Archives for January 2026

GitHub Codespaces vs VS Code: What’s the Difference? (Explained Simply)

January 23, 2026 by Rajeev Bagra

When beginners start learning coding (or even when professionals switch machines), one common question comes up:

What’s the difference between GitHub Codespaces and VS Code?

They look similar because both can feel like the same editor experience, but they are actually very different in how they work behind the scenes.

This blog post explains the difference in a simple way, with examples and official links.

1) What is Visual Studio Code (VS Code)?

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free code editor that is installed on a computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

✅ It is mainly used for:

Writing and editing code
Running programs locally
Debugging applications
Managing Git repositories
Installing extensions for almost any language

Key points about VS Code

Runs on the user’s own laptop/PC
Uses the user’s own RAM, CPU, and storage
Mostly works offline
Has huge extension support
Completely free

Official VS Code page:

https://code.visualstudio.com/

2) What is GitHub Codespaces?

GitHub Codespaces is a cloud development environment provided by GitHub.

Instead of running everything on the user’s personal machine, Codespaces creates a ready-to-use cloud computer (a container-based dev environment) where the code runs.

✅ It is mainly used for:

Starting development instantly without installing tools
Using the same setup across devices
Keeping development environments consistent in teams
Working from low-end devices (even a tablet)

Key points about GitHub Codespaces

Runs in the cloud on GitHub’s servers
Requires a GitHub account
Works through:
- Browser (VS Code-like interface)
- Local VS Code connected to the cloud environment
Comes with a configurable setup using devcontainers
Paid service (with limited free quota depending on plan)

Official GitHub Codespaces page:

https://github.com/features/codespaces

3) The Most Important Difference (in One Line)

✅ VS Code is the editor.
✅ Codespaces is a cloud machine running a VS Code environment.

In other words:

VS Code = the software you use to write code
Codespaces = the computer (in the cloud) where the code runs

4) Codespaces and VS Code Can Work Together

Many people assume Codespaces only works in the browser, but that’s not true.

GitHub Codespaces can also be opened inside the installed version of VS Code.

That means:

The user uses local VS Code as the screen/interface
But the actual environment is running remotely on GitHub cloud

To learn this officially:

https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces/developing-in-a-codespace/using-github-codespaces-in-visual-studio-code

5) Side-by-Side Comparison (Simple Table)

Feature	VS Code	GitHub Codespaces
Runs on	User’s own PC	GitHub Cloud
Internet required	Not always	Yes
Speed depends on	User’s laptop	Selected cloud machine
Setup required	Install Python, Node, etc.	Mostly ready-made
Works in browser	No	Yes
Great for teams	Yes	Excellent
Cost	Free	Paid after free quota

6) What About Setup and Tools?

✅ With VS Code (Local)

The user needs to install things manually, such as:

Python
Django/Flask
Node.js (optional)
Database drivers
Pip packages
System dependencies

For example:

Python download:

https://www.python.org/downloads/

✅ With Codespaces

A codespace can come pre-configured using a file called:

devcontainer.json

This file tells GitHub exactly what to install inside the environment so the user can start coding instantly.

Official guide about devcontainers:

https://containers.dev/

GitHub documentation on devcontainers:

https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces/setting-up-your-project-for-codespaces

7) Pricing Difference

VS Code

✅ Free forever
Official page:

https://code.visualstudio.com/

GitHub Codespaces

✅ Has free usage quota (depends on plan)
✅ Charges based on compute time + storage

Official pricing details:

https://github.com/features/codespaces#pricing

8) When VS Code is the Better Choice

VS Code is usually better when:

✅ The user wants full control of their computer setup
✅ The internet connection is unstable
✅ The project needs heavy local resources (files, databases, large tools)
✅ The user is working directly with servers using SSH

For example, VS Code also supports remote development features like SSH:

https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/ssh

9) When GitHub Codespaces is the Better Choice

GitHub Codespaces is better when:

✅ The user wants “click and start” coding instantly
✅ The user is working on multiple machines (PC + laptop + tablet)
✅ The user wants the same setup every time
✅ The user is learning development and wants to avoid installation issues
✅ A team wants a standardized environment

10) A Simple Real-Life Analogy

To understand it quickly:

✅ VS Code is like a laptop’s keyboard + screen used to write and edit work.
✅ Codespaces is like renting a fully ready office workspace in the cloud where everything is already installed.

