Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

VSCodium VS CloudShell

Compare VSCodium VS CloudShell and see what are their differences

VSCodium logo VSCodium

Binary releases of Visual Sudio Code without Microsoft branding, telemetry and licensing

CloudShell logo CloudShell

Cloud Shell is a free admin machine with browser-based command-line access for managing your infrastructure and applications on Google Cloud Platform.
  • VSCodium Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-31
  • CloudShell Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-12

VSCodium features and specs

  • Open Source
    VSCodium is completely open-source, removing the need to rely on proprietary software, which aligns with the values of many developers who prioritize software freedom and transparency.
  • No Telemetry
    VSCodium has telemetry disabled by default, ensuring that users' usage data is not sent to Microsoft, which helps maintain user privacy and data security.
  • Full VSCode Extension Compatibility
    VSCodium is fully compatible with VSCode extensions, including those on the Visual Studio Code marketplace, providing users with access to a wide range of tools and features.
  • Regular Updates
    The project is regularly updated in sync with Microsoftโ€™s Visual Studio Code releases, ensuring that users receive the latest features and bug fixes in a timely manner.
  • Cross-Platform
    Like VSCode, VSCodium is available on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and various Linux distributions, making it versatile for development across different environments.

Possible disadvantages of VSCodium

  • Lack of Official Support
    VSCodium is not officially supported by Microsoft, so users have to rely on community support for troubleshooting and issues. This can be a disadvantage for those who prefer or need official customer service.
  • More Complex Setup for Some Features
    Some features that require Microsoft services, such as certain authentication processes, can be more complex or unavailable in VSCodium compared to the standard VSCode.
  • Delayed Extension Updates
    While VSCodium itself is updated regularly, extensions can sometimes lag behind due to additional steps required to maintain compatibility with the open-source version.
  • Brand Recognition
    Microsoft's Visual Studio Code has stronger brand recognition, which can lead to better trust and adoption in enterprise environments compared to a relatively lesser-known project like VSCodium.
  • Potential Missing Features
    Some proprietary features that Microsoft may add to Visual Studio Code could be absent in VSCodium, as it focuses on open-source components and may exclude any feature tied to Microsoftโ€™s proprietary ecosystem.

CloudShell features and specs

  • Integrated Environment
    CloudShell provides a fully integrated development environment directly within your browser, including access to Google Cloud resources, pre-installed Google Cloud SDK, and other useful tools.
  • Convenience
    Because it's browser-based, there is no need to install or configure anything locally, which can save considerable setup time and eliminate environment inconsistencies.
  • Security
    Operating within Google's infrastructure can add layers of security, including secure connection to cloud resources and less risk of exposing local machines to vulnerabilities.
  • Access to Project Resources
    Directly connects to Google Cloud resources associated with your account, making it easy to manage and deploy applications within your cloud environment.
  • Scalability
    Seamlessly scalable environment that can handle different workloads without performance degradation.
  • Persistent Storage
    CloudShell offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their work and configurations, which are available in future sessions.
  • Pre-installed Tools
    Includes a range of pre-installed tools, such as git, gcloud SDK, and language libraries, enabling efficient development and deployment workflows.

Possible disadvantages of CloudShell

  • Resource Limits
    CloudShell has usage limits, including limited disk space and CPU, which may not be sufficient for all types of workloads, particularly resource-intensive tasks.
  • Inactive Use Timeouts
    Sessions that are inactive for a period of time may be automatically terminated, which can disrupt ongoing work.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based solution, a stable internet connection is required. Any disruption in connectivity can hamper development and deployment processes.
  • Latency Issues
    Depending on your geographical location, there may be latency issues which can affect performance and response times.
  • Limited Customization
    While CloudShell provides many pre-installed tools, users have limited control over the environment compared to a locally managed development setup.
  • Paid Subscription Needed for Extensive Use
    Beyond the free tier, extensive usage of CloudShell resources may incur additional costs, which can add up depending on the scale and nature of the tasks.
  • Learning Curve
    New users who are not familiar with Google Cloud's ecosystem may face an initial learning curve to fully leverage CloudShell's capabilities.

Analysis of VSCodium

Overall verdict

  • VSCodium is a strong alternative to VS Code for those who want a similar experience without relying on Microsoft's ecosystem and its associated telemetry data collection. It maintains all the functionalities of the original while adhering to open-source principles.

