Essential Mac Apps

VSCodium

Free code editor for Mac built from the VS Code source, without Microsoft telemetry or branding.

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VSCodium is Visual Studio Code without Microsoft's branding, telemetry and licence. It is not a fork. The project runs build scripts that compile Microsoft's open source vscode repository into ready-to-use binaries with a community default configuration.

Day to day it works like VS Code, because it is built from the same code. The build runs every day and produces a new release whenever Microsoft ships one, so version numbers follow VS Code.

The main difference is extensions. Microsoft's Marketplace terms only allow its extensions in Microsoft products, so VSCodium uses Open VSX, an open source extension registry. Some Microsoft extensions, such as some proprietary debugging tools, are licensed to work only with official VS Code builds. The VSCodium docs list known cases and workarounds, and explain how to turn off any remaining telemetry.

VSCodium is free and released under the MIT licence. It needs macOS 12 or later, with native builds for Apple Silicon and Intel as .dmg or .zip. Installing with Homebrew also adds the codium command for opening files and folders from Terminal.

Frequently asked questions

Is VSCodium free?

Yes. VSCodium is free, with no paid tier, and released under the MIT licence.

Is VSCodium safe and open source?

Yes. The build scripts are public on GitHub, and the editor itself comes from Microsoft's open source vscode code. The GitHub workflow files show exactly how each Mac, Windows and Linux binary is built.

How do I install VSCodium?

Download the Apple Silicon or Intel .dmg from the GitHub releases page, or run brew install --cask vscodium in Terminal. Homebrew also links the codium command.

What macOS version does VSCodium need?

VSCodium supports macOS 12 or newer, on both Apple Silicon and Intel. The limit comes from Electron, which the editor is built on.

How does VSCodium compare to Visual Studio Code?

Both come from the same source code. Microsoft's VS Code downloads are released under a licence that is not open source and include telemetry. VSCodium builds are MIT licensed, ship without Microsoft branding and telemetry, and use Open VSX for extensions. A few extensions that only work with official VS Code builds will not run in VSCodium.

Can I use VS Code extensions in VSCodium?

Yes, in most cases. VSCodium installs extensions from Open VSX, an open source registry for VS Code extensions. Extensions whose licence restricts them to official VS Code builds may not work.

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