markdown_files/DevContainers__GitHub_Codespaces.md

metadata

title: 'DevContainers: GitHub Codespaces'
original_url: https://tds.s-anand.net/#/github-codespaces?id=features-to-explore
downloaded_at: '2025-06-08T23:27:28.688679'

IDE: GitHub Codespaces

GitHub Codespaces is a cloud-hosted development environment built right into GitHub that gets you coding faster with pre-configured containers, adjustable compute power, and seamless integration with workflows like Actions and Copilot.

Why Codespaces helps

• Reproducible onboarding: Say goodbye to “works on my machine” woes—everyone uses the same setup for assignments or demos.
• Anywhere access: Jump back into your project from a laptop, tablet, or phone without having to reinstall anything.
• Rapid experimentation & debugging: Spin up short-lived environments on any branch, commit, or PR to isolate bugs or test features, or keep longer-lived codespaces for big projects.

Quick Setup

1. From the GitHub UI

   • Go to your repo and click Code → Codespaces → New codespace.
   • Pick the branch and machine specs (2–32 cores, 8–64 GB RAM), then click Create codespace.

2. In Visual Studio Code

   • Press Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac), choose Codespaces: Create New Codespace, and follow the prompts.

3. Via GitHub CLI

   gh auth login
   gh codespace create --repo OWNER/REPO
   gh codespace list    # List all codespaces
   gh codespace code    # opens in your local VS Code
   gh codespace ssh     # SSH into the codepsaceCopy to clipboardErrorCopied
   

Features To Explore

• Dev Containers: Set up your environment the same way every time using a devcontainer.json or your own Dockerfile. Introduction to dev containers
• Prebuilds: Build bigger or more complex repos in advance so codespaces start up in a flash. About prebuilds
• Port Forwarding: Let Codespaces spot and forward the ports your web apps use automatically. Forward ports in Codespaces
• Secrets & Variables: Keep your environment variables safe in the Codespaces settings for your repo. Manage Codespaces secrets
• Dotfiles Integration: Bring in your dotfiles repo to customize shell settings, aliases, and tools in every codespace. Personalizing your codespaces
• Machine Types & Cost Control: Pick from VMs with 2 to 32 cores and track your usage in the billing dashboard. Managing Codespaces costs
• VS Code & CLI Integration: Flip between browser VS Code and your desktop editor, and script everything with the CLI. VS Code Remote: Codespaces
• GitHub Actions: Power up prebuilds and your CI/CD right inside codespaces using Actions workflows. Prebuilding your codespaces
• Copilot in Codespaces: Let Copilot help you write code with in-editor AI suggestions. Copilot in Codespaces

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