Install Visual Studio Code Web on Ubuntu 24.04

Download the installer script

You need to download the ⬇️ installer script to set up Visual Studio Code Web Ubuntu. First, open your terminal and run the update and curl installation commands. Next, fetch the official setup script using curl and run the installation command to finish setting up the environment on your system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install curl

Running the installer script requires executing the command below.

curl -fsSL https://code-server.dev/install.sh | sh -s -- --dry-run

Executing this command performs the actual installation.

curl -fsSL https://code-server.dev/install.sh | sh

Enter your administrative password when prompted to continue the installation.

Enabling the application and verifying service status happens through the command shown below.

sudo systemctl enable --now code-server@$USER
sudo systemctl status code-server@$USER

Active status should appear in the terminal output for the application.

For security, the Visual Studio Code for the Web session on Ubuntu requires a password. Set this by editing the `config.yaml` file located in the `.config/code-server/` folder. Add the chosen password next to the `auth: password` line in `config.yaml` to protect the workspace.

Opening the default configuration file at ~/.config/code-server/config.yaml inside the `nano` editor allows for quick edits.

nano ~/.config/code-server/config.yaml

Authentication requires defining a password inside this configuration.

bind-addr: 127.0.0.1:8080
auth: password
password: 6fd97c37c251428ed0f3c74e
cert: false

Saving the file and exiting precedes restarting the service with the command below to apply modifications.

sudo systemctl restart code-server@$USER

Use a Reverse Proxy Server

You should use a reverse proxy server (an intermediary that routes client requests to a backend service) to improve access when running Visual Studio Code Web Ubuntu. Setting up a tool like Nginx or Apache helps manage your network connections efficiently and gives you a much smoother web coding experience.

Two articles detail proxy server deployment on Ubuntu Linux.

• How to set up a proxy server using Apache on Ubuntu
• How to set up a proxy server using nginx on Ubuntu

Set up Let's Encrypt SSL Certificate

You need to set up a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate to secure your Visual Studio Code Web Ubuntu connection and protect your online coding environment. Encrypting your data keeps your remote connection safe from prying eyes, and you can easily configure the certificate to work with either Apache or Nginx.

• How to set up Let's Encrypt SSL certificate with Apache on Ubuntu
• How to set up Let's Encrypt SSL certificate with Nginx on Ubuntu

Reaching the Visual Studio Code for Web portal occurs once the environment configuration finishes.

Configuring a reverse proxy requires entering the designated hostname, whereas standard setups use the default endpoint below:

http://localhost:8080

Supplying the previously created authentication password grants access.

Writing code can begin immediately after logging in.

Configuration is complete.

Summary:

Browser-based coding provides a streamlined environment for writing and testing code on Ubuntu 24.04. Key takeaways include:

• Visual Studio Code for Web allows for lightweight, browser-based coding without installation.
• Effective for rapid coding sessions and collaboration on various devices.
• Supports integration with cloud services like GitHub for real-time collaboration.
• Installation is straightforward using the provided installer script.
• Configuring authentication enhances the security of your coding environment.
• Setting up a reverse proxy (using Nginx or Apache) optimizes accessibility.
• Implementing Let's Encrypt SSL certificates secures your service.
• Access your development environment via http://localhost:8080 after setup.
• Start coding and take advantage of the flexibility that this platform offers!