VSCodium — Free Open Source VS Code Without Telemetry

Introduction

VSCodium is a community-maintained binary distribution of Microsoft's VS Code editor, compiled from the open-source vscode repository with telemetry and proprietary additions stripped out. It provides the same editor experience without sending usage data to Microsoft.

What VSCodium Does

• Builds VS Code from the MIT-licensed source without proprietary blobs
• Disables telemetry, crash reporting, and Microsoft branding
• Supports most VS Code extensions via the Open VSX Registry
• Provides automatic builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Maintains parity with upstream VS Code releases

Architecture Overview

VSCodium uses automated CI/CD pipelines to clone the official microsoft/vscode repository, apply patches that remove telemetry endpoints and proprietary assets, then compile and package binaries for all major platforms. Extensions are sourced from the Open VSX marketplace instead of the proprietary Visual Studio Marketplace.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Download from the official releases page or use a package manager
• Settings, keybindings, and themes work identically to VS Code
• Extension compatibility: most extensions available on Open VSX; some Microsoft-exclusive ones (e.g., Remote SSH) are not available
• Migrate from VS Code by copying your settings.json and extensions folder
• Configure product.json overrides for custom marketplace URLs if needed

Key Features

• Zero telemetry out of the box with no opt-out dance
• Drop-in replacement for VS Code with identical UI and shortcuts
• Multi-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux (x64, arm64, armhf)
• Frequent releases tracking upstream VS Code within hours
• Flathub, Snap, Homebrew, and Chocolatey packages available

Comparison with Similar Tools

• VS Code — Same editor, but bundles Microsoft telemetry and proprietary marketplace
• Neovim — Terminal-based modal editor; steeper learning curve, lighter footprint
• Zed — GPU-accelerated editor with built-in collaboration; smaller extension ecosystem
• Helix — Post-modern terminal editor; no GUI, opinionated keybindings
• Lapce — Rust-based editor; newer with a growing but limited plugin ecosystem

FAQ

Q: Can I use VS Code extensions with VSCodium? A: Most extensions are available on the Open VSX Registry. Some Microsoft-proprietary extensions like Remote SSH or Live Share are not available unless you manually configure the marketplace URL.

Q: Is VSCodium always up to date with VS Code? A: Yes, automated builds typically produce new releases within hours of an upstream VS Code release.

Q: Will my VS Code settings work in VSCodium? A: Yes. Copy your settings.json, keybindings.json, and extensions directory. Paths differ slightly by platform.

Q: Is VSCodium truly free of telemetry? A: The build process patches out all known telemetry endpoints. Extensions you install may have their own telemetry, which you can audit individually.

Sources

• https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium
• https://vscodium.com