GitHub Codespaces

GitHub Codespaces is a cloud-based development environment that allows you to code, run, and debug your applications directly from your browser. It's integrated with GitHub and provides a full Visual Studio Code experience in the cloud.

Features

  • Cloud-based Visual Studio Code environment
  • Integrated with GitHub repositories
  • Supports multiple programming languages, including Java
  • Customizable development environment
  • Access to GitHub Copilot (AI code completion tool) for educational use

Getting Started

  1. Sign up for a GitHub account if you don't have one
  2. Apply for GitHub Education benefits as a student or teacher
  3. Once approved, you can access Codespaces from your GitHub repositories
  4. Create a new Codespace or open an existing one
  5. Start coding in the cloud-based VS Code environment!
Lesson illustration

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Full VS Code experience in the browser
  • Integrated with GitHub for easy version control
  • Customizable development environment
  • Free for students and educators (with GitHub Education)
  • Access to GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted coding

Cons

  • Requires GitHub account and approval for education benefits
  • Limited free usage for non-educational accounts
  • Requires internet connection
  • May have a learning curve for Git and GitHub

What unique feature does GitHub Codespaces offer for educational use?