Full VS Code in the browser
The complete VS Code interface — editor, integrated terminal, source control, debugger, extensions marketplace — runs in your browser. Open projects, edit files, run commands and commit from any device.
Applications → code-server
VS Code in your browser, on your own server.
code-server is a browser-based version of VS Code that runs on your ReefOffice server. Access your full development environment from any device — laptop, tablet or Chromebook — with no setup, no sync conflicts, and no code leaving your server.
What code-server does
code-server provides the full VS Code experience in the browser — editor, terminal, debugger, extensions, git integration and language servers. Your workspace, files and extensions live on your server; you access them from any browser without installing anything locally. It is especially useful for tablet-based workflows, shared team workspaces, and environments where code must stay on private infrastructure.
Why code-server on ReefOffice
Always-on development environment
Your workspace stays running on your server. Close your laptop, reopen from another machine — your terminal sessions, running processes and open files are exactly where you left them.
Extensions and language servers
Install any VS Code extension from the marketplace. Language servers for Python, TypeScript, Go, Rust and more can be installed server-side for full IDE support — linting, autocomplete, go-to-definition.
SSO access
Authentik SSO protects your code-server instance. Log in once through the same identity provider your team uses for Nextcloud, Vaultwarden and all other services.
Technical detail
How it works
code-server is the upstream open-source project maintained by Coder. It runs VS Code's server mode behind a TLS-terminated nginx reverse proxy, with websocket support for the terminal and debugger. On ReefOffice it runs as a Docker container with SSO authentication, file system access scoped to the workspace directory, and optional port forwarding for web application preview.
How it fits your stack
code-server works alongside your ReefOffice services — edit Nextcloud-connected projects, push code to Forgejo, review Hermes agent audit trails, or build custom Activepieces pieces — all from one browser tab without leaving your server.
Frequently asked questions
Can I install any VS Code extension? +
Most marketplace extensions work. Extensions that depend on native binaries (language servers, debuggers) must be compatible with the container's Linux environment. If an extension requires a specific runtime, you can install it server-side via a custom Dockerfile or ask ReefOffice to include it.
Is my code secure? +
Yes. All traffic is encrypted in transit (TLS). Authentication goes through Authentik SSO with MFA. Your code never leaves your server — it stays on the encrypted root filesystem alongside your other ReefOffice data. This is fundamentally different from cloud IDEs that copy your code to an external provider's infrastructure.
Can I preview web applications I develop? +
Yes. code-server supports port forwarding — run your dev server on any port and access it through the browser. For public previews, ReefOffice can configure a subdomain that proxies to your dev port.
Ready to code from any device?
Book a demo and see how code-server on ReefOffice gives you a private, always-on development environment accessible from any browser.