How to install vscodium with code-server on a Debian 12 VPS

Not_Oles

vscodium provides "binary releases of VS Code without MS branding/telemetry/licensing."

code-server provides the ability to "[r]un VS Code on any machine anywhere and access it in the browser."

The vscodium README sends us to the @paulcarroty repo at Gitlab where there are specific Debian apt install instructions.

Install vscodium and/or vscodium-insiders

The specific install commands can be copied directly from the @paulcarroty repo. Basically there are only four simple steps:

• Install a gpg key;

• add the repository to /etc/apt/sources.list.d/;

• update, upgrade; and then

• install codium and/or codium-insiders.

Install code-server

Next is to install code-server. The code-server repo includes an install script, as well as the curl commands to test and run the install script.

Connecting

To connect, set up an ssh tunnel to the VPS from the local machine. Then, on the VPS, start codium or codium-insiders followed by code-server. Finally, go to http://localhost:8080 in the local machine's browser.

On the local machine:

• ssh [email protected] -L 8080:localhost:8080

On the VPS:

• $ cat /home/tom/.config/code-server/config.yaml # Get the code-server password

• $ codium # Start vscodium.

• $ code-server # Start code-server.

Back on the local machine:

• Go to http://localhost:8080 in the browser.

Screenshots

havoc

Should set that up on local network as a notepad...I keep losing stuff if it's open in a word editor on desktop

Codium doesn't have extension support right?

Not_Oles

@havoc said:
Should set that up on local network as a notepad...I keep losing stuff if it's open in a word editor on desktop

It's easy to get started. Of course, the ed editor is better!

Codium doesn't have extension support right?

I hear that codium has its own open source marketplace for extensions -- called OpenVSX.

You might want to take a look at https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium/blob/master/docs/extensions.md. Haha, I have to read it too!

Not_Oles

Hmm. I should start an extension store for the ed editor! I could call it "EdX.org!" Haha!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Any tips for setting up and using codium? Do others here use codium? Thanks!

somik

I prefer to use the one on github if i need a web VS code editor. Just open any repo and press "." on your keyboard to open the repo in VS code. Has extension support and ability to commit directly from VS code.

Other then that, I have a windows server with VS code running on my homelab which I use for coding since I can build and test my code directly on the server before pushing the changes.

Not_Oles

@somik said: the one on github

Link please? Thanks!

somik

@Not_Oles said:

@somik said: the one on github

Link please? Thanks!

Ensure you are logged into github! Then open any repo, like https://github.com/somik123/IP-to-Country and press "." (fullstop) on your keyboard while on the page.

Or just go to https://github.dev/github/dev

vyas

@Not_Oles san,

I read below post via hackernews and thought of you… similar writing styles. Humble, (clueless admin versus clueless programmer) detailed but not overwhelming.

https://richardscollin.github.io/tmux-rs/

Then I see your post here on LES. I think you have a writing twin. Unless you are Mr Richards .

Cheers 🥂

Not_Oles

@somik Thanks! I will try, probably tomorrow!

@vyas Haha, I am not the distinguished Mr. Richards! Since you say I am like him, that's a big compliment! So, thanks! BTW, here's a link to what I guess was the HN post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44455787. I enjoy reading the HN discussions!

AuroraZero

What's the min recommnded specs for this? I could look it up but I am lazy as shit today.

Not_Oles

@AuroraZero Microsoft has a Visual Studio Code requirements page which says:

We recommend:

• 1.6 GHz or faster processor
• 1 GB of RAM

Not_Oles

@Not_Oles said:

On the VPS:

• $ cat /home/tom/.config/code-server/config.yaml # Get the code-server password

• $ codium # Start vscodium.

• $ code-server # Start code-server.

Thanks to @vyas for intrepid testing and for kindly letting me know that the separate step for starting codium seems un-necessary. On the VPS, it seems enough just to ssh in with -L 8080:localhost:8080, get the code-server password, and to start code-server!

Of course, you can get systemd to start code-server automagically, have code-server serve securely to the WAN, and be firewall protected, but maybe having a fancy installation with extra programs running when codium is not actually in use increases the attack surface?

Thanks again @vyas! Best wishes!

somik

@AuroraZero said:
What's the min recommnded specs for this? I could look it up but I am lazy as shit today.

Just burn some trees and ask chatgpt!

AuroraZero

@somik said:

@AuroraZero said:
What's the min recommnded specs for this? I could look it up but I am lazy as shit today.

Just burn some trees and ask chatgpt!

I dont use the chatterbox much I have my own AI Ava.

somik

@AuroraZero said:

@somik said:

@AuroraZero said:
What's the min recommnded specs for this? I could look it up but I am lazy as shit today.

Just burn some trees and ask chatgpt!

I dont use the chatterbox much I have my own AI Ava.

You mean your Waifu-bot?

theloafingone

@havoc said:
Should set that up on local network as a notepad...I keep losing stuff if it's open in a word editor on desktop

VSCode might be a little overkill if it's just notes or plaintext.
It didn't use to have this feature, but Notepad++ one day got the ability to saves sessions including untitled tabs on exit/restart/etc.
Maybe this would be a better solution in your use case if it's just notes or plain text?

Encoders

knowing how easy it is for an extension developer being a sellout and it can turn to be a piece of data exfiltration malware, setting up code-server without containerization is asking for trouble.

if there's a language server being used in server side, you also have to keep that in mind since hacking incident involving opening vscode projects, or just opening codebase in general is pretty well-known

nwnuyhs

thnaks for your sharing