Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

VSCodium VS Spacevim

Compare VSCodium VS Spacevim and see what are their differences

VSCodium logo VSCodium

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

Spacevim logo Spacevim

SpaceVim is a distribution of the Vim editor thatโ€™s inspired by Spacemacs.
  • VSCodium Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-31
  • Spacevim Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-11

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.

Spacevim features and specs

  • Pre-configured
    SpaceVim provides a pre-configured setup which makes it easier for users to get started with minimal setup time compared to vanilla Vim.
  • Customizability
    It offers high customizability enabling users to tailor the editor to their specific needs with easily configurable layers and plugins.
  • Community-driven
    Developed and improved upon by a large community, providing good support and documentation, as well as numerous plugins and features based on user feedback.
  • Layer System
    SpaceVim employs a layer system that allows for modular and organized configuration, simplifying the process of adding or removing features.
  • Multi-language support
    Supports different programming languages, offering features like enhanced syntax highlighting, autocompletion, and language-specific tools.

Possible disadvantages of Spacevim

  • Learning Curve
    Despite being easier to set up than Vim, SpaceVim still has a steep learning curve, especially for users unfamiliar with Vim's modal editing.
  • Performance
    SpaceVim can be slower than a bare Vim setup due to its additional features and plugins which can affect startup times and overall performance.
  • Complex Configuration
    While it offers great customizability, configuring SpaceVim can become complex and overbearing, especially for users needing fine-tuned custom setups.
  • Dependency Overhead
    Relies on several external plugins and dependencies, which might complicate the setup and management process, particularly in environments without access to package managers.
  • Incompatibility with Some Plugins
    Certain Vim plugins and scripts may not be compatible with SpaceVim or require additional configuration to work correctly.

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.

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

Spacevim videos

SpeceVim First Impressions

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to VSCodium and Spacevim)
Text Editors
67 67%
33% 33
IDE
69 69%
31% 31
Software Development
73 73%
27% 27
IDEs And Text Editors
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using VSCodium and Spacevim. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Spacevim seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 39 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.

Spacevim mentions (39)

  • How to start using Vim
    SpaceVim is a readyโ€”toโ€”use configuration that also provides an interface for configuring the editor and installing plugins. A similar project, Spacemacs, exists on the Internet, which they were inspired by. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • Micro โ€“ A Modern Alternative to Nano
    I don't know how much you actually care, and I'm the nano OP of this comment chain/thread but there are some vims (and emacs) with plugins and what not built in. Only one I can think of off the top of my head is https://spacevim.org/ but theres a bunch. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Is it possible to use VIM as an ide?
    On the vim side, you can try https://spacevim.org. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Devil Mode for Emacs
    There's also spacevim: https://spacevim.org/ And to a certain extent the new Helix editor which uses space and context sensitive popup menues for discoverability to great effect IMNHO: https://helix-editor.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • colorscheme won't apply
    Hi, I'm new to using vim I followed the instruction from spacevim.org but this won't work.. Source: about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Neovim - Vim's rebirth for the 21st century

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

Doom Emacs - Emacs configuration similar to Spacemacs but faster and lighter.

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

Spacemacs - Community-driven Emacs distribution that meshes Emacs and Vim features.