Eclipse Che vs OpenVSCode Server
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted ides & code editors options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Eclipse Che | OpenVSCode Server |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 91 · Excellent | 87 · Excellent |
| Category | IDEs & Code Editors | IDEs & Code Editors |
| License | EPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | kubernetes, helm | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 7,168 | ★ 6,179 |
| First released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Gitpod, GitHub Codespaces | GitHub Codespaces |
What are Eclipse Che and OpenVSCode Server?
Eclipse Che
Eclipse Che provides browser-based, containerized developer workspaces that run on Kubernetes. Each workspace is reproducible and isolated, giving teams consistent on-demand development environments.
- Browser-based IDE workspaces
- Kubernetes-native isolation
- Reproducible dev environments
- Devfile-driven setup
OpenVSCode Server
OpenVSCode Server is Gitpod's open-source build of VS Code that runs on a remote machine and is accessed through a browser. It provides a near-native editing experience anywhere.
- Full VS Code in browser
- Remote development
- Extension support
- Minimal patching of upstream
Eclipse Che vs OpenVSCode Server: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. Licensing differs — EPL-2.0 for Eclipse Che versus MIT for OpenVSCode Server. OpenVSCode Server is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for Eclipse Che. Eclipse Che is the more established project (first released 2016), while OpenVSCode Server arrived in 2021. OpenVSCode Server lists first-class Docker deployment; Eclipse Che does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Eclipse Che if…
- Released under the EPL-2.0 license
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 7.2k GitHub stars
- Written in TypeScript
Choose OpenVSCode Server if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 6.2k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Eclipse Che or OpenVSCode Server better?
Neither is universally better. Eclipse Che has the larger community, while OpenVSCode Server is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Eclipse Che and OpenVSCode Server free and open-source?
Yes. Eclipse Che is licensed under EPL-2.0 and OpenVSCode Server under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Eclipse Che and OpenVSCode Server with Docker?
Eclipse Che: check the project docs for container support. OpenVSCode Server: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Eclipse Che or OpenVSCode Server?
OpenVSCode Server has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for Eclipse Che. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.