Development

Code Server

Self-hosted VS Code in your browser — code from any device.

Official documentation

About Code Server

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.

What gets installed

Ready when the VPS starts

Compatible OS
Debian 12
Application
Code Server
Tech stack
DockerNode.jsVS Code
Minimum RAM
1 GB minimum
Minimum CPU
1 vCPU
Access
root over SSH

Key features

  • Full VS Code in the browser — extensions, IntelliSense, integrated terminal, debugger
  • Single container, ~500 MB RAM — no external database or Redis required
  • Password-protected access — secret generated at provisioning, injected via PASSWORD env var
  • Persistent workspace — home directory, extensions and settings survive container restarts
  • Code from any device — tablet, Chromebook, low-powered laptop, anywhere with a browser
  • Works without a domain — SSH tunnel or domain + HTTPS both supported

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.

Guide

Deploy Code Server on your VPS

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

Questions about Code Server

← Back to DevelopmentAll applications
Yes — the built-in Open VSX Registry covers thousands of popular extensions: ESLint, Prettier, Python, GitLens, and more. Any extension you install is stored in the persistent volume and survives container restarts.

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.

Deploy Code Server on ServOrbit
Markdown
[![Deploy Code Server on ServOrbit](https://servorbit.com/brand/deploy/button.svg)](https://servorbit.com/vps-cloud?template=code-server&utm_source=deploy-badge&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=code-server)
HTML
<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.

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Need help?

Browse our help center and FAQ, or reach our team — callback, WhatsApp or email.

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