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docs: add code-server/vs code web comparison table #19104

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9da6365
add code-server comparison doc
EdwardAngert Jul 30, 2025
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link to comparison from vs code doc
EdwardAngert Jul 30, 2025
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5 changes: 5 additions & 0 deletions docs/manifest.json
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Expand Up @@ -251,6 +251,11 @@
"description": "Access your workspace with IDEs in the browser",
"path": "./user-guides/workspace-access/web-ides.md"
},
{
"title": "code-server",
"description": "Access your workspace with code-server",
"path": "./user-guides/workspace-access/code-server.md"
},
{
"title": "Zed",
"description": "Access your workspace with Zed",
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29 changes: 29 additions & 0 deletions docs/user-guides/workspace-access/code-server.md
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# code-server

[code-server](https://github.com/coder/code-server) is our supported method of running VS Code in the web browser.

![code-server in a workspace](../../images/code-server-ide.png)

## Differences between code-server and VS Code Web

Some of the key differences between code-server and VS Code Web are:

| Feature | code-server | VS Code Web |
|--------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Authentication | Optional login form | No built-in auth |
| Built-in proxy | Includes development proxy (not needed with Coder) | No built-in development proxy |
| Clipboard integration | Supports piping text from terminal (similar to `xclip`) | More limited |
| Display languages | Supports language pack extensions | Limited language support |
| File operations | Options to disable downloads and uploads | No built-in restrictions |
| Health endpoint | Provides `/healthz` endpoint | Limited health monitoring |
| Marketplace | Open VSX by default, configurable via flags/env vars | Uses Microsoft marketplace; modify `product.json` to use your own |
| Path-based routing | Has fixes for state collisions when used path-based | May have issues with path-based routing in certain configurations |
| Proposed API | Always enabled for all extensions | Only Microsoft extensions without configuration |
| Proxy integration | Integrates with Coder's proxy for ports panel | Integration is more limited |
| Sourcemaps | Loads locally | Uses CDN |
| Telemetry | Configurable endpoint | Does not allow a configurable endpoint |
| Terminal access to files | You can use a terminal outside of the integrated one to interact with files | Limited to integrated terminal access |
| User settings | Stored on remote disk | Stored in browser |
| Web views | Self-contained | Uses Microsoft CDN |

For more information about code-server, visit the [code-server FAQ](https://coder.com/docs/code-server/FAQ).
9 changes: 5 additions & 4 deletions docs/user-guides/workspace-access/index.md
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Expand Up @@ -78,12 +78,12 @@ Your workspace is now accessible via `ssh coder.<workspace_name>`
## Visual Studio Code

You can develop in your Coder workspace remotely with
[VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com/download). We support connecting with the
desktop client and VSCode in the browser with [code-server](#code-server).
[VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download).
We support connecting with the desktop client and VS Code in the browser with [code-server](#code-server).

![Demo](https://github.com/coder/vscode-coder/raw/main/demo.gif?raw=true)

Read more details on [using VSCode in your workspace](./vscode.md).
Read more details on [using VS Code in your workspace](./vscode.md).

## Cursor

Expand Down Expand Up @@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ on connecting your JetBrains IDEs.
## code-server

[code-server](https://github.com/coder/code-server) is our supported method of
running VS Code in the web browser. You can read more in our
running VS Code in the web browser.
Learn more about [what makes code-server different from VS Code web](./code-server.md) or visit the
[documentation for code-server](https://coder.com/docs/code-server/latest).

![code-server in a workspace](../../images/code-server-ide.png)
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12 changes: 7 additions & 5 deletions docs/user-guides/workspace-access/vscode.md
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# Visual Studio Code

You can develop in your Coder workspace remotely with
[VSCode](https://code.visualstudio.com/download). We support connecting with the
desktop client and VSCode in the browser with
[VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/download).
We support connecting with the desktop client and VS Code in the browser with
[code-server](https://github.com/coder/code-server).
Learn more about how VS Code Web and code-server compare in the
[code-server doc](./code-server.md).

## VSCode Desktop
## VS Code Desktop

VSCode desktop is a default app for workspaces.
VS Code desktop is a default app for workspaces.

Click `VS Code Desktop` in the dashboard to one-click enter a workspace. This
automatically installs the [Coder Remote](https://github.com/coder/vscode-coder)
Expand All @@ -21,7 +23,7 @@ extension, authenticates with Coder, and connects to the workspace.

### Manual Installation

You can install our extension manually in VSCode using the command palette.
You can install our extension manually in VS Code using the command palette.
Launch VS Code Quick Open (Ctrl+P), paste the following command, and press
enter.

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