How Do I Install VSCodium on Linux?

If you’re looking for a lightweight, privacy-focused alternative to Visual Studio Code, then VSCodium is a great choice. It provides the same powerful code editing experience as VS Code but without proprietary tracking or branding.

Installing VSCodium on Linux is actually simple, but the steps vary depending on your distribution. In this guide, you’ll learn the easiest and most reliable ways to install it on Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, and other Linux systems.

Read More: How Do I Install VSCodium on Windows?

What is VSCodium?

VSCodium is a community-built version of Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code. It is compiled from the same open-source codebase but removes:

• Microsoft telemetry
• Branding and proprietary components
• Tracking services

This makes it ideal for developers who care about privacy and open-source tools.

Method 1: Install VSCodium via Official Repository (Recommended)

This is the easiest and most stable way to install VSCodium on Debian-based systems like Ubuntu.

Step 1: Add the GPG Key

Open your terminal and run:

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

Step 2: Add the Repository

echo 'deb [ signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg ] https://download.vscodium.com/debs vscodium main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.list

Step 3: Update Package List

sudo apt update

Step 4: Install VSCodium

sudo apt install codium

Method 2: Install VSCodium on Fedora / RHEL

For Fedora-based systems, use the RPM repository:

Step 1: Add Repository

sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/vscodium.repo <<EOF

[gitlab.com_paulcarroty_vscodium_repo]

name=VSCodium baseurl=https://download.vscodium.com/rpms/ enabled=1 gpgcheck=1 gpgkey=https://gitlab.com/paulcarroty/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/raw/master/pub.gpg EOF

Step 2: Install VSCodium

sudo dnf install codium

Method 3: Install VSCodium via Snap (Simple Method)

If your system supports Snap, installation becomes very easy:

sudo snap install codium --classic

Snap works on most Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and others.

Method 4: Install via Flatpak (Universal Method)

Flatpak is another universal package manager for Linux.

Step 1: Add Flathub (if not already added)

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

Step 2: Install VSCodium

flatpak install flathub com.vscodium.codium

Step 3: Run VSCodium

flatpak run com.vscodium.codium

How to Verify Installation

After installation, you can verify it by running:

codium --version

If installed correctly, it will display the installed version of VSCodium.

Why Choose VSCodium on Linux?

Here are some key benefits:

• 100% open-source
• No Microsoft telemetry
• Same extensions as VS Code
• Fast and lightweight
• Cross-platform support

It’s especially useful for developers who want a clean and privacy-focused coding environment.

Common Issues and Fixes

1. Command Not Found

If codium is not recognized, restart your terminal or log out and back in.

2. Repository Errors

Make sure your system time and certificates are up to date.

3. Flatpak Not Working

Ensure Flatpak is installed:

sudo apt install flatpak

Conclusion

Installing VSCodium on Linux is straightforward whether you use APT, DNF, Snap, or Flatpak. The official repository method is recommended for stability, while Flatpak and Snap offer convenience.

If you want a clean, fast, and privacy-respecting code editor, VSCodium is one of the best choices available for Linux users today.