Code Server turns your VPS into a fully-featured development environment accessible from any browser. It runs a genuine VS Code server — extensions, settings and terminal — entirely on your own infrastructure. Open a tab on a tablet, a Chromebook or a lightweight laptop and get the same IDE experience as your desktop, with your code never leaving your server.
A single lightweight container handles everything. The persistent volume stores your home directory, extensions and VS Code preferences across restarts. Password authentication is generated at provisioning time and injected automatically.
Key features
When to use this solution?
Code from any device
Your VPS becomes your development machine. Open VS Code from a tablet, a Chromebook or a borrowed laptop — files, extensions and terminal are always ready, exactly as you left them.
Consistent team environment
Each developer gets an identical VS Code instance on the server with the same Node.js, Python or PHP runtime. No more 'works on my machine' — everyone shares the same environment.
Remote pair programming
Share the URL with a collaborator. Two developers can view the same files in the same environment without screen sharing or installing any software locally.
Deploy Code Server on your VPS
Guide optimized for ServOrbit Cloud VPS.
Deploy Code Server from the marketplace
In your ServOrbit control panel, go to Marketplace → Development → Code Server and click Deploy. The container starts in under 30 seconds.
Connect for the first time
Open the URL provided by ServOrbit. A password prompt appears — enter the generated password shown in your dashboard. VS Code opens immediately in your browser.
Open a terminal and start coding
Press Ctrl+` or go to Terminal → New Terminal. You are inside the container home directory. Install Node.js, Python or any runtime, clone your repository and start your project.
Install extensions
Open the Extensions panel (Ctrl+Shift+X). Search for any extension — ESLint, Prettier, Python, GitLens — and install it. Extensions are stored in the persistent volume and survive restarts.
Connect for the first time
Without a domain, use an SSH tunnel: ssh -L 8080:127.0.0.1:8080 root@<your-ip> then open http://localhost:8080. With a domain, HTTPS is set up automatically and unlocks clipboard access.
Frequently asked questions
Embed the deploy button
Maintaining a project that uses Code Server? This button lets your readers deploy it on a VPS in one click, without reading Docker documentation.
[](https://servorbit.com/vps-cloud?template=code-server&utm_source=deploy-badge&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=code-server)<a href="https://servorbit.com/vps-cloud?template=code-server&utm_source=deploy-badge&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=code-server"><img src="https://servorbit.com/brand/deploy/button.svg" alt="Deploy Code Server on ServOrbit" height="40"></a>The button points to a VPS order with the template preselected. The image is served from servorbit.com — nothing to host on your side.
Complementary solutions
Docker Development Stack
A complete development environment with Docker Compose and hot reload. Share the same configuration across all your developers.
DevelopmentGitea
Your own GitHub, self-hosted in minutes. Full Git platform with CI/CD (Gitea Actions), package registry and team permissions — without usage-based billing.
Need help?
Browse our help center and FAQ, or reach our team — callback, WhatsApp or email. Support in French, English and Arabic.
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