VS Code vs VSCodium
Hi everyone! Welcome to my another blog.
Today we are going to see about difference between VS Code and VSCodium.
We all know about VS Code. If youβre a developer, then youβve probably used Visual Studio Code (VS Code) β a popular and powerful code editor. It is very useful for beginners because of User Interface. But have you heard of VSCodium? They look almost the same, but there are some important differences behind the scenes.
What is VS Code?
VS Code is a free code editor made by Microsoft. Itβs used by millions of developers for writing code in JavaScript, Python, C++, HTML, CSS, and many other languages. And there are some things also there which is making VS Code very special. There are,
- A nice user interface
- Built-in terminal and debugger
- Extension marketplace
- Git integration
- And more!
What is VSCodium?
VSCodium is almost the same as VS Code β it looks the same, works the same, and is also free.
But thereβs one main difference:
VSCodium is 100% open source and doesnβt send any data to Microsoft.
What does that mean?
When you use VS Code, it may collect some basic data (like what extensions you use or how the app performs) and send it to Microsoft. This is called telemetry. VSCodium removes all that.
So if youβre someone who really cares about privacy or using only open-source software, VSCodium is the better choice.
Summary in one line:
- VS Code is great for beginners and everyday use.
- VSCodium is the same thing, but without Microsoft and tracking.
Some common doubts about these platforms:
1. Can I use the same extensions in both?
Yes, most extensions work in both VS Code and VSCodium.
But in VSCodium, you may need to manually connect to the VS Code Marketplace, or some Microsoft-only extensions might not work properly.
note*: So if you're using popular extensions like Prettier, ESLint, or Live Server, they will likely work in both.
2. Do they look the same?
Yes! When you open VSCodium, it looks and feels almost exactly like VS Code.
The only small difference is the logo and name β VSCodium has a blue icon, and it doesnβt say βMicrosoftβ.
3. Why do people care about telemetry (data collection)?
Some developers are very serious about privacy or using only free and open-source software.
VS Code sends some data back to Microsoft to improve the product. Itβs not personal data, but some people prefer zero tracking, which is why they choose VSCodium.
4. Who maintains VSCodium?
VSCodium is not made by a company. It is maintained by open-source developers who want to give people a version of VS Code that doesnβt include Microsoftβs parts.
So that's it, guys. These are all the information which I want to share with you. I hope it will be useful for everyone. Will see you in next blog.