Why this product is good

  • VSCodium is a build of Microsoft's Visual Studio Code editor without the telemetry and proprietary aspects that some users may find concerning. It is entirely open source and leverages the same powerful editor features found in VS Code, such as IntelliSense, debugging, and extensive plugin support. This makes it an appealing choice for developers who prioritize open-source software and privacy.

Recommended for

    Developers who are passionate about open-source software, those concerned with privacy and telemetry issues, and users who want a powerful code editor that supports numerous programming languages and extensions.

Analysis of CloudShell

Overall verdict

  • Yes, CloudShell is a good tool, especially for those who are actively using Google Cloud Platform. It provides a user-friendly interface and a comprehensive set of tools to manage cloud resources effectively. Its convenience, combined with the power of GCP, makes it a valuable asset for cloud-based development and operations.

Why this product is good

  • CloudShell is a versatile tool offered by Google Cloud Platform (GCP) that provides a command-line environment directly in your web browser. It is particularly beneficial for developers and system administrators because it allows them to manage GCP resources easily without needing to install additional software on their local machines. CloudShell includes the Google Cloud SDK, along with other essential tools, making it a convenient and efficient option for cloud management tasks. Additionally, it offers persistent storage, allowing users to save their scripts and data between sessions. The integration with other GCP services enhances productivity by providing seamless access and control.

Recommended for

  • Developers who frequently work with Google Cloud Platform
  • System administrators managing GCP resources
  • New users of Google Cloud who need an easy introduction to command-line tools
  • Teams collaborating on GCP projects, as it supports session sharing

VSCodium videos

Switching from VSCode to VSCodium

More videos:

  • Review - Taking Into Account, Ep. 38 - Windows 10, Open Source Wins, VSCodium, Pengwin, Davinci, Kdenlive
  • Review - Update to Newest Version of VSCodium

CloudShell videos

No CloudShell videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VSCodium and CloudShell)
Text Editors
70 70%
30% 30
IDE
83 83%
17% 17
Development
0 0%
100% 100
Software Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CloudShell seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 13 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.

VSCodium mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of VSCodium yet. Tracking of VSCodium recommendations started around Mar 2021.

CloudShell mentions (13)

  • GCP Fundamentals: Cloud Shell API
    The Google Cloud Shell API empowers organizations to automate cloud operations, accelerate software delivery, and improve efficiency. By providing a programmatic interface for managing Cloud Shell environments, the API unlocks new possibilities for developers, SREs, and data teams. Explore the official documentation and try the hands-on lab to experience the benefits of the Cloud Shell API firsthand. ... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Intro to the YouTube APIs: searching for videos
    Command-line (gcloud) -- Those who prefer working in a terminal can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK which includes the gcloud command-line tool (CLI) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue this command to enable the API: gcloud services enable youtube.googleapis.com Confirm all the APIs you've enabled with this command:... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Explore the world with Google Maps APIs
    Gcloud/command-line - Finally, for those more inclined to using the command-line, you can enable APIs with a single command in the Cloud Shell or locally on your computer if you installed the Cloud SDK (which includes the gcloud command-line tool [CLI]) and initialized its use. If this is you, issue the following command to enable all three APIs: gcloud services enable geocoding-backend.googleapis.com... - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
  • Getting started with the Google Cloud CLI interactive shell for serverless developers
    While you might find that using the Google Cloud online console or Cloud Shell environment meets your occasional needs, for maximum developer efficiency you will want to install the Google Cloud CLI (gcloud) on your own system where you already have your favorite editor or IDE and git set up. - Source: dev.to / over 3 years ago
  • Cloud desktops aren't as good as you'd think
    Here is the product https://cloud.google.com/shell It has a quick start guide and docs. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing VSCodium and CloudShell, you can also consider the following products

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

GitHub Codespaces - GItHub Codespaces is a hosted remote coding environment by GitHub based on Visual Studio Codespaces integrated directly for GitHub.

Notepad++ - A free source code editor which supports several programming languages running under the MS Windows environment.

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

Vim - Highly configurable text editor built to enable efficient text editing

Glitch - Glitch is the friendly community where everyone builds the web. Simple, powerful interface for creating web apps.