Install code-server Ubuntu: Step-by-Step Guide

🚀 Get the Best of Both Worlds: Run VS Code on a Server with Code-Server

If you’re a developer, you’re probably familiar with the popular code editor, Visual Studio (VS) Code. Code-Server is an open-source project that brings the power of VS Code to a remote server so you can access it from anywhere. With code-server, you can run VS Code in a web browser on any device, even a smartphone, as long as you have an internet connection. In this guide, we’ll show you how to install code-server on your Ubuntu machine.

📝 Pre-requisites for Installing code-server on Ubuntu

You’ll need to meet the following pre-requisites before you can install code-server:

Pre-requisite	Description
Ubuntu machine	You’ll need an Ubuntu machine running Ubuntu 18.04 or later
Command line interface (CLI)	You’ll need to be familiar with the terminal and have a CLI
Node.js	Node.js v12 or higher is required
Git	You’ll need to have Git installed on your machine

🛠️ Installing code-server on Ubuntu

Follow these steps to install code-server on Ubuntu:

1. Update Ubuntu

Before installing any new software, always make sure that your system is up to date. To do this, run:

sudo apt updatesudo apt upgrade

2. Install Node.js

The first thing we need to do is install Node.js. We recommend using NVM (Node Version Manager) to install Node.js, which makes it easy to manage multiple Node.js versions. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Install NVM

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.38.0/install.sh | bash

Step 2: Close and reopen your terminal

Step 3: Install Node.js

nvm install 14.16.1 // Use the version you wantnvm use 14.16.1

3. Install code-server

Once you have Node.js installed, it’s time to install code-server. Here’s how:

curl -fsSL https://code-server.dev/install.sh | sh

After running this command, code-server will be installed in the following directory:

/root/.local/share/code-server

4. Start code-server

Now that code-server is installed, you can start it by running:

code-server

By default, code-server listens on port 8080. If you’re running this on a remote server, you’ll need to open port 8080 on your firewall. You can access code-server by opening a web browser and navigating to:

http://localhost:8080/

5. Configure code-server

By default, code-server is not configured to run as a service, so it will only run while the terminal is open. If you want code-server to run continuously, even after you close the terminal, you should configure it to run as a service.

Here’s how:

Step 1: Create a new systemd service file in /etc/systemd/system/:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/code-server.service

Step 2: Paste the following into the file:

[Unit]Description=code-serverAfter=network.target[Service]Type=simpleEnvironment=PASSWORD=your-password-hereExecStart=/root/.local/share/code-server/code-serverRestart=always[Install]WantedBy=multi-user.target

Step 3: Save and close the file.

Step 4: Reload systemd to pick up the new service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

Step 5: Enable the service:

sudo systemctl enable --now code-server

👍 Advantages of Using code-server

Here are some advantages of using code-server:

1. Access from Anywhere

Since code-server runs on a remote server, you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection. You don’t need to worry about syncing files or setting up a VPN to connect to your development environment.

2. Lightweight

code-server is lightweight and easy to set up. You don’t need to install anything on your local machine, except a web browser.

3. Customizable

You can customize code-server with extensions, themes, and settings, just like you would with VS Code.

4. Secure

Since code-server runs on a remote server, your code and development environment are more secure. If your computer gets stolen or lost, you haven’t lost your code or configurations.

👎 Disadvantages of Using code-server

Here are some disadvantages of using code-server:

1. Complexity

Setting up code-server can be complex, especially if you’re not familiar with remote servers or the command line.

2. Performance

Since code-server runs on a remote server, performance can be slower than running VS Code on your local machine, especially if you have a slow internet connection.

🤔 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can I run code-server on Windows?

A1: Yes, you can run code-server on Windows, but we recommend running it on Linux for better performance.

Q2: Can I use code-server for commercial purposes?

A2: Yes, you can use code-server for commercial and non-commercial purposes. code-server is open-source and free to use.

Q3: Can I use code-server with Git?

A3: Yes, you can use code-server with Git. In fact, code-server has built-in Git integration.

Q4: Do I need an internet connection to use code-server?

A4: Yes, you need an internet connection to use code-server, since it runs on a remote server.

Q5: Can I run code-server on a Raspberry Pi?

A5: Yes, you can run code-server on a Raspberry Pi.

Q6: Can I run code-server on a VPS?

A6: Yes, you can run code-server on a VPS (Virtual Private Server).

Q7: How can I change the default port that code-server listens on?

A7: You can change the default port by adding the –port flag when starting code-server:

code-server --port 1234

👨‍💻 Conclusion

In this article, we showed you how to install code-server on Ubuntu. code-server is a powerful tool that can help you access your development environment from anywhere, on any device. With code-server, you can use VS Code in a web browser and customize it to your liking. While there are some disadvantages to using code-server, such as complexity and performance, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If you’re a developer looking for a way to work remotely or access your development environment from anywhere, give code-server a try.

📢 Take Action Now

Follow the steps in this guide to install code-server on your Ubuntu machine and start accessing your development environment from anywhere. Don’t forget to customize code-server to your liking with extensions, themes, and settings.

❗ Disclaimer

This guide is for educational purposes only. We are not responsible for any damages or losses that may occur from following these instructions. Always make sure to backup your data and use caution when installing new software.

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