Cloud Dev Stack

A complete, persistent cloud development environment with one shared workspace, two browser based views.

What You Get

• Ubuntu desktop in your browser: full XFCE desktop from any device, with VS Code installed as a native desktop app
• VS Code in your browser: same files, same tools, same environment available as both a standalone container and inside the desktop
• SSH access: connect from local devices like PC, Mac, or iPhone
• Persistent tmux sessions: your work survives disconnects and app switches, especially useful on mobile
• Everything shared: both containers mount the same /config (home) and /projects. Install a package, set a git config, or save a file and it's visible everywhere instantly. Extensions and settings are shared across all VS Code instances

Architecture

Two containers, one environment. They share /config (home directory) and /projects. The vscode container is a browser based editor view into the same workspace:

How it works

compose.yaml          init.sh              /config (shared home)
(desktop service)  →  on boot  →          ├── .bashrc / .zshrc
                                          ├── .gitconfig
                                          ├── .nvm (Node LTS)
                                          ├── .npm-global (Claude Code)
                                          └── .local/share/code-server
                                                     ↓
                                          vscode container mounts
                                          same /config same everything

Edit compose.yaml → recreate desktop → both containers see the change.

Shared environment

What	Where	Shared?
Shell config (PATH, aliases)	/config/.bashrc	✅ Both containers
Git identity + GitHub token	/config/.gitconfig	✅ Both containers
nvm + Node LTS	/config/.nvm	✅ Both containers
Claude Code	/config/.npm-global	✅ Both containers
code-server extensions & settings	/shared/code-server/extensions + User/	✅ All VS Code instances (code-server ×2 + desktop VS Code)
Your projects	/projects	✅ Both containers
Persistent sessions (tmux)	Desktop only	Desktop (via SSH)

Tools pre-installed

Tool	Installed by	Persists?
nvm + Node LTS	Init script	✅ /config/.nvm
Claude Code	Init script (npm global)	✅ /config/.npm-global
code-server	Init script	✅ system install
VS Code (desktop app)	Init script (apt)	❌ Reinstalled each boot
build-essential (gcc, make)	Init script (apt)	❌ Reinstalled each boot
python3 + pip	Init script (apt)	❌ Reinstalled each boot
Docker CLI	Init script (apt)	❌ Reinstalled each boot
Git, curl, zsh, tmux, nano	Init script (apt)	❌ Reinstalled each boot

The golden rule

If it lands in /config, it persists forever and appears in both containers. If it needs sudo or apt, add it to the init script.

Next steps

• Server Setup: get the stack running (Docker or CasaOS)
• Local Setup: optional: edit locally, auto sync to server
• Daily Workflow: tmux, persistent sessions, Termius
• Environment Variables: full reference for all configurable vars