Visual Studio Code

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to Visual Studio Code

A curated collection of the 2 best self hosted alternatives to Visual Studio Code.

Visual Studio Code is a cross-platform source-code editor with desktop and web versions. It provides syntax highlighting, debugging, Git integration, extensions ecosystem, and integrated AI coding assistants and agent features (e.g., Copilot).

Alternatives List

#1
code-server

code-server

code-server runs Visual Studio Code in your browser, providing a remote development environment you can self-host on a VM or container and access from any device.

code-server screenshot

code-server is an open source distribution of Visual Studio Code that runs on a remote machine and is accessed through a web browser. It provides a consistent development environment from anywhere while keeping compute and source access on your own infrastructure.

Key Features

  • Browser-based VS Code experience backed by a remote server
  • Remote development on Linux hosts to offload CPU/RAM-intensive tasks
  • Supports VS Code extensions and common developer workflows
  • Web access over secure connections, suitable for remote work setups
  • Multiple installation options including install script and container-based deployments

Use Cases

  • Remote development workspaces for individuals on a home server or cloud VM
  • Centralized development environments for teams needing consistent tooling
  • Low-power device development (e.g., laptops or tablets) by running workloads remotely

Limitations and Considerations

  • Requires a Linux host with WebSockets enabled and adequate CPU/RAM for editor and builds
  • Some desktop-specific VS Code features may behave differently in a browser-based environment

code-server is a practical way to standardize developer environments and access them from anywhere with a familiar VS Code interface. It fits well for personal remote setups and as a building block for larger managed remote development platforms.

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#2
RStudio Server

RStudio Server

RStudio Server provides the RStudio IDE in a web browser for multi-user R and Python development, including editing, plotting, debugging, and project management.

RStudio Server screenshot

RStudio Server is a web-accessible version of the RStudio IDE for data science development in R and Python. It provides a full coding workbench in the browser, making it easier to centralize compute and enable access for multiple users.

Key Features

  • Browser-based IDE experience with console, source editor, plots, workspace, help, and history
  • Syntax highlighting, code completion, and smart indentation
  • Run code directly from the editor (line, selection, or file)
  • Project-based workflow for managing multiple working directories
  • Integrated tools for debugging and error diagnosis
  • Authoring support for technical documents, including Sweave and TeX
  • Package development tooling to support R package workflows

Use Cases

  • Centralized data science environment for teams using shared servers or managed infrastructure
  • Teaching and training environments where learners access a consistent IDE via a browser
  • Remote development when local installation is not desired or practical

RStudio Server is a mature, widely used IDE option for organizations standardizing R/Python workflows and offering a consistent development experience across users and machines.

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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running