Most developers know and use Visual Studio Code (VSCode). It’s fast, flexible, and supports pretty much every language and tool you throw at it. You can shape it into a full IDE with just a few extensions. It’s no surprise it’s all over the place.
But there’s a small detail many people miss.
The Problem with VSCode
Yes, VSCode’s source code is open. You can find it on GitHub, licensed under MIT. But the official builds you actually download from Microsoft’s website? That’s not the same thing.
Here’s what’s in the official Microsoft build:
- Telemetry code that tracks how you use the editor
- Proprietary branding (logos, names, etc.)
- Ties to Microsoft’s update and extension services
Even if you turn off telemetry in the settings, the code is still there. And because it’s closed source, there’s no easy way to see exactly what it does. You’re trusting Microsoft not just to behave, but to behave invisibly.
If you want the truly open version, you’d have to clone the vscode repo and build it yourself.
Every time it updates.
Not ideal.
Meet VSCodium
VSCodium fixes this.
It takes the open source VSCode codebase and builds it, without the Microsoft extras. No telemetry. No branding. No mystery meat.
You get:
- The same editor, built from source
- No proprietary bits
- Fully MIT-licensed binaries
- Hosted releases on GitHub
In other words, it’s the editor you thought you were getting the first time.
Why Use VSCodium?
If you don’t mind a bit of tracking or branding, maybe this isn’t a big deal. But if you care about:
- Privacy – No sneaky tracking scripts
- Freedom – 100% free/libre software
- Transparency – You can audit everything
- Convenience – No building it yourself
- Compatibility – Same extensions, same settings
…then VSCodium’s worth switching to. You lose nothing, but you gain control.
VSCode might be everywhere, but VSCodium is what open source should feel like.