Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated

Re:Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated by rcarmo on Wednesday June 21, 2023 @10:26AM (#36418863)

Trying this out, and a word of caution if you use the SSH provider: it does not check host SSH keys, which is sort of a no-no:

    [15:25:45] debug Run command provider command: ssh -oStrictHostKeyChecking=no

It also seems to rely on the remote server having passwordless sudo, which is... interesting.

Edit: I've managed to make it work with my own solution (https://github.com/rcarmo/azure-dev-bootstrap). It works OK, but since I'm used to provisioning the back-end boxes by myself and using VS Code Remote, there's little practical difference (also, my setup adds the dev box to my Tailscale network).

Would be really nice if the baseline SSH provider (and assumptions as to how the remote SSH server is set up) were fixed, and if I could get it to work on an iPad with Blink shell (edge use case, I know, but I do use that a lot, or just an RDP on Linux desktop).

Oh, and add B-series VMs to the Azure provider. For burstable use like coding, testing, etc., those are much more cost effective.

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Re:Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated by CoolCold on Wednesday June 21, 2023 @10:41AM (#36419065)

> it does not check host SSH keys

Otherwise DX would be totally ruined. Totally.

> work on an iPad

I never tried, but from the distance it looks like _working_ on such kind of devices is a torture, what's are your impressions, effectiveness comparison to working on laptop (desktop) with real keyboard?

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Re:Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated by rcarmo on Wednesday June 21, 2023 @11:31AM (#36419834)

Not DX, but security, yeah. I do this for one-shot automations inside a LAN or to talk to my own transient VMs inside the same box, but it is something you absolutely SHOULD NOT DO if you are connecting to a public host that may be compromised/spoofed whatever. Working at an ISP really opens your eyes to how easy that is to achieve.

(I am assuming that this, and the attempt to do passwordless sudo on the remote machine, simplifies the developers' life a lot since they don't have to put up prompts for you to validate the host key or do privilege escalation remotely, but they are must haves if I am to trust this solution.)

As to the iPad, I have been doing that for many, many years: https://taoofmac.com/space/blog/2016/11/06/1930 (the date on the URL does not denote the first mention). It is an excellent way to work for many hours with a quiet, cool (as in temperature) machine from remote locations.

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Re:Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated by 3oH2y869 on Wednesday June 21, 2023 @11:00AM (#36419344)

I prefer iPad over a laptop for a number of reasons:

- My main machine is a Mac desktop. I am not looking to add another powerful machine to the mix that I'm not going to use regularly. The iPad (or even another high quality laptop) would be just used as another beautiful screen, to work or watch Netflix on.

- I have a high quality, ergonomic Bluetooth keyboard that I pair with my both my Mac and my iPad. This means my ergonomics with my iPad is better than using a laptop with it's attached keyboard.

- I'm not looking to do long work sessions on these devices, although I honestly could. It's more for one off things, for updating my org-notes, for having a quick cafe work session, etc.

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Re:Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated by throwaway290 on Monday June 26, 2023 @11:41PM (#36488622)

Which keyboard do you use?

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Re:Codespaces but open-source, client-only, and unopinionated by 3oH2y869 on Monday July 10, 2023 @03:16PM (#36671511)

I've got the Corne-ish Zen, and I also recently acquired the Kinesis Advantage360. Both very niche, ergonomic boards but I'm very happy with it.

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