What is the fastest way to try a CDE?

GitHub Codespaces is the fastest - open any GitHub repo, click 'Code' then 'Open with Codespaces'. You'll have a full VS Code environment in seconds with no setup required. Free tier includes 60 hours/month.

Do I need to install anything to use CDEs?

For browser-based access, no installation needed. For local IDE connection, install VS Code with Remote SSH extension or JetBrains Gateway. The actual development environment runs in the cloud.

How do I add a DevContainer to my project?

Create a .devcontainer/devcontainer.json file in your repo. Start with a template for your language (Node.js, Python, etc.) and customize. VS Code can generate this automatically via the 'Add Dev Container Configuration Files' command.

Getting Started with CDEs

Your complete quickstart guide to cloud development environments - from zero to productive in minutes

Before You Start

Any Computer

CDEs work from any machine with a browser or SSH client - even a Chromebook or tablet.

Internet Connection

A stable internet connection is required. Most CDEs work well on connections 10Mbps+.

Git Repository

Your code hosted on GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or any Git provider.

New to Cloud Development?

No worries - you don't need to change how you code. CDEs feel like local development but run in the cloud. Your favorite IDE, keybindings, and extensions all work the same way.

5-Minute Quickstart (GitHub Codespaces)

GitHub Codespaces is the fastest way to try CDEs. Free tier includes 120 core hours/month (60 hours on a 2-core machine).

Go to Your Repository

Navigate to any GitHub repository you want to work on.

https://github.com/your-org/your-repo

Press the Period Key

On any GitHub repo page, press . (period) to open github.dev instantly.

Or click the green "Code" button and select "Codespaces" tab.

Create a Codespace

Click "Create codespace on main" - your environment will be ready in ~30 seconds.

That's it! You're now coding in the cloud.

Start Coding

You're now in a full VS Code environment. Run commands in the terminal, install extensions, and commit changes.

# Example: Run your project

npm install

npm run dev

Choose Your Platform

Different platforms suit different needs. Here's how to get started with each major CDE provider.

GitHub Codespaces

Best for GitHub-centric teams wanting zero-config cloud development.

120 free core hours/month
Deep GitHub integration
No infrastructure needed

Get Started

Ona (formerly Gitpod)

AI-powered development platform with environments and autonomous coding agents.

Free tier with 4 vCPUs/16GB RAM
Built-in AI coding agents
SaaS or self-hosted

Get Started

Coder

Self-hosted platform with Terraform templates and AI agent integration.

Open source core
Any cloud or on-prem
Enterprise compliance

Get Started

DevPod

Open-source desktop app for running DevContainers anywhere.

100% free and open source
Works with any provider
Desktop + CLI

Get Started

Daytona

Secure infrastructure for running AI-generated code in sandboxed environments.

Apache 2.0 license
Millisecond sandbox creation
AI agent sandboxing

Get Started

VS Code Remote SSH

Connect VS Code to any Linux machine via SSH - DIY approach.

Free (your infra costs)
Full VS Code experience
Maximum flexibility

Get Started

Connect Your Favorite IDE

VS Code

JetBrains IDEs

IntelliJ, PyCharm, GoLand, etc.

Download JetBrains Gateway (free)

Select your CDE provider (Coder, Ona, etc.) or SSH

Gateway installs the IDE backend and connects you

Pro tip: Gateway only runs the frontend locally - the IDE runs on your CDE for maximum performance.

Browser-Based (No Install)

Access from any device

Most CDEs include a web-based VS Code (code-server) that runs directly in your browser. Just click a link and start coding - no installation required.

Chrome Firefox Safari Edge

Setting Up DevContainers

DevContainers define your development environment as code. Add one to your repo and everyone gets the same setup.

