platforms
Cons of code-server
- Requires more server resources for hosting
- May have latency issues depending on network conditions
- Limited offline functionality compared to local installations
Code comparison
VSCodium:
# Install VSCodium on Linux
sudo apt install vscodium
code-server:
# Install code-server on Linux
curl -fsSL https://code-server.dev/install.sh | sh
VSCodium is a free, open-source distribution of Visual Studio Code without Microsoft's telemetry and tracking. It provides a nearly identical experience to VS Code but with enhanced privacy.
code-server is a web-based version of VS Code that can be hosted on a remote server, allowing developers to access their development environment from any device with a web browser.
While VSCodium focuses on providing a local, privacy-focused IDE experience, code-server emphasizes remote accessibility and collaboration. VSCodium is ideal for developers who prioritize privacy and prefer working locally, whereas code-server is better suited for teams requiring remote access and collaborative features.
Both projects aim to provide powerful development environments, but they cater to different use cases and preferences in the developer community.
Run upstream VS Code on a remote machine with access through a modern web browser from any device, anywhere.
Pros of openvscode-server
- Designed specifically for remote development and cloud-based environments
- Optimized for running in containerized environments like Kubernetes
- Includes built-in web UI for easy access through a browser
Cons of openvscode-server
- More limited extension ecosystem compared to VSCodium
- May have fewer customization options for local development setups
- Potentially higher resource usage due to server-based architecture
Code Comparison
VSCodium (client-side):
const vscode = require('vscode');
function activate(context) {
console.log('VSCodium extension activated');
}
openvscode-server (server-side):
const vscode = require('vscode');
function activate(context) {
console.log('OpenVSCode Server extension activated');
// Additional server-specific setup
}
Both projects are based on Visual Studio Code, but they serve different purposes. VSCodium is a community-driven, telemetry-free version of VS Code for local development, while openvscode-server is tailored for remote and cloud-based development environments. The choice between them depends on your specific use case and deployment requirements.
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VSCodium
Free/Libre Open Source Software Binaries of VS Code
This is not a fork. This is a repository of scripts to automatically build Microsoft's vscode
repository into freely-licensed binaries with a community-driven default configuration.
Table of Contents
Download/Install
:tada: :tada: Download latest release here: stable or insiders :tada: :tada:
More info / helpful tips are here.
Install with Brew (Mac)
If you are on a Mac and have Homebrew installed:
# stable
brew install --cask vscodium
# insiders
brew tap homebrew/cask-versions
brew install --cask vscodium-insiders
Note for macOS users: if you can't open the App, please read the following troubleshooting.
Install with Windows Package Manager (WinGet)
If you use Windows and have Windows Package Manager installed:
:: stable
winget install -e --id VSCodium.VSCodium
:: insider
winget install -e --id VSCodium.VSCodium.Insiders
Install with Chocolatey (Windows)
If you use Windows and have Chocolatey installed (thanks to @Thilas):
:: stable
choco install vscodium
:: insider
choco install vscodium-insiders
Install with Scoop (Windows)
If you use Windows and have Scoop installed:
scoop bucket add extras
scoop install vscodium
Install with snap (GNU/Linux)
VSCodium is available in the Snap Store as Codium, thanks to the help of the Snapcrafters community. If your GNU/Linux distribution has support for snaps:
snap install codium --classic
Install with Package Manager (GNU/Linux)
You can always install using the downloads (deb, rpm, tar) on the releases page for stable or insiders, but you can also install using your favorite package manager and get automatic updates.
@paulcarroty has set up a repository with instructions for apt
, dnf
and zypper
here.
Any issues installing VSCodium using your package manager should be directed to that repository's issue tracker.
Install on Arch Linux
VSCodium is available in AUR, maintained by @binex-dsk as package vscodium-bin (stable) and as vscodium-insiders-bin.
If you want to save disk space by having VSCodium use the Electron system-wide, you also have vscodium-electron, maintained by @m00nw4tch3r.
