code-server

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.

Use the editor

Start the editor

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

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

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

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.

Keep the host bind on 127.0.0.1. Do not expose an editor with --auth none to a LAN or public interface.

Check the service

curl -fsSI http://127.0.0.1:8080/ | head -n 1

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

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

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.

Clean up

msb rm -f code-server-demo

Reference

code-server documentation

⌘I

Agents

CI/CD

Docker

Sandbox Workflows

Automation & Tooling

Data & Observability

Use the editor

Reference

​Use the editor

​Reference

Use the editor

Reference