macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install code-serverlocal Homebrew formula metadata
brew / rank 1483
Install code-server with Homebrew, Nix
Access VS Code through the browser. Version 4.112.0 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-15. Also installable with nix: nix profile install nixpkgs#code-server.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#code-servernixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/co/code-server/package.nix · source: api.github.com
overview
Package summary
Access VS Code through the browser
Project links
Commands and aliases
- code-server
history
Project history and usage
code-server is Coder's project for running VS Code on a remote machine and accessing it through a browser. It packages the VS Code editing experience as a self-hosted web IDE with a `code-server` CLI, install script, service setup, and browser login flow.
Project history
The GitHub repository was created in 2019. The official contributing docs describe the early v1 architecture as a Code submodule plus a large patch that split the UI into a browser front-end and a server process. As VS Code's web architecture matured, code-server v2 and later used the Code front-end while implementing the server side, later reducing its patch set as upstream Code opened more server pieces.
Adoption history
code-server became a standard self-hosted way to get VS Code in a browser, especially for remote Linux machines and cloud development boxes. Official docs support install scripts, Debian and RPM packages, AUR, Homebrew, Docker, Helm, Raspberry Pi, Termux, and cloud-provider guides; the input also records Homebrew and Nix distribution.
How it is used
Typical use is installing `code-server`, starting it as a user service or container, then visiting localhost or a secured remote URL in a browser. The default config is created at `~/.config/code-server/config.yaml`, stores bind address, auth mode, password or hashed password, and TLS settings, and can be overridden by flags or environment variables.
Why package nerds care
For package nerds, code-server is significant because it turns a large desktop editor into a service-oriented CLI package. Its packaging story spans native packages, Homebrew, Nix, Docker images, Helm charts, AUR recipes, install scripts, and upstream VS Code version tracking, which makes it a useful case study in repackaging a fast-moving Electron editor for headless and server environments.
Timeline
- 2019: GitHub repository for coder/code-server created.
- 2019: v1 architecture split Code into browser front-end and server pieces, according to official contributing docs.
- 2022: v4 releases tracked upstream VS Code versions in the changelog.
- 2026: Recent releases continued tracking current VS Code versions.
Related projects
- Related projects and comparators include Visual Studio Code, Code OSS, Coder, Theia, OpenVSCode Server, GitHub Codespaces, VS Code web, devcontainers, and remote development tooling.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: orange
broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service.
Risk classifier
orange risk · medium confidence · infrastructure
Why
- broad file, network, media, or database tool signal
- formula declares a Homebrew service
Signals
- metadata:service
- text:server
Install behavior
- No Homebrew bottle metadata was recorded.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
local files
Configuration and credential file locations
These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval.
Configuration files
Config paths the tool may read or write during local use.
- Unix
~/.config/code-server/config.yaml
Credential files
Credential-bearing paths to review before unattended agent runs.
- Unix
~/.config/code-server/config.yaml
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
code-server | executable | indexed executable | Discovered from the local executable index. |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-08-03
manager version4.112.0
manager updated2026-06-15
local dataunknown
upstreamnot available
latest detectednot detected
- okNo freshness warnings were generated.
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:code-server |
|---|---|
| Version | 4.112.0 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Homepage | https://coder.com |
| Last updated | 2026-06-15T10:20:13-04:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Bottle | not recorded |
| Service | none declared |
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Nix95%
code-server
nix profile install nixpkgs#code-server- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Code Server
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated configuration and credential file locations
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- pkg.so package database
- pkgdb category and tag curation