# Getting Started

[code-server](https://coder.com) is used by developers at Azure, Google,
Reddit, and more to give them access to VS Code in the browser.

## Quickstart Guide

> NOTE: If you get stuck or need help, [file an issue](https://github.com/cdr/code-server/issues/new?&title=Improve+self-hosted+quickstart+guide),
> [tweet (@coderhq)](https://twitter.com/coderhq) or
> [email](mailto:support@coder.com?subject=Self-hosted%20quickstart%20guide).

This document pertains to Coder-specific implementations of VS Code. For
documentation on how to use VS Code itself, please refer to the official
[documentation for VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs)

It takes just a few minutes to get your own self-hosted server running. If
you've got a machine running macOS, Windows, or Linux, you're ready to start
the binary which listens on ports `8443` and `8444` by default.

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1. Visit [the releases](https://github.com/cdr/code-server/releases) page and
   download the latest cli for your operating system.
2. Double click the executable to run in the current directory.
3. Copy the password that appears in the CLI. <img src="../assets/cli.png">
4. In your browser navigate to `localhost:8443`.
5. Paste the password from the cli into the login window. <img src="../assets/server-password-modal.png">

> NOTE: Be careful with your password as sharing it will grant those users
> access to your server's file system

### Things To Know
- When you visit the IP for your code-server instance, you will be greeted with
  a page similar to the following screenshot. Code-server is using a
  self-signed SSL certificate for easy setup. In Chrome/Chromium, click
  **"Advanced"** then click **"proceed anyway"**. In Firefox, click
  **Advanced**, then **Add Exception**, then finally **Confirm Security
  Exception**. <img src ="../assets/chrome_warning.png">

## Usage
```
code-server --help
```

code-server can be ran with a number of arguments to customize your working
directory, host, port, and SSL certificate.

### Data Directory
Use `code-server --user-data-dir path/to/directory` to specify the root folder
that VS Code will start in.

### Host
By default, code-server will use `127.0.0.1` for insecure connections and
`0.0.0.0` for secure connections. This can be changed by using
`code-server --host `.

> Example: `code-server --host 127.0.0.1`

### Open
You can have the server automatically open the VS Code in your browser on
startup by using the `code-server -o` or `code-server --open` flags

### Port
By default, code-server will use `8443` as its port. This can be changed by
using `code-server -p` or `code-server --port=` followed by the port you want
to use.

> Example: `code-server -p 9000`

### Cert and Cert Key
To encrypt the traffic between the browser and server use `code-server --cert`
followed by the path to your `.cer` file. Additionally, you can use certificate
keys with `code-server --cert-key` followed by the path to your `.key` file.

Example:
```
code-server --cert /path/to/certificate/fullchain.cer --cert-key /path/to/certificate/fullchain.key
```

Example for Let's Encrypt:
```
code-server --cert /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/fullchain.pem --cert-key /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.com/privkey.key
```

To ensure the connection between you and your server is encrypted view our
guide on [securing your setup](../security/ssl.md).

### Nginx Reverse Proxy
Below is a virtual host example that works with code-server. Please also pass
`--allow-http` and `--trust-proxy` to code-server to allow the proxy to
connect. You can also use Let's Encrypt to get a SSL certificates for free.

```
server {
  listen 80;
  listen [::]:80;
  server_name code.example.com code.example.org;
  location / {
      proxy_pass http://localhost:8443/;
      proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
      proxy_set_header Connection upgrade;
      proxy_set_header Accept-Encoding gzip;
  }
}
```

### Apache Reverse Proxy
Example of an HTTPS virtualhost configuration for Apache as a reverse proxy.
Please also pass `--allow-http` and `--trust-proxy` to code-server to allow the
proxy to connect. You can also use Let's Encrypt to get a SSL certificates for
free.

```
<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName code.example.com

  RewriteEngine On
  RewriteCond %{HTTP:Upgrade} =websocket [NC]
  RewriteRule /(.*)           ws://localhost:8443/$1 [P,L]
  RewriteCond %{HTTP:Upgrade} !=websocket [NC]
  RewriteRule /(.*)           http://localhost:8443/$1 [P,L]

  ProxyRequests off

  RequestHeader set X-Forwarded-Proto https
  RequestHeader set X-Forwarded-Port 443

  ProxyPass / http://localhost:8443/ nocanon
  ProxyPassReverse / http://localhost:8443/

</VirtualHost>
```
*Important:* For more details about Apache reverse proxy configuration checkout
the [documentation](https://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/mod/mod_proxy.html) -
especially the [Securing your Server](https://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/mod/mod_proxy.html#access)
section.


### Help
Use `code-server --help` to view the usage for the CLI.