Final Summary (Super Simple)

✅ VS Code = Code editor installed on a computer
✅ GitHub Codespaces = Cloud computer + development environment, accessible through browser or VS Code

So the conclusion is:

VS Code is the tool. Codespaces is the place where the code runs.

Useful Official Links (Quick Access)

VS Code official website

https://code.visualstudio.com/

GitHub Codespaces official page

https://github.com/features/codespaces

Codespaces documentation

https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces

Devcontainers official standard

https://containers.dev/

VS Code Remote SSH

https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/ssh

Hosting a Website From a Personal Computer (Self-Hosting): Is It Possible?

January 18, 2026 by Rajeev Bagra

At the end of the day, every website—whether it’s on AWS, Google Cloud, or a shared hosting provider—is running on a physical machine somewhere. That machine is simply someone else’s computer (enterprise-grade servers) sitting inside a data center, connected to strong internet, power backup, cooling systems, and security monitoring.

So the question is: can a website be hosted from a local home computer and still open on www.yourdomain.com?

Yes, it is absolutely possible. A website can be hosted from a local computer and made publicly accessible via a domain name like www.example.com. However, doing it properly requires planning for networking, security, uptime, and performance.

Self-Hosting a Website from a Local Computer: Complete Guide, Cost, Pros & Cons

1) What Does “Hosting from Home” Actually Mean?

Self-hosting means:

The website files (or web application) run on your own machine
Your machine acts as the web server
Visitors access your website through the internet using your domain name (like www.yourdomain.com)

This local machine could be:

A laptop/desktop running 24/7
A spare old PC
A mini-PC
A Raspberry Pi (for small sites)
A dedicated home server

2) What Is Needed to Host Your Website From Your Local PC?

To make a website accessible globally from home, these are the key pieces required:

✅ A) A Computer That Stays ON 24/7

The moment your system shuts down, your website goes offline.

Minimum expectations:

Reliable storage (SSD preferred)
Continuous power supply
Stable operating system (Linux recommended)

✅ B) A Web Server Software

This is what handles web requests.

Common options:

Nginx (fast, modern, recommended)
Apache (classic, powerful)
Caddy (easy HTTPS setup)
Node.js server, Flask/Django, etc. (for dynamic websites)

✅ C) A Strong Internet Connection

Your website’s performance depends on:

Upload speed (very important for serving visitors)
Network reliability
Ping/latency

Most home connections are designed for download, not heavy upload.

✅ D) A Public IP Address (or a workaround)

To access your server from outside, you need either:

Static Public IP (best case)
or
Dynamic IP (changes frequently)

If you don’t have a static IP, you can still host, but you will need:

Dynamic DNS (DDNS), or
Cloudflare Tunnel (recommended workaround)

✅ E) Router Setup (Port Forwarding)

This step allows internet traffic to reach your computer.

Ports usually required:

Port 80 (HTTP)
Port 443 (HTTPS)

Your router must forward these to your computer’s internal local IP.

✅ F) Domain Name + DNS Settings

Your domain DNS must point to your home server.

Example:

A record → your public IP
www record → same public IP

If the IP changes frequently, DNS breaks unless DDNS or Tunnel is used.

✅ G) SSL Certificate (HTTPS)

Modern websites are expected to work on HTTPS.

You can use:

Let’s Encrypt (free SSL)
Cloudflare (very easy if using their proxy)

3) Step-by-Step: How to Host on Local Computer with a Domain Name

Below is a practical, real-world approach.

