VSCodium - Open Source Version of VS Code

Every time you launch VS Code, Microsoft collects telemetry unless you’ve manually disabled it. Even then, you’re trusting a proprietary binary that differs from the open-source code it’s built from. VSCodium eliminates this uncertainty. Built from the same MIT-licensed source without Microsoft’s tracking infrastructure, it’s VS Code as the source code intended, not as Microsoft packaged it. The trade-off is losing access to a handful of proprietary extensions. For many developers, that’s worth it.

Introduction

VS Code is one of the most popular code editors available today. Developed by Microsoft, this powerful and flexible tool is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It has gained a massive following among developers thanks to its impressive set of features, ease of use, and versatility.

However, some users are wary of using VS Code due to Microsoft’s involvement in its development. If you’re one of them, you’ll be glad to know that there’s an alternative - VSCodium.

VSCodium is an open source version of VS Code that’s free of Microsoft’s proprietary code. It is a community-driven, freely-licensed binary distribution of Microsoft’s editor VS Code. This means that VSCodium is a fully functional code editor, with almost all of the features of VS Code, but without the data collection or tracking built into the official version.

In this article, I’ll touch main points you need to know about VSCodium.

How it all works

The key to understanding VSCodium lies in how VS Code is built. Microsoft releases the source code for Visual Studio Code under the friendly, open-source MIT license. However, the binary application you download from Microsoft’s website is licensed under a proprietary Microsoft product license.

During the build process of the official VS Code, Microsoft injects a customized product.json file. This file adds:

• Proprietary assets (official branding/logos).
• Telemetry mechanisms to track usage and crashes.
• Configuration to use the official Microsoft Extension Marketplace.

The VSCodium project includes special build scripts that clone Microsoft’s VS Code repo, run the build commands without injecting that proprietary product.json, and upload the resulting binaries to GitHub releases. The result is a binary that is truly MIT-licensed, with no telemetry and no Microsoft tracking.

Build it Yourself

Some people prefer to use VSCodium because they value their privacy and want a product they can fully control. If you want to build from source yourself, head over to Microsoft VS Code repo and follow their instructions. VSCodium exists simply to make it easier to get the latest version of MIT-licensed VSCode without doing this manual work every time.

VSCodium Features

VSCodium retains the core functionality that makes VS Code great, including:

• A lightweight and fast code editor
• Support for multiple languages and frameworks
• A powerful IntelliSense system that provides code completion and suggestions
• Integrated terminal
• Debugging capabilities
• Built-in Git support

Key Differences & Limitations

While VSCodium is a fantastic alternative, it is not a 1:1 clone in every aspect. The removal of proprietary components leads to some functional differences, particularly regarding extensions.

1. The Extension Marketplace

The official VS Code binary connects to the Microsoft Extension Marketplace. VSCodium cannot legally access this because Microsoft’s Terms of Use restrict it to their official products.

Instead, VSCodium uses the Open VSX Registry, a vendor-neutral alternative hosted by the Eclipse Foundation. While it hosts most popular extensions, it is not a perfect mirror. You might find some extensions missing or updated less frequently than on the official marketplace.

2. Proprietary Extensions

Some specific Microsoft extensions are strictly proprietary and check for the official VS Code software to run. These generally do not work in VSCodium:

• GitHub Copilot & IntelliCode
• Visual Studio Live Share
• C# Dev Kit (official)
• Remote Development Extensions (SSH, Containers, WSL)

Users relying heavily on these specific tools might find VSCodium restrictive or require manual workarounds.

3. Privacy and Telemetry

This is the main selling point. The official VS Code has telemetry enabled by default; it sends usage data and crash reports to Microsoft unless you manually disable it. VSCodium has this stripped out at the binary level—it simply doesn’t have the code to send that data.

4. Settings Sync

VS Code’s built-in Settings Sync relies on Microsoft’s authentication servers and does not work in VSCodium out of the box.

Solution: You can use the Sync Settings extension (by Daiyam), which stores your configuration in a GitHub Gist, similar to how the old (now deprecated) “Settings Sync” extension worked. Alternatively, many users simply sync their settings.json file using Git or a cloud drive.

For a visual guide on setting up GitHub with VSCodium for syncing, you might find VSCodium / VSCode & GitHub Setup helpful.

VSCodium Benefits

• Transparency & Security: Because the build scripts are open-source, the entire pipeline is transparent. You don’t have to trust a black-box compilation process; you can verify exactly how the binary was created from the source code.

• Privacy by Default: Telemetry is disabled at the build level, not just the configuration level. You don’t need to hunt through settings to turn off “Crash Reporting” or “Usage Data”, since it simply isn’t there to begin with.

• True FLOSS Compliance: For strict open-source advocates, VSCodium provides a binary that aligns perfectly with the MIT license of the source code. There is no discrepancy between the code you read and the tool you run.

• Cleaner Experience: Without the proprietary Microsoft branding, “Start” pages, and upsells for other Microsoft services, the editor provides a focused environment free of corporate distractions.

FAQs

Q: Is VSCodium free to use?
A: Yes, VSCodium is completely free to use.

Q: Does VSCodium have all the features of VS Code?
A: It has all the core editing features. However, it lacks access to the official Microsoft Marketplace and cannot run certain proprietary extensions like GitHub Copilot or Live Share.

Q: Can I use VSCodium for commercial purposes?
A: Yes, VSCodium is licensed under the MIT license, which allows for commercial use.

Q: Is VSCodium available for all platforms?
A: Yes, VSCodium is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for an open source alternative to VS Code, VSCodium is an excellent choice for developers who prioritize privacy and open-source principles over convenience.

While you may trade off seamless access to some proprietary Microsoft extensions, you gain a transparent, telemetry-free editor that respects your data.

Download the latest VSCodium release to give it a try.