Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

vscode.dev VS GitHub Codespaces

Compare vscode.dev VS GitHub Codespaces and see what are their differences

vscode.dev logo vscode.dev

Now when you go to https://vscode.dev, you'll be presented with a lightweight version of VS Code running fully in the browser.

GitHub Codespaces logo GitHub Codespaces

GItHub Codespaces is a hosted remote coding environment by GitHub based on Visual Studio Codespaces integrated directly for GitHub.
  • vscode.dev Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-03
  • GitHub Codespaces Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-01

vscode.dev features and specs

  • Accessibility
    You can access VSCode.dev from any device with a web browser, making it highly convenient for on-the-go editing.
  • No Installation Required
    Users can start coding immediately without any need to install software, simplifying the setup process.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    VSCode.dev works across different operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), offering flexibility.
  • Regular Updates
    The web version receives updates in sync with the desktop version, ensuring you have access to the latest features and improvements.
  • Extension Support
    Many extensions available in the desktop version are also accessible in VSCode.dev, enhancing functionality.

Possible disadvantages of vscode.dev

  • Limited Offline Support
    Unlike the desktop app, VSCode.dev requires an internet connection, which could be a drawback in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Performance Constraints
    Running in a browser may result in decreased performance compared to the desktop version, especially for resource-intensive tasks.
  • Lower Customizability
    The web version may have some limitations in customization options compared to the full-featured desktop app.
  • Security Concerns
    Storing code and editing in a browser might raise security and privacy concerns for some users, particularly when dealing with sensitive information.
  • Dependency on Browser
    The experience can vary depending on the browser used, and it might not be fully optimized for all browsers.

GitHub Codespaces features and specs

  • Instant Setup
    GitHub Codespaces allows for quick setup of development environments, enabling developers to start coding within minutes.
  • Consistency
    By using Codespaces, all team members can work in consistent development environments, avoiding the 'works on my machine' problem.
  • Scalable
    Codespaces can easily scale up or down resources based on the needs of the project, offering flexibility in resource allocation.
  • Integrated with GitHub
    Seamless integration with GitHub means that Codespaces takes advantage of all GitHub features like pull requests, issues, and workflows directly within the development environment.
  • Customizable Environments
    Developers can define the configuration of their development environments using devcontainer.json files, making it easy to set up tailored workspaces.
  • Remote Development
    Codespaces allows developers to work from virtually anywhere without needing to rely on the power of their local machines.

Possible disadvantages of GitHub Codespaces

  • Cost
    Using Codespaces incurs a cost based on compute and storage resources, which can add up, especially for larger teams or more intensive projects.
  • Internet Reliance
    Codespaces are cloud-based, so a stable internet connection is required. Any disruption in connectivity can hinder development progress.
  • Customization Limitations
    While customizable, Codespaces may not support all specific or advanced development setups or niche tools as effectively as local environments.
  • Performance Variability
    Performance might vary depending on the selected instance type and current load on GitHub's infrastructure.
  • Dependency on GitHub Ecosystem
    Codespaces are tightly integrated with GitHub, which could be a downside for teams that use other platforms or who prefer a more platform-independent solution.
  • Learning Curve
    Developers unfamiliar with cloud-based environments may face a learning curve when first transitioning to Codespaces.

vscode.dev videos

VSCode.Dev (VS Code in the Browser) - A Few Reasons You Might Care

More videos:

  • Review - VSCode In The BROWSER!? | vscode.dev | VS Code Online
  • Review - vscode.dev - VS Code In The Browser!!

