code-server - Microsandbox

Run VS Code in a disposable microVM when you want an editable Linux workspace without installing its tools or extensions on the host. The project is copied into the sandbox, so edits stay isolated until you explicitly copy them back.

<Tooltip tip="This example publishes code-server to a port on the computer running the CLI, which is not available on microsandbox cloud."><span className="msb-badge-local">Local-only <Icon icon="circle-info" size={11} /></span></Tooltip>

Use the editor

<Steps> <Step title="Start the editor"> <CodeGroup> ```sh macOS & Linux msb run -d --name code-server-demo --replace \ --cpus 2 --memory 2G --root-disk 4G \ -p 127.0.0.1:8080:8080 \ --entrypoint code-server \ codercom/code-server:4.130.0 -- \ --bind-addr 0.0.0.0:8080 \ --auth none \ /home/coder/project ```

powershell

msb run -d --name code-server-demo --replace `
  --cpus 2 --memory 2G --root-disk 4G `
  -p 127.0.0.1:8080:8080 `
  --entrypoint code-server `
  codercom/code-server:4.130.0 -- `
    --bind-addr 0.0.0.0:8080 `
    --auth none `
    /home/coder/project

</CodeGroup>

The host port is bound to 127.0.0.1, so the unauthenticated editor is reachable only from the local machine.

</Step> <Step title="Add a project">

Replace ./my-project with the directory you want to edit:

msb cp ./my-project/. code-server-demo:/home/coder/project
msb exec -u root code-server-demo -- chown -R coder:coder /home/coder/project

Open http://127.0.0.1:8080. The editor, terminal, extensions, and project commands all run inside the microVM.

<Warning> Keep the host bind on `127.0.0.1`. Do not expose an editor with `--auth none` to a LAN or public interface. </Warning> </Step> <Step title="Check the service"> <CodeGroup> ```sh macOS & Linux curl -fsSI http://127.0.0.1:8080/ | head -n 1 ```

powershell

curl.exe -fsSI http://127.0.0.1:8080/ | Select-Object -First 1

</CodeGroup>

A healthy server responds with an HTTP status line, usually a redirect into the workspace.

</Step> <Step title="Copy changes back">

Export the edited project into a new host directory:

msb cp code-server-demo:/home/coder/project ./code-server-output

Review code-server-output before merging its changes into the original checkout.

</Step> <Step title="Clean up">

msb rm -f code-server-demo

</Step> </Steps>

Reference

code-server documentation