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Chapter 5. IDEs in workspaces

5.1. Supported IDEs

The default IDE in a new workspace is Microsoft Visual Studio Code - Open Source. Alternatively, you can choose another supported IDE:

Table 5.1. Supported IDEs
IDEidNote

Microsoft Visual Studio Code - Open Source

che-incubator/che-code/latest

This is the default IDE that loads in a new workspace when the URL parameter or che-editor.yaml is not used.

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition

che-incubator/che-idea/latest

Technology Preview. Use the Dashboard to select this IDE.

5.2. Repository-level IDE configuration in OpenShift Dev Spaces

You can store IDE configuration files directly in the remote Git repository that contains your project source code. This way, one common IDE configuration is applied to all new workspaces that feature a clone of that repository. Such IDE configuration files might include the following:

5.3. Defining a common IDE

While the Section 2.3.2, “URL parameter for the IDE” enables you to start a workspace with your personal choice of the supported IDE, you might find it more convenient to define the same IDE for all workspaces for the same source code Git repository. To do so, use the che-editor.yaml file. This file supports even a detailed IDE configuration.

Tip

If you intend to start most or all of your organization’s workspaces with the same IDE other than Microsoft Visual Studio Code - Open Source, an alternative is for the administrator of your organization’s OpenShift Dev Spaces instance to specify another supported IDE as the default IDE at the OpenShift Dev Spaces instance level. This can be done with .spec.devEnvironments.defaultEditor in the CheCluster Custom Resource.

5.3.1. Setting up che-editor.yaml

By using the che-editor.yaml file, you can set a common default IDE for your team and provide new contributors with the most suitable IDE for your project source code. You can also use the che-editor.yaml file when you need to set a different IDE default for a particular source code Git repository rather than the default IDE of your organization’s OpenShift Dev Spaces instance.

Procedure

  • In the remote Git repository of your project source code, create a /.che/che-editor.yaml file with lines that specify the relevant parameter.

Verification

  1. Start a new workspace with a clone of the Git repository.
  2. Verify that the specified IDE loads in the browser tab of the started workspace.

5.3.2. Parameters for che-editor.yaml

The simplest way to select an IDE in the che-editor.yaml is to specify the id of an IDE from the table of supported IDEs:

Table 5.2. Supported IDEs
IDEidNote

Microsoft Visual Studio Code - Open Source

che-incubator/che-code/latest

This is the default IDE that loads in a new workspace when the URL parameter or che-editor.yaml is not used.

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Community Edition

che-incubator/che-idea/latest

Technology Preview. Use the Dashboard to select this IDE.

Example 5.1. id selects an IDE from the plugin registry

id: che-incubator/che-idea/latest

As alternatives to providing the id parameter, the che-editor.yaml file supports a reference to the URL of another che-editor.yaml file or an inline definition for an IDE outside of a plugin registry:

Example 5.2. reference points to a remote che-editor.yaml file

reference: https://<hostname_and_path_to_a_remote_file>/che-editor.yaml

Example 5.3. inline specifies a complete definition for a customized IDE without a plugin registry

inline:
  schemaVersion: 2.1.0
  metadata:
    name: JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Community IDE
  components:
    - name: intellij
      container:
        image: 'quay.io/che-incubator/che-idea:next'
        volumeMounts:
          - name: projector-user
            path: /home/projector-user
        mountSources: true
        memoryLimit: 2048M
        memoryRequest: 32Mi
        cpuLimit: 1500m
        cpuRequest: 100m
        endpoints:
          - name: intellij
            attributes:
              type: main
              cookiesAuthEnabled: true
              urlRewriteSupported: true
              discoverable: false
              path: /?backgroundColor=434343&wss
            targetPort: 8887
            exposure: public
            secure: false
            protocol: https
      attributes: {}
    - name: projector-user
      volume: {}

For more complex scenarios, the che-editor.yaml file supports the registryUrl and override parameters:

Example 5.4. registryUrl points to a custom plugin registry rather than to the default OpenShift Dev Spaces plugin registry

id: <editor_id> 1
registryUrl: <url_of_custom_plugin_registry>
1
The id of the IDE in the custom plugin registry.

Example 5.5. override of the default value of one or more defined properties of the IDE

... 1
override:
  containers:
    - name: che-idea
      memoryLimit: 1280Mi
      cpuLimit: 1510m
      cpuRequest: 102m
    ...
1
id:, registryUrl:, or reference:.

5.4. Microsoft Visual Studio Code - Open Source

The OpenShift Dev Spaces build of Microsoft Visual Studio Code - Open Source is the default IDE of a new workspace.

You can automate installation of Microsoft Visual Studio Code extensions from the Open VSX registry at workspace startup. See Automating installation of Microsoft Visual Studio Code extensions at workspace startup.

Tip
  • Use Tasks to find and run the commands specified in devfile.yaml.

  • Use Dev Spaces commands by clicking Dev Spaces in the Status Bar or finding them through the Command Palette:

    • Dev Spaces: Open Dashboard
    • Dev Spaces: Open OpenShift Console
    • Dev Spaces: Stop Workspace
    • Dev Spaces: Restart Workspace
    • Dev Spaces: Restart Workspace from Local Devfile
    • Dev Spaces: Open Documentation
Note

You might see your organization’s branding in this IDE if your organization customized it through a branded build.

5.4.1. Automating installation of Microsoft Visual Studio Code extensions at workspace startup

To have the Microsoft Visual Studio Code - Open Source IDE automatically install chosen extensions, you can add an extensions.json file to the remote Git repository that contains your project source code and that will be cloned into workspaces.

Prerequisites

Procedure

  1. Get the publisher and extension names of each chosen extension:

    1. Find the extension on the Open VSX registry website and copy the URL of the extension’s listing page.

    2. Extract the <publisher> and <extension> names from the copied URL: 

      https://www.open-vsx.org/extension/<publisher>/<extension>
  2. Create a .vscode/extensions.json file in the remote Git repository.

  3. Add the <publisher> and <extension> names to the extensions.json file as follows: 

      {
    "recommendations": [
      "<publisher_A>.<extension_B>",
      "<publisher_C>.<extension_D>",
      "<publisher_E>.<extension_F>"
    ]
  }

Verification

  1. Start a new workspace by using the URL of the remote Git repository that contains the created extensions.json file.
  2. In the IDE of the workspace, press Ctrl+Shift+X or go to Extensions to find each of the extensions listed in the file.
  3. The extension has the label This extension is enabled globally.

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