GitHub Codespaces videos

Brief introduction of GitHub Codespaces

More videos:

  • Review - GitHub Codespaces First Look - 5 things to look for

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to vscode.dev and GitHub Codespaces)
Text Editors
48 48%
52% 52
Open Source
100 100%
0% 0
IDE
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using vscode.dev and GitHub Codespaces. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare vscode.dev and GitHub Codespaces

vscode.dev Reviews

We have no reviews of vscode.dev yet.
Be the first one to post

GitHub Codespaces Reviews

12 Best Online IDE and Code Editors to Develop Web Applications
Beginners who want to try their luck can use GitHub Codespaces for free with limited benefits, but you will have enough features to carry on. If you are a team or an enterprise, you can start using GitHub Codespaces at $40/user/year.
Source: geekflare.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, vscode.dev should be more popular than GitHub Codespaces. It has been mentiond 271 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

vscode.dev mentions (271)

  • Who Needs Software for Development Anyway?
    The GitHub code editor (immediately accessible by changing the ".com" to ".dev" in your browser URL, in case you didn't know) is miles, leagues ahead of what AWS has to offer. It has a full, working version of vscode.dev, which is pretty much the same as github.dev those days, I hear. It will allow you to install supported extensions, do some code completion, run your tests - and even has a shell! You can't... - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Show HN: I'm tired of sharing code using PasteBin and Slack, so I made this
    Vscode itself can run in the browser (https://vscode.dev/), and presumably so could the extension - so a full live-demo ought to be possible. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Dear AWS, how do I build & develop purely on AWS right now?
    As an alternative for Cloud9, you can use vscode.dev, which runs VS Code in the browser or other alternatives that are more integrated and personalized like gitpod.io or Github Codespaces. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Coding on iPad using VSCode, Caddy, and code-server
    Is it ergonomic to code on a tablet without bci? https://vscode.dev can connect to a remote vscode instance in a container e.g. Over Remote Tunnels ; but browsers trap so many keyboard shortcuts. Which container with code-server to run to connect to from vscode client? You can specify a development container that contains code-server with devcontainer.json. vscode, Codespaces and these tools support... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Show HN: Defrag the Game
    Microsoft has an elaborate VS Code demo app that uses this API. Click "Open Folder" to see the API in action): https://vscode.dev. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
View more

GitHub Codespaces mentions (148)

  • VSCode's SSH Agent Is Bananas
    https://github.com/features/codespaces All you need is a well-defined .devcontainer file. Debugging, extensions, collaborative coding, dependant services, OS libraries, as much RAM as you need (as opposed to what you have), specific NodeJS Versions — all with a single click. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • GitHub Workflows: The First Line of Defense
    For this week, our task was to automate everything: GitHub workflows for testing, linting, building, and error checking. Additionally, I set up a dev container that contributors can use in GitHub Codespaces for a fast, hassle-free setup. Finally, we were assigned to write tests for a classmate's project! - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Dear AWS, how do I build & develop purely on AWS right now?
    As an alternative for Cloud9, you can use vscode.dev, which runs VS Code in the browser or other alternatives that are more integrated and personalized like gitpod.io or Github Codespaces. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: Any Recommendations Around Programming on an iPad?
    Check out GitHub Codespaces https://github.com/features/codespaces I have used it for learning C, Rust and Go. It even has a VSCode editor in the browser. It’s pretty easy to setup. Create a repo, add a hello_world.c, push the code, then in the UI press the green code option and select Create code space on main and then use the gcc from the terminal to compile... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Local development with Subdomains, Mobile Testing, and OAuth
    I updated the settings in my router to keep my IP assigned to my computer to avoid needing to update the DNS file. ### Remote Development One option I didn't try is doing all of your development remotely in something like Github Workspaces. From what it looks like, I think this would provide all the functionality needed except, you'd be dependent on internet and be locked into their pricing. I've worked in this... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing vscode.dev and GitHub Codespaces, you can also consider the following products

replit - Code, create, andlearn together. Use our free, collaborative, in-browser IDE to code in 50+ languages — without spending a second on setup.

CloudShell - Cloud Shell is a free admin machine with browser-based command-line access for managing your infrastructure and applications on Google Cloud Platform.

StackBlitz - Online VS Code Editor for Angular and React

CodeTasty - CodeTasty is a programming platform for developers in the cloud.

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Dirigible - Dirigible is a cloud development toolkit providing both development tools and runtime environment.