Hacker News Reader

Comment by xupybd | Hacker News Reader

What's the use case for code server? I'm sure there is on I just don't see the advantage of running my IDE through the browser instead of locally. I could see maybe if I wanted to have a customised IDE ready to access from any computer. But isn't this a temp container that disappears when you shut it down

View on HN

I use it a lot. It's really nice having one environment if you use different dev machines from time to time (in my case a PC and a laptop), develop on the target OS (I don't have Linux installed on all my computers but only develop in Linux), the cost is negligible and performance pretty much like a local vscode.

Not being able to code without internet is the only disadvantage but I usually don't do that anyway.

What about using WSL2?

Doesn't solve the problem of multiple machines for me. I started using code-server before WSL2 came out. given the low cost, I don't see why I should switch to WSL2 locally now.

You can have multiple OSs running on WSL2, so for example have a Ubuntu 20.04 and a SUSE or Kali.. and you can have one workspace for each OS it will connect to the different OSs ctrl+r on VSCode you can change the workspace and therefore connect to the different OS under WSL2.

I was referring to the opposite, having multiple physical machines to develop. Using Code Server means I don't have to sync between machines.

Sounds like a solid use case. Is lag an issue?

No it isn't. I have it on a machine about 5ms away, never experience lag.

> isn't this a temp container that disappears when you shut it down

For this part, the container of Code-Server in OOTB Code-Server suite is a VM-like persistent and mutable container powered by LXD, so it doesn't disappear even if you shut it down.

As for the use case for Code-Server, it allows to access single server-powered environment from any computer as you guess. I personally use Code-Server from my iPad and laptop.

Ah thanks that explains it. Using an iPad is also a really cool advantage of that setup. Thanks I thought there must be a reason for this tool.

I see this is good for example if you want to guarantee security in development of developers, having a more restrained environment for the development makes more sense to me.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com