How to Install VSCodium on Debian Linux

VSCodium provides the same code editing experience as Visual Studio Code but without Microsoft’s telemetry and proprietary licensing. If you write Python scripts, develop web applications, or work with configuration files across your Debian system, VSCodium delivers IntelliSense, integrated debugging, and Git support while respecting your privacy. Since VSCodium is not included in Debian’s default repositories, you will add the official community repository maintained by the VSCodium project.

By the end of this guide, you will have VSCodium installed with automatic updates configured. Additionally, you will learn commands for launching, updating, and completely removing the editor including its user data.

Choose Your VSCodium Installation Method

VSCodium can be installed through two primary methods on Debian. Specifically, the APT repository provides direct system integration, while Flatpak offers sandboxed isolation.

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT Repository	VSCodium APT Repo	Latest stable	Automatic via apt upgrade	Most users who want direct system integration
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Automatic via flatpak update	Users who prefer sandboxed applications

For most users, the APT repository method is recommended because it provides seamless system integration, faster startup times, and native file system access. However, choose Flatpak if you specifically need application sandboxing or prefer managing applications separately from system packages.

Install VSCodium via APT Repository

The VSCodium project maintains an official APT repository with frequent updates that track upstream VS Code releases closely.

Update System Packages

First, refresh the package index and upgrade any outdated packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install Prerequisites

Next, install curl and gnupg for downloading and verifying the repository key:

sudo apt install curl gnupg -y

Import VSCodium Repository

Now, import the GPG signing key:

curl -fsSL https://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/raw/master/pub.gpg | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg

Then, add the repository using the modern DEB822 format:

cat <<EOF | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.sources
Types: deb
URIs: https://paulcarroty.gitlab.io/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/debs
Suites: vscodium
Components: main
Architectures: amd64 arm64
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg
EOF

Debian 12 (Bookworm) and newer versions use the DEB822 .sources format as standard. Debian 11 (Bullseye) supports this format but defaults to legacy .list files in most documentation. The repository supports both amd64 and arm64 architectures.

After adding the repository, refresh APT to verify it is recognized:

sudo apt update

In the output, look for lines referencing the VSCodium repository:

Get:1 https://paulcarroty.gitlab.io/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/debs vscodium InRelease
Get:2 https://paulcarroty.gitlab.io/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/debs vscodium/main amd64 Packages

If these lines appear, APT successfully connected to the VSCodium repository. Confirm the package is available:

apt-cache policy codium

codium:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 1.106.x
  Version table:
     1.106.x 500
        500 https://paulcarroty.gitlab.io/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/debs vscodium/main amd64 Packages

The output shows the candidate version and confirms APT recognizes the VSCodium repository as the package source.

Install VSCodium Package

With the repository configured, install VSCodium:

sudo apt install codium

Once installation completes, verify it by checking the version:

codium --version

1.106.x
xxxxxxxxx
x64

This output displays the version number, commit hash, and architecture. Your version will differ since VSCodium tracks upstream VS Code releases closely.

Install VSCodium via Flatpak

Alternatively, Flatpak provides a sandboxed installation that isolates VSCodium from your system. If you haven’t configured Flatpak yet, follow the Flatpak setup guide for Debian first.

Then, install VSCodium from Flathub:

flatpak install flathub com.vscodium.codium

Afterward, verify the installation:

flatpak info com.vscodium.codium

VSCodium - Code Editing. Redefined.

          ID: com.vscodium.codium
         Ref: app/com.vscodium.codium/x86_64/stable
        Arch: x86_64
      Branch: stable
      Origin: flathub
      Commit: xxxxxxxx
     Version: 1.106.x

Launch the Flatpak version:

flatpak run com.vscodium.codium

Keep in mind that Flatpak sandboxing restricts direct file system access. Grant additional permissions using Flatseal if VSCodium needs access to directories outside your home folder.

Launch VSCodium

For APT installations, launch VSCodium from the terminal:

codium

Similarly, you can open a specific directory as a workspace:

codium /path/to/project

In addition, desktop users can find VSCodium in their application menu. On GNOME, search for “VSCodium” in the Activities overview.

Notably, VSCodium uses the Open VSX Registry for extensions instead of Microsoft’s Visual Studio Marketplace. While most popular extensions are available, some Microsoft-specific extensions (Remote SSH, Live Share, Pylance) require workarounds or alternatives. Therefore, check the VSCodium extension documentation if you need a specific extension that appears unavailable.

Manage VSCodium

Update VSCodium

For APT installations, update VSCodium without upgrading your entire system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade codium

codium is already the newest version (1.106.x).

This command updates only the VSCodium package. Standard system updates (apt upgrade) will also include VSCodium when new versions are available.

For Flatpak installations:

flatpak update com.vscodium.codium

Remove VSCodium (APT)

To remove the APT installation, first uninstall the VSCodium package and remove orphaned dependencies:

sudo apt remove codium && sudo apt autoremove

Next, remove the repository file and GPG key to stop future update checks:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.sources
sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg

Finally, refresh APT and verify the package is no longer available from the repository:

sudo apt update && apt-cache policy codium

codium:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: (none)
  Version table:

As shown, the empty version table confirms the repository was removed successfully.

Remove VSCodium (Flatpak)

Alternatively, uninstall the Flatpak version with:

flatpak uninstall com.vscodium.codium

Remove VSCodium User Data

Regardless of installation method, VSCodium stores settings, extensions, and cached data in your home directory. These files persist after uninstalling the package.

The following commands permanently delete your VSCodium settings, installed extensions, and cached data. If you plan to reinstall VSCodium later or want to preserve your configuration, skip this section or back up these directories first using Timeshift or a manual copy.

For APT installations, remove the configuration directory containing settings and profiles:

rm -rf ~/.config/VSCodium

Then, delete the installed extensions:

rm -rf ~/.vscode-oss

Finally, clear the cached data:

rm -rf ~/.cache/VSCodium

For Flatpak installations, VSCodium stores its data in a sandboxed location. Remove all Flatpak-specific VSCodium data:

rm -rf ~/.var/app/com.vscodium.codium

Conclusion

You now have VSCodium installed on Debian through either the APT repository for direct system integration or Flatpak for sandboxed isolation. As a result, the repository method provides automatic updates through standard apt upgrade commands, while Flatpak users run flatpak update periodically. For project-specific workflows, consider exploring Docker on Debian for containerized development environments, or browse the Open VSX Registry to add language support, themes, and debugging tools.