codeserver setup
June 10, 2025 -I've used an iPad as a primary personal device for a few years but haven't yet cracked the development use case.
Code server may be the unlock I need, as it basically offers VSCode in the browser. You basically install it on a host, configure the networking, and then access it from the iPad (or another host).
Early impressions are good; I think this adds meaningful value to the iPad and unlocks quick edits like drafting a blog post or fixing bugs.
Some limitations:
- iPad OS seems to aggressively pause background processes so switching back and forth between code server and the browser can be clunky.
- It doesn't render perfectly; there is a large white band taking up the bottom 10% of the screen for some reason. (Update: there seems to be a workaround of turning off keyboard shortcuts in iPad settings as noted here.)
- Without browser dev tools, I'm not sure it would be suitable for heavy frontend work (this is out of scope of code server though).