✅ Method 1: Classic Home Hosting (Public IP + Port Forwarding)

Step 1: Prepare the Web Server

Install Linux (recommended) like Ubuntu, then:

Install Nginx/Apache
Upload website files or deploy your application
Test it locally using:
http://localhost

Step 2: Assign a Static Local IP to Your Server

Inside your router settings, reserve a fixed internal IP like:

192.168.1.100

So port forwarding always works correctly.

Step 3: Enable Port Forwarding on the Router

Forward:

External port 80 → 192.168.1.100:80
External port 443 → 192.168.1.100:443

Step 4: Point Your Domain DNS to Your Public IP

In Namecheap/GoDaddy DNS:

A record → your public IP
www → your public IP

Step 5: Install SSL (HTTPS)

Use Let’s Encrypt or Cloudflare.

Step 6: Test the Website From Outside

Use mobile data (not your Wi-Fi) and open:

https://www.yourdomain.com

✅ This method works, but the biggest pain is handling IP changes + security.

✅ Method 2 (Recommended): Cloudflare Tunnel (No Port Forwarding Needed)

This method is far safer and easier for most people.

Instead of exposing your router to the internet, Cloudflare creates a tunnel between your computer and the internet.

Why this is better:

No port forwarding
No public IP needed
Built-in DDoS protection
HTTPS included

Steps (simplified):

Add domain to Cloudflare
Install Cloudflare Tunnel app on your machine
Connect tunnel to local service like:

localhost:80
or your Flask app port

Map www.yourdomain.com → tunnel

✅ Your computer remains protected behind Cloudflare while still serving the website.

4) Pros of Hosting a Website from a Local Computer

✅ 1) Zero Monthly Hosting Fee (in theory)

No need to pay hosting providers monthly charges.

✅ 2) Full Control

You control:

Server configuration
Files
Security approach
OS updates
Logs and performance

✅ 3) Great for Learning

Self-hosting teaches:

Linux basics
DNS and networking
Web server configuration
SSL certificates
Firewalls and security

✅ 4) Ideal for Internal Tools and Testing

Perfect for:

Personal portfolio
Small internal tools
Private apps
Development environments

5) Cons of Hosting from Home (Very Important)

❌ 1) Uptime Is Not Guaranteed

Home hosting suffers from:

Power cuts
Internet outages
Router issues
ISP downtime

Even short disruptions cause:

Site offline errors
SEO issues (if frequent)
Poor visitor trust

❌ 2) Security Risks Are Higher

Exposing home network creates risk of:

brute-force attacks
malware attempts
port scans
DDoS attacks

A misconfiguration can compromise:

your website
your entire home network

❌ 3) Limited Bandwidth and Speed

Most home plans have:

slower upload speeds
fluctuating quality

Visitors may experience:

slow load times
buffering
delayed responses

❌ 4) IP Address Changes

Dynamic IP changes can break your website unless you use:

DDNS
or
Cloudflare Tunnel

❌ 5) Hardware Maintenance is Your Responsibility

If the machine fails:

website goes down
data may be lost
recovery becomes difficult

6) Cost Feasibility: Is Self-Hosting Really Cheaper?

Self-hosting is not always “free” because of hidden costs.

✅ Cost Items to Consider

Electricity

If a PC runs 24/7:

even small consumption adds monthly cost

Internet Plan Upgrade

You may need:

higher upload speeds
static IP (extra from ISP)

UPS / Power Backup

To prevent downtime during power cuts.

Hardware Investment

A stable mini-server system may cost upfront.

Example Cost Comparison (Simplified)

Home Hosting (Self-host)

Hosting cost: ₹0/month
Electricity + maintenance: varies
Static IP (optional): extra
Time cost: high

Shared Hosting

₹100–₹300/month
Easy setup
Basic reliability

VPS Hosting (DigitalOcean / Lightsail / etc.)

