2025-03-13_Code-Server.md

@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+---
+date: 2025-03-13
+title: Code Server
+tags: 
+  - homelab
+  - development
+  - software
+  - code-assistant
+---
+
+I recently started using [Forgejo](https://forgejo.org/) for managing my personal projects (including this blog content).
+Prior to this, I was using self-hosted [GitLab](https://about.gitlab.com/); maybe I'll write a full post about this
+in the future, but basically I made the change because GitLab in Docker was a real memory hog and I much prefer
+open source solutions where available. One thing I missed from GitLab (and GitHub) is the built-in web IDE for
+making changes without having to clone the project locally. I found [Coder](https://coder.com/docs/code-server)
+which provides a containerized VSCode PWA that I plan to use as an alternative to GitHub Codespaces and GitLab 
+workspaces.
+
+## What is Code Server
+Code Server is an open source container distribution of VSCodium. VSCodium is the open source release of VSCode (think
+Chromium and Google Chrome). I personally have more experience with PyCharm and other JetBrains IDEs, but VSCode
+is another popular option and I've been making the transition at work from PyCharm to VSCode after comparing the
+LLM integration between them. Long story short, VSCode is miles ahead of JetBrains IDEs for code writing and
+LLM context management as of sometime last week when I tested them both.
+
+I haven't fully evaluated the differences between VSCode and Code Server yet, but in the context of a replacement for
+what I had with GitLab and GitHub I am satisfied with what I see in Code Server. 
+
+
+## Deployment
+Deployment is as simple as starting a Docker container. In addition to the documented setup process, I also mounted 
+a directory with my SSH configuration and keys so that I can easily connect to GitHub and my private Forgejo via SSH.
+
+I configured nginx ingress (for access from my LAN only). For most deployments, its probably easier to just use IP
+addresses but I like using nginx so that its a little easier to move deployments around and just update Nginx to point at
+the appropriate IP address. I've included my site config below in case anyone reading this wants to achieve something
+similar. I don't know that this is optimal, but it is working.
+
+```
+server {
+    listen 80;
+    listen 443 ssl;
+    server_name code.*;
+
+    include /config/nginx/ssl.conf;
+    add_header Front-End-Https on;
+
+
+    location / {
+        include /config/nginx/local_only.conf;
+        include /config/nginx/resolver.conf;
+
+        # Advanced Proxy Config
+        send_timeout 5m;
+        proxy_read_timeout 240;
+        proxy_send_timeout 240;
+        proxy_connect_timeout 240;
+
+        # Basic Proxy Config
+        proxy_set_header Host $host:$server_port;
+        proxy_set_header X-Client-IP $http_x_forwarded_for;
+        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
+        #proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto https;
+        proxy_redirect  http://  $scheme://;
+        proxy_http_version 1.1;
+        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
+        proxy_set_header Connection upgrade;
+        proxy_set_header Accept-Encoding gzip;
+        proxy_cache_bypass $cookie_session;
+        proxy_no_cache $cookie_session;
+        proxy_buffers 32 4k;
+        proxy_max_temp_file_size 2048m;
+
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Host code.mcknight.tech;
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $remote_addr;
+        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Ssl on;
+        proxy_pass http://coder:8080/;
+    }
+}
+```
+
+## Future Plans
+I still have some work to do before I decide whether or not Code Server can be my regular IDE, but so far it is a
+solid option for when I'm on my laptop doing things like writing this post. Compared to a VM, I appreciate being
+able to just copy/paste from my local clipboard. I might check out Coder as a more complete reproducible workspace
+in lieu of Code Server, or I might give in and go with VSCode in a VM so that I get Copilot integration.
+
+On a related node, I did try Cursor at work and was impressed with the LLM integration which does seem to outdo
+what VSCode offers. I decided against adopting it for regular use since you do have to commit to a monthly 
+subscription and I'm not a big fan of the UI changes they applied on top of VSCode. My hope is that eventually
+VSCode or some fork of it will enable local LLM integration, but then I would also want an open source LLM that
+performs comparably to GPT-4o and Claude 3.7.