Create .devcontainer/devcontainer.json

{
  "name": "My Project",
  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/base:ubuntu",

  // Install Node.js and Python
  "features": {
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/node:1": {},
    "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/python:1": {}
  },

  // VS Code extensions to install
  "customizations": {
    "vscode": {
      "extensions": [
        "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
        "dbaeumer.vscode-eslint"
      ]
    }
  },

  // Commands to run after container starts
  "postCreateCommand": "npm install",

  // Ports to forward
  "forwardPorts": [3000, 8080]
}

image - Base container image (Ubuntu, Debian, Alpine, etc.)

features - Reusable components (languages, tools, CLIs)

customizations - IDE extensions and settings

postCreateCommand - Setup scripts (install dependencies)

Read the complete DevContainers guide

Set Up AI Coding Assistants

AI coding assistants are essential tools in 2026. CDEs let you centrally manage, govern, and pre-install them for your entire team.

GitHub Copilot

Inline code suggestions and chat integrated into VS Code, JetBrains, and Codespaces.

// In devcontainer.json

"extensions": [

"github.copilot",

"github.copilot-chat"

]

$10/mo for Pro. Free for verified students and open source maintainers.

Cursor

AI-native editor built on VS Code. Connects to CDE workspaces via Remote SSH for full cloud development.

# Connect Cursor to your CDE

Cursor > Remote-SSH >

Connect to Host

Free tier available. Pro at $20/mo with unlimited AI completions.

Claude Code

Agentic CLI tool that runs directly in your CDE terminal. Understands full codebases and makes multi-file changes.

# Install in your CDE terminal

npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

claude

Requires Anthropic API key or Max subscription. Ideal for CDE terminals.

Why AI Assistants Work Better in CDEs

CDEs provide consistent, powerful compute for AI tools. Your team gets uniform AI access, API keys are managed centrally through secrets, and AI-generated code stays within your security boundary. Pre-install assistants via DevContainers so every workspace is AI-ready from the start.

Read the full AI Coding Assistants guide

Common First Tasks

Set Up Git Credentials

git config --global user.name "Your Name"

git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

Most CDEs inherit credentials from your SSO login.

Forward Ports

# In VS Code, open the Ports panel

# Or use the terminal:

npm run dev -- --port 3000

CDEs auto-detect and forward ports to your browser.

Install Extensions

Your extensions install on the remote machine, not locally. Add them to devcontainer.json to share with your team.

"extensions": ["esbenp.prettier-vscode"]

Configure Secrets

Never put secrets in devcontainer.json. Use your CDE's secret management:

- Codespaces: Repository secrets
- Coder: Workspace parameters
- Ona: Environment variables

Common Issues & Solutions

Connection drops or is slow

- Check your internet connection stability
- Try a wired connection instead of WiFi
- Reduce the workspace machine type if not needed
- Contact your IT team about firewall settings for port 22 (SSH)

Extensions not working

- Extensions run remotely, not locally - reinstall them in the workspace
- Some extensions require specific dependencies - check extension docs
- UI extensions need to be installed locally, workspace extensions remotely

Git authentication issues

- Use SSH keys instead of HTTPS for Git operations
- Enable credential forwarding in your CDE settings
- For Codespaces: GitHub credentials are automatic
- For others: Add your SSH key to the workspace or use SSH agent forwarding

Workspace won't start

- Check if you've exceeded your quota (Codespaces: 120 core hours free)
- Try rebuilding the container (may fix corrupted state)
- Check for syntax errors in devcontainer.json
- Review the creation logs for specific error messages

Full Troubleshooting Guide

Getting Started with CDEs

Before You Start

Any Computer

Internet Connection

Git Repository

New to Cloud Development?

5-Minute Quickstart (GitHub Codespaces)

Go to Your Repository

Press the Period Key

Create a Codespace

Start Coding

Choose Your Platform

GitHub Codespaces

Ona (formerly Gitpod)

Coder

DevPod

Daytona

VS Code Remote SSH

Connect Your Favorite IDE

VS Code

JetBrains IDEs

Browser-Based (No Install)

Setting Up DevContainers

Create .devcontainer/devcontainer.json

Set Up AI Coding Assistants

GitHub Copilot

Cursor

Claude Code

Why AI Assistants Work Better in CDEs

Common First Tasks

Set Up Git Credentials

Forward Ports

Install Extensions

Configure Secrets

Common Issues & Solutions

Next Steps

Master DevContainers

AI Coding Assistants

Compare Platforms

Plan Your Migration