₹400–₹1000/month
Much better uptime
Scales easily

7) Best Use Cases for Hosting from Local Computer

Self-hosting is smart for:

✅ Learning and experimenting
✅ Small personal portfolio
✅ Development demo projects
✅ Private tools
✅ Personal blog (low traffic) with Cloudflare Tunnel

8) When Self-Hosting is NOT Recommended

Avoid self-hosting if:

❌ You want guaranteed uptime
❌ You need strong security without complexity
❌ You plan to run ads (downtime can reduce revenue)
❌ You want to scale traffic easily
❌ You run an eCommerce store (high risk)

Final Verdict: Is Hosting from Home Worth It?

Hosting a website from a local computer is completely possible and can be a brilliant learning experience. It can also reduce direct hosting bills in some cases.

However, for any serious business website, professional hosting is usually the smarter choice because it offers:

Better uptime
Better speed
Stronger security
Easier scaling
Less maintenance work

The best middle ground for most people is:

✅ Self-host at home using Cloudflare Tunnel, especially for small projects and learning—because it avoids exposing your home network and doesn’t require a static IP.

Working with HTML & Git on Primebook (PrimeOS / PrimeX) — A Practical Guide

January 15, 2026 by Rajeev Bagra

ߎ Who this session is for

Learners using Primebook / PrimeOS / PrimeX
Beginners learning HTML, Git, and basic web development
Anyone confused by errors like code: command not found or Git clone issues

ߧ Session Objective

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

Understand what PrimeOS is (and what it is not)
Use Git safely without copy-paste errors
Edit HTML files using terminal-friendly tools
View HTML files correctly in a browser
Follow a realistic workflow suited to Primebook users

1️⃣ Understanding Your Environment (Most Important Lesson)

Key Reality Check

PrimeOS / PrimeX is:

✅ Android-based
✅ Has a Linux-like terminal
❌ NOT Ubuntu
❌ NOT Windows
❌ NOT AWS / cloud server

ߑ That’s why commands like this fail:

code test.html
sudo apt install code

And that’s normal, not your fault.

2️⃣ Git Basics on Primebook (Common Pitfalls & Fixes)

❌ Common Error

fatal: protocol '?[200~https' is not supported

Why it happens

Copy-pasting GitHub URLs adds hidden characters
Terminal interprets them as invalid protocols

✅ Best Practice

Always type Git commands manually:

git clone https://github.com/USERNAME/REPOSITORY.git

3️⃣ Creating & Editing an HTML File (The Right Way)

Create a file

touch test.html

Edit using Nano (recommended)

nano test.html

Example content:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <title>My First Primebook Page</title>
  </head>
  <body>
    <h1>Hello from Primebook</h1>
  </body>
</html>

Save: Ctrl + O → Enter
Exit: Ctrl + X

4️⃣ Viewing the HTML File in a Browser

✅ Method 1: Terminal

xdg-open test.html

✅ Method 2: Browser (Guaranteed)

Open Chrome and type:

file:///home/USERNAME/test/test.html

✅ Method 3: File Manager

Go to Home → test
Double-click test.html
Open with Chrome

5️⃣ When the Terminal Shows `>` (Hidden Lesson)

If you ever see:

It means:

You started a quote (' or ")
Bash is waiting for you to finish

Fix instantly:

Ctrl + C

6️⃣ Recommended Workflow for Primebook Users

ߟ Best Long-Term Workflow

Edit files using GitHub’s browser editor

Open repo on GitHub
Press . (dot) → VS Code opens in browser

Commit & push online
Sync locally:

git pull origin main

ߟ Use Nano

For quick fixes
For learning terminal basics

7️⃣ What Learners Should NOT Worry About

❌ “Why VS Code doesn’t install”
❌ “Why apt doesn’t work”
❌ “Why PrimeOS is different”

ߑ These are platform limits, not skill gaps.

ߧ Session Summary (Key Takeaways)

PrimeOS ≠ Ubuntu ≠ Windows
Git works well, but copy-paste carefully
Nano is your best editor locally
HTML files open via file:// in Chrome
Browser-based editors are powerful and valid