What is vscodium

Overview

VSCodium is an open-source code editor that addresses privacy concerns users have about Visual Studio Code. While VS Code itself is open-source, Microsoft's official builds include proprietary features and telemetry that track user behavior. VSCodium provides the same powerful editing experience with these privacy-invasive components removed.

Relationship to Visual Studio Code

VSCodium is not a fork of VS Code but rather a clean build of the open-source VS Code source code. Microsoft publishes the VS Code source code under the MIT license, which permits anyone to compile and distribute their own builds. VSCodium takes advantage of this licensing by providing builds without the proprietary "Office" branding and telemetry that Microsoft adds.

Key Differences from VS Code

The main differences between VSCodium and official VS Code include removed telemetry, removed marketplace lockdown that prevents extension installation from alternative sources, and removed Microsoft branding. VSCodium uses the Open VSX Registry as its default extension marketplace, though users can still install extensions from Microsoft's marketplace if desired. These changes maintain full functionality while respecting user privacy.

Extension Compatibility

VSCodium maintains excellent compatibility with both the Open VSX Registry (an open-source extension marketplace) and the official Microsoft VS Code Marketplace. The vast majority of extensions work identically on VSCodium, allowing users to access the extensive ecosystem of VS Code plugins without compromising privacy.

Use Cases and Community

VSCodium appeals to privacy-conscious developers, open-source advocates, and users uncomfortable with telemetry collection. The project has gained significant adoption among Linux developers and those seeking fully transparent software. Regular releases keep the software up-to-date with VS Code features while maintaining the privacy-first approach.