An alternative package vscodium-git, maintained by @cedricroijakkers, is also available should you wish to compile from source yourself.
Flatpak Option (GNU/Linux)
VSCodium is available as a Flatpak app here and the build repo is here. If your distribution has support for flatpak, and you have enabled the flathub repo:
flatpak install flathub com.vscodium.codium
flatpak run com.vscodium.codium
Build
Build instructions can be found here
Why Does This Exist
This repository contains build files to generate free release binaries of Microsoft's VS Code. When we speak of "free software", we're talking about freedom, not price.
Microsoft's releases of Visual Studio Code are licensed under this not-FLOSS license and contain telemetry/tracking. According to this comment from a Visual Studio Code maintainer:
When we [Microsoft] build Visual Studio Code, we do exactly this. We clone the vscode repository, we lay down a customized product.json that has Microsoft specific functionality (telemetry, gallery, logo, etc.), and then produce a build that we release under our license.
When you clone and build from the vscode repo, none of these endpoints are configured in the default product.json. Therefore, you generate a "clean" build, without the Microsoft customizations, which is by default licensed under the MIT license
This repo exists so that you don't have to download+build from source. The build scripts in this repo clone Microsoft's vscode repo, run the build commands, and upload the resulting binaries to GitHub releases. These binaries are licensed under the MIT license. Telemetry is disabled.
If you want to build from source yourself, head over to Microsoft's vscode repo and follow their instructions. This repo exists to make it easier to get the latest version of MIT-licensed VS Code.
Microsoft's build process (which we are running to build the binaries) does download additional files. Those packages downloaded during build are:
- Pre-built extensions from the GitHub:
- From Electron releases (using gulp-atom-electron)
- electron
- ffmpeg
More Info
Documentation
For more information on getting all the telemetry disabled, tips for migrating from Visual Studio Code to VSCodium and more, have a look at the Docs page page.
Troubleshooting
If you have any issue, please check the Troubleshooting page or the existing issues.
Extensions and the Marketplace
According to the VS Code Marketplace Terms of Use, you may only install and use Marketplace Offerings with Visual Studio Products and Services. For this reason, VSCodium uses open-vsx.org, an open source registry for VS Code extensions. See the Extensions + Marketplace section on the Docs page for more details.
Please note that some Visual Studio Code extensions have licenses that restrict their use to the official Visual Studio Code builds and therefore do not work with VSCodium. See this note on the Docs page for what's been found so far and possible workarounds.
How are the VSCodium binaries built?
If you would like to see the commands we run to build vscode
into VSCodium binaries, have a look at the workflow files in .github/workflows
for Windows, GNU/Linux and macOS. These build files call all the other scripts in the repo. If you find something that doesn't make sense, feel free to ask about it on Gitter.
The builds are run every day, but exit early if there isn't a new release from Microsoft.
Supported Platforms
The minimal version is limited by the core component Electron, you may want to check its platform prerequisites.
- macOS (
zip
,dmg
) macOS 10.15 or newer x64 - macOS (
zip
,dmg
) macOS 11.0 or newer arm64 - GNU/Linux x64 (
deb
,rpm
,AppImage
,snap
,tar.gz
) - GNU/Linux arm64 (
deb
,rpm
,snap
,tar.gz
) - GNU/Linux armhf (
deb
,rpm
,tar.gz
) - Windows 10 / Server 2012 R2 or newer x64
- Windows 10 / Server 2012 R2 or newer arm64
Special thanks
@jaredreich | for the logo |
@PalinuroSec | for CDN and domain name |
for providing a Mac mini M1 | |
@daiyam | for macOS certificate |
License
Top Related Projects
Visual Studio Code
:atom: The hackable text editor
IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition & IntelliJ Platform
Java language server
VS Code in the browser
Run upstream VS Code on a remote machine with access through a modern web browser from any device, anywhere.
Convert designs to code with AI
Introducing Visual Copilot: A new AI model to turn Figma designs to high quality code using your components.
Try Visual Copilot