How to Install VSCodium on Fedora 40 or 39 Linux

VSCodium stands out as a notable alternative to the popular Visual Studio Code editor. It offers a similar experience without the telemetry and tracking features present in the latter. It is tailored for developers who prioritize privacy and want an open-source solution that doesn’t compromise functionality.

Here’s a glance at what makes VSCodium an excellent choice for developers:

Open-source nature, ensuring transparency and community-driven enhancements.
The absence of telemetry provides a privacy-focused development environment.
Compatibility with a multitude of programming languages and frameworks.
Extensive library of extensions to customize and enhance the development experience.
Intuitive user interface that caters to both novice and experienced developers.
Efficient performance, optimizing development time and resource usage.
Strong community support and regular updates for improved functionality.
Cross-platform compatibility, allowing for a consistent experience across different operating systems.

Now, let’s dive into the technical aspects of installing VSCodium on your Fedora Linux system.

Method 1: Install VSCodium via DNF

Update Fedora Before VSCodium Installation

Starting with an up-to-date Fedora Linux system is essential to ensure a smooth installation and maintain good practice. Open your terminal and execute the following command:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

This command updates all packages on your system. While most users can update without issues, those with specific software versions should review the updates to avoid breaking their applications.

Import VSCodium RPM Repo

Before installing VSCodium, you need to import the GPG key and repository. This will ensure that your Fedora workstation always has access to the most up-to-date version of VSCodium.

First, import the GPG key by running the following command in your terminal:

sudo rpmkeys --import https://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/-/raw/master/pub.gpg

Next, import the repository by executing the following command:

printf "[gitlab.com_paulcarroty_vscodium_repo]\nname=download.vscodium.com\nbaseurl=https://download.vscodium.com/rpms/\nenabled=1\ngpgcheck=1\nrepo_gpgcheck=1\ngpgkey=https://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/-/raw/master/pub.gpg\nmetadata_expire=1h" | sudo tee -a /etc/yum.repos.d/vscodium.repo

Upon executing the command, you should see the following output:

[gitlab.com_paulcarroty_vscodium_repo]
name=download.vscodium.com
baseurl=https://download.vscodium.com/rpms/
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
repo_gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/-/raw/master/pub.gpg
metadata_expire=1h

Install VSCodium via DNF Command

With the repository imported, you can now proceed to install VSCodium. Run the following command in your terminal:

sudo dnf install codium

For users interested in the insider build based on Visual Studio Code insider build, execute the following command:

sudo dnf install codium-insiders

Note: Both stable and insider builds can be installed simultaneously, as they share separate installations.

Method 2: Install VSCodium via Flatpak and Flathub

Setup Flathub for VSCodium

First, add the Flathub repository to your system to access various applications, including VSCodium. Run the following command to add the Flathub repository to Flatpak if you haven’t done so already:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

This command line instruction adds the Flathub repository to Flatpak if not previously added.

Install VSCodium via Flatpak Command

With Flatpak and Flathub now configured on your system, install VSCodium on Fedora. Execute the command below to start the installation process:

flatpak install flathub io.vscodium.VSCodium

This command instructs Flatpak to search for the VSCodium package within the Flathub repository and proceed with the installation onto your Fedora Linux system.

Note: If any hindrances are encountered, perhaps due to Flathub not being activated post-import on your Fedora Linux system, the following command can be utilized to rectify the issue:

flatpak remote-modify --enable flathub

Launch VSCodium on Fedora Linux

After successfully installing VSCodium on your Fedora Linux system, you can open the software. This section covers two convenient methods for command-line and desktop users.

CLI Methods to Launch VSCodium

For those who prefer working with the command line terminal, launching VSCodium is quick and straightforward. To open the stable version of VSCodium, execute the following command:

codium

If you have installed the insider build, use the following command instead:

codium-insiders

If you installed the Flatpak Flathub version of VSCodium, you will need to run the alternative Flatpak run application command:

flatpak run com.vscodium.codium

GUI Method to Launch VSCodium

Desktop users who prefer not to use the command line terminal can easily open VSCodium via the GUI. Follow the steps below to access VSCodium from the desktop environment:

Click on Activities located at the top left corner of your screen.
Select Show Applications (represented by a grid icon) at the bottom left corner of the Activities overlay.
Locate and click on the VSCodium icon to launch the application.

Example of launching VSCodium application from icon on Fedora Linux

Additional VSCodium Management Commands

Update VSCodium

DNF Method to Update VSCodium

To keep VSCodium up-to-date and maintain the best performance, it’s crucial to update the software regularly. Instead of manually checking for updates, you can use the command line to update VSCodium and your other DNF system packages. Run the following command to perform a blanket check for updates across all DNF packages:

sudo dnf update --refresh

This command will also update VSCodium if a new version is available.

Flatpak Method to Update VSCodium

Similar to the DNF method, run the following command to check for updates to the VSCodium Flatpak installation:

flatpak update

This will check VSCodium for updates and any other Flatpak installations.

Note: VSCodium installed by either method needs to be constantly checked for updates; it’s a very active project that usually sees a significant amount of updates pushed every month to a few weeks.

Remove VSCodium

DNF Method to Remove VSCodium

You can remove it using the command line if you no longer require VSCodium on your Fedora Linux system. To uninstall the standard version of VSCodium, execute the following command:

sudo dnf remove codium

For those who installed the insider build, use this command instead:

sudo dnf remove codium-insiders

If you decide not to use VSCodium in the future and wish to remove the repository from your system, run the following command:

sudo rm /etc/yum.repos.d/vscodium*

Flatpak Method to Remove VSCodium

Lastly, the removal process is very straightforward if you use Flatpak with the Flathub repository to install VSCodium.

Run the following command to remove the software:

flatpak uninstall com.vscodium.codium

Closing Thoughts

In this guide, we walked you through installing VSCodium on Fedora 40 or 39, offering a telemetry-free, open-source alternative for your coding endeavors. Embracing VSCodium respects your privacy and provides a rich, customizable development environment. As you use VSCodium, explore its extensive extensions and tailor it to fit your workflow.

Useful and Relevant Links

Here are some valuable links related to using VSCodium:

VSCodium Official Website: Visit the official VSCodium website for information about the open-source version of Visual Studio Code, its features, and download options.
VSCodium GitHub Repository: Access the VSCodium GitHub repository to view the source code, report issues, and contribute to the development.
VSCodium Wiki: Explore the VSCodium Wiki for detailed documentation, tutorials, and community-contributed content.