AWS Cloud9 Discontinued, Here are My Top Alternatives

Cloud9, the AWS cloud based coding environment, was officially discontinued on July, 2024. While existing users can still access it, AWS no longer offers updates or support. Many developers are now looking for good alternatives.

Luckily, two great options I have used are a great replacement, Gitpod and GitHub Codespaces. Both let you code in the cloud with great features for teamwork and efficiency.

Today we’ll compare them to help you pick the best one for your needs.

GitHub Codespaces

GitHub Codespaces provides a seamless cloud development experience directly within GitHub, delivering a full VS Code environment in your browser or desktop. It’s ideal for both individuals and teams already using GitHub who want a Microsoft backed, secure IDE without local setup.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Tight GitHub Integration

• Full VS Code Experience

• Adjustable Performance

• Pre-built Environments .

• Built-in Security

Pricing:

• Free Tier: Generous option especially for public repos with upto 500mb of storage

• Paid Plans: Starts at $0.18/hour for additional usage.

• Enterprise Plans: Available for larger teams needing advanced controls.

Setup

Prerequisites

• A GitHub account (personal or organization).

• Access to a repository (or create a new one).

Configuration Steps

Quick Start - No Customization

1. Open a Codespace:
2. Navigate to your GitHub repo.
3. Click the "Code" button, then select "Codespaces" > "Create codespace on main". GitHub will launch a default VS Code environment in your browser.

Option B: Customize with a devcontainer.json File

For advanced setups (custom dependencies, extensions, or environment variables):

1. Add a .devcontainer folder to your repo.

2. Create a devcontainer.json file (or let GitHub generate one):
   

   {
     "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/universal:latest", // Base Docker image
     "features": {
       "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/node:1": { "version": "18" } // Example: Node.js
     },
     "customizations": {
       "vscode": {
         "extensions": ["dbaeumer.vscode-eslint", "esbenp.prettier-vscode"] // Recommended extensions
       }
     },
     "forwardPorts": [3000] // Auto-forwarded ports
   }
   

3. Commit & push the changes.

4. Launch Codespace, it will now use your custom configuration.

Advanced Settings

• Machine Type: Adjust CPU/RAM in devcontainer.json via "hostRequirements".

• Prebuilds: Enable in repo Settings > Codespaces to speed up future launches.

Verdict: A polished, secure choice for GitHub centric teams who want minimal setup and maximum integration.

Gitpod

Gitpod takes a different approach, focusing on speed and ephemeral workspaces. As an open-source alternative, it spins up pre-configured environments in seconds, supporting multiple Git platforms beyond just GitHub.

Key Features & Benefits:

• Instant, Clean Workspaces – Avoid dependency conflicts with fresh environments per task.

• Multi-IDE Support – Use in-browser or via VS Code and JetBrains desktop IDEs.

• Cross-Platform Git Support – Works with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.

• Self-Hosting Option – Deploy on your own infrastructure for full control.

• Snapshot Sharing – Save and share workspace states for team collaboration.

Pricing:

• Free Tier: In the new pricing model, you can self host/cloud hosting with no team collaboration and limited environments

• Paid Plans: From $9/user/month .

Self Hosted: For organizations needing customization and privacy.

Gitpod Setup

Prerequisites

• A GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket account.

• A repository (or create a new one).

Configuration Steps

Quick Start

1. Open in Gitpod: Prepend https://gitpod.io/# before your repo URL (e.g., https://gitpod.io/#https://github.com/your/repo).
2. Or install the Gitpod browser extension for one-click launches.

Option B: Customize with .gitpod.yml

For automated dependency installation, tasks, and IDE settings:

1. Create a .gitpod.yml file in your repo root:
   

   image: gitpod/workspace-full:latest  # Base Docker image
   
   # Install dependencies on startup
   tasks:
     - init: npm install  # Example: Node.js project
     - command: npm run dev
   
   # Recommended VS Code extensions
   vscode:
     extensions:
       - dbaeumer.vscode-eslint
       - esbenp.prettier-vscode
   
   # Open ports (e.g., for a web app)
   ports:
     - port: 3000
       onOpen: open-preview
   

2. Commit & push the file.

3. Launch Gitpod, it will now follow your setup instructions.

Advanced Settings

• Self Hosting: Deploy Gitpod on your own infra using Gitpod’s self hosted solution.

• Snapshots: Save workspace state via Gitpod Dashboard > Snapshots.

Which One Should You Pick?

Feature	Gitpod	GitHub Codespaces
Git Support	GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket	GitHub only
IDE Experience	VS Code, JetBrains, Jupyter	Full VS Code (browser/desktop)
Startup Speed	Very fast (pre-built)	Fast (pre-builds available)
Self-Hosting	✅ Yes	❌ No
Team Collaboration	Share workspaces	Live Share
Pricing	Free + paid plans	Free + pay-as-you-go
Best For	Fast, automated workflows	GitHub focused teams

Other Alternatives

• AWS IDE Toolkits – Plugins for VS Code, IntelliJ, and PyCharm to work with AWS.

• AWS CloudShell – A browser-based terminal for quick AWS tasks.

• Codeanywhere – A simple cloud IDE with real-time collaboration.

• Eclipse Che – An open-source cloud IDE for self-hosting.

• Repl.it – A lightweight online IDE for quick coding.

• PaizaCloud IDE – Easy-to-use cloud coding environment.

Final Recommendation

• Pick GitHub Codespaces if you use GitHub and want a polished, secure cloud IDE.

• Pick Gitpod if you need fast, flexible workspaces or self-hosting.

Which one works better for you? Let me know

Lets Connect - Lewis Sawe: LinkedIn
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Comments

[Navin Yadav]

Wow