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How to Run VS Code in Your Browser

Rob Cheung
Rob Cheung
XLinkedIn

Zo Computer gives you a personal cloud server where you can run code, build projects, and host services. Every Zo comes with a built-in terminal and file system you can use right from your browser.

For more serious development, you can connect your favorite IDE directly to your Zo and use it as a remote development environment:

But what if you want VS Code in your browser—accessible from any device, without installing anything locally? That's possible too.

Why run VS Code in the browser?

A browser-based VS Code is useful when:

  • You're on a device where you can't install software (a work computer, a Chromebook, someone else's laptop)

  • You want a consistent environment that's always accessible from anywhere

  • You need to make quick edits from a tablet or phone

  • You want your development environment to keep running even when your local machine is off

Setting up VS Code Server on Zo

Zo has a setup prompt that installs and configures VS Code Server for you. Just tell your AI to run it with a password of your choice, and within a minute you'll have VS Code running at a URL like code-yourname.zocomputer.io.

The prompt handles installation, HTTPS, password authentication, and registering it as a managed service that auto-restarts.

VS Code Server vs cloud IDEs

There are several browser-based development options:

  • GitHub Codespaces — Fully managed, tightly integrated with GitHub. Pricing starts at $0.18/hour for a 2-core machine, with a free tier of 120 core-hours/month for personal accounts.

  • Gitpod (now Ona) — Works with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket. Recently restructured pricing around "compute units" with a limited free tier.

  • vscode.dev — Free and instant, but runs entirely in your browser with no terminal access or server-side execution.

  • VS Code Server on Zo — Self-hosted on your own server. Unlimited usage, full terminal access, complete control. Included with your Zo subscription.

For developers who want a personal development server they own, VS Code Server on Zo is the most flexible option—no per-hour billing, no vendor lock-in, and your AI can help maintain it.

What else can you run on Zo?

VS Code Server is just one example. Your Zo Computer can host:

  • Workflow automation like n8n

  • SSH access for connecting your local IDE

  • Databases like PostgreSQL, SQLite, or Redis

  • APIs and backends for your projects

  • Other self-hosted tools: Jupyter notebooks, media servers, dashboards

Your AI can help you set up and manage any of these, turning what used to require DevOps expertise into a simple conversation.

Resources

More tutorials

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How to Connect Your IDE to a Remote Server