Code Server

Development1024MB+ RAM

VS Code running in the browser - full IDE accessible from anywhere

Download Server Compass Install Code Server to server

idevscodedevelopmentcode-editor

Deploy Code Server in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select Code Server

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Video Tutorials

Learn How to Deploy Code Server

All tutorials

Self Host Coder on Your VPS — VS Code in the Browser, Your Server

Learn how to self-host Code Server on your VPS with Server Compass. Access a full VS Code IDE from any browser — develop from anywhere on your own infrastructure.

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Step-by-step deployment guide

Deploy Code Server on a VPS with Server Compass

Use the Code Server template in Server Compass to deploy VS Code in the browser on your VPS, then verify the password login screen.

About 10 minutesBrowser verified

Step 1

Open the server Apps tab

Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.

Server Compass Apps tab before creating a Code Server app

Step 2

Choose an app template

Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.

Choosing to deploy an app from a Server Compass template

Step 3

Search for Code Server

Use the template picker search to find Code Server in the Server Compass template catalog.

Searching for Code Server in the Server Compass template picker

Step 4

Select the Code Server template

Choose the Code Server template. Server Compass fills the Code Server service, persistent home/workspace volume, generated login password, and web port.

Code Server template selected in Server Compass

Step 5

Review the Code Server settings

Confirm the app name and compose services. In this run, the app was named code-server-demo and used host port 3001.

Reviewing Code Server project settings and compose services

Step 6

Deploy Code Server

Review the generated compose settings, confirm the web port is available, keep the generated login password hidden, and click Deploy Now.

Reviewing Code Server environment variables and port before deployment

Step 7

Watch the deployment progress

Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Code Server image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.

Server Compass deploying the Code Server template on the VPS

Step 8

Confirm Code Server is running

After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Code Server app is marked Running with its application URL available.

Code Server template running in the Server Compass Apps tab

Step 9

Open Code Server in the browser

Click Open Application or open the application URL in a browser. The Code Server password screen confirms the browser IDE is reachable without exposing the generated password.

The deployed Code Server login screen loaded in a browser

After Code Server Opens

Store the generated Code Server password in a secure password manager.
Add a domain and HTTPS before exposing the browser IDE outside a private network.
Use a VPN, IP allowlist, or authenticated reverse proxy for production source-code access.
Install only trusted extensions and keep the Code Server image updated.
Back up the Code Server data volume before relying on it for workspace state.

Verified Result

The Code Server web UI loaded successfully in a browser.

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Code Server deployment questions

What does the Code Server template deploy?

It deploys the Code Server container with a persistent `/home/coder` volume, default workspace path, and generated login password.

Which port did the tutorial use?

The tutorial used host port 3001, which maps to the Code Server web UI on the same generated container port.

Why does the browser verification stop at the first web UI screen?

A fresh Code Server deployment is considered reachable when the password login form loads. The tutorial does not type or publish the generated password.

Should this become a blog post?

No. The deployment guide should live on the Code Server template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.

Why Self-Host Code Server?

Code Server runs VS Code in your browser, giving you a full IDE accessible from any device. Self-hosting means you can code from a tablet, Chromebook, or any browser while your code runs on a powerful server with all your dev dependencies pre-installed.

Full VS Code experience in any browser — even on a tablet

Code runs on your server with all dependencies available

Access your dev environment from anywhere with an internet connection

Keep all source code on your server — nothing stored locally

Same extensions, themes, and settings as desktop VS Code

Code Server vs Alternatives

Code Server vs GitHub Codespaces

Codespaces charges per hour. Self-hosted Code Server runs 24/7 on your VPS with a fixed monthly cost.

Code Server vs Gitpod

Gitpod is workspace-based with usage limits. Code Server gives you a persistent dev environment always running on your server.

Code Server vs VS Code Remote SSH

Remote SSH requires VS Code installed. Code Server works from any browser including tablets and locked-down devices.

Why Deploy Code Server with Server Compass?

Server Compass deploys Code Server with persistent storage for your projects, extensions, and settings. Password authentication is pre-configured to secure your IDE from the internet.

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After Deployment

After deploying Code Server with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup

Access with your password

Install extensions

Open your project folder

Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.

Code Server FAQ

Common questions about self-hosting Code Server

How do I deploy Code Server with Server Compass?

Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Code Server from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.

What are the system requirements for Code Server?

Code Server requires a minimum of 1024MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 2048MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.

Can I migrate my existing Code Server data?

Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Code Server backup and restore procedures.

How do I update Code Server to the latest version?

Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Code Server image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.

Is Code Server free to self-host?

Code Server is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.

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Ready to Self-Host Code Server?

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