Install Visual Studio Code Web on Ubuntu 24.04

Download the installer script

Visual Studio Code for the Web on Ubuntu 24.04 is installed using a simple script.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install curl

Next, run this command to download the Visual Studio Code for Web installer script.

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

Then, execute the following command to install it.

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

When prompted, type in your password (admin) to proceed with the installation.

Once installed, run the command below to enable it and check the service status.

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

The command should output an active status for the app.

 code-server@richard.service - code-server
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/code-server@.service; enabled; pre>
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2024-12-22 11:46:29 CST; 8s ago
   Main PID: 4259 (node)
      Tasks: 22 (limit: 4561)
     Memory: 60.3M (peak: 60.7M)
        CPU: 503ms
     CGroup: /system.slice/system-codex2dserver.slice/code-server@richard.serv>
             ├─4259 /usr/lib/code-server/lib/node /usr/lib/code-server
             └─4286 /usr/lib/code-server/lib/node /usr/lib/code-server/out/node>

Configure Visual Studio Code for Web

Setting a password for Visual Studio Code for the Web on Ubuntu secures your coding environment.

To do that, open the default code-server configuration file at ~/.config/code-server/config.yaml using the nano editor.

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

Next, create a password for authentication.

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

Save the file and exit. Restart the service using the command below to apply your changes.

sudo systemctl restart code-server@$USER

Use a Reverse Proxy Server

Using a reverse proxy server like Nginx or Apache can improve how you use Visual Studio Code for the Web on Ubuntu.

Below are two articles that guide you through setting up a proxy server 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

Adding a Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate to Visual Studio Code for the Web on Ubuntu provides a secure connection.

• 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

Once your environment is set up, go ahead and access the Visual Studio Code for Web portal.

If you configured a reverse proxy, enter the hostname. Otherwise, use the default hostname and port below:

http://localhost:8080

Enter the password you created in the password file.

Now you’re ready to start coding.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

Installing Visual Studio Code for Web on Ubuntu 24.04 gives you a streamlined coding experience right in your browser. Here are the key things to remember:

• 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!