> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://gigi206.gitbook.io/vscode-anywhere/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://gigi206.gitbook.io/vscode-anywhere/install/advanced/linux-installation.md).

# Linux installation

## Installation

VSCode-Anywhere has been tested with several Linux distributions but it is impossible to test with all.

If you have any problems, please open an [issue](https://github.com/gigi206/VSCode-Anywhere/issues).

Installation example:

```
$ bash <(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gigi206/VSCode-Anywhere/V2/VSCode-Anywhere.sh) --help
usage :
  -h | --help        : print this help
  -e | --gitenv      : git branch (default: master)
  -d | --installdir  : installation directory (default: ~/VSCode-Anywhere)
  -v | --saltversion : saltstack version to use
  -p | --profile     : VSCode-Anywhere profile to use (default: linux_user)
  -s | --saltopts    : Salt options
$ bash <(curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gigi206/VSCode-Anywhere/V2/VSCode-Anywhere.sh) --installdir <install_dir>
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Replace `<install_dir>` by your installation path.
{% endhint %}

### Options

Installation options are:

* **gitenv** *(optional)*: git branch to use for installation (**V2** by default)
* **installdir** *(optional)*: installation directory (`~/VSCode-Anywhere` by default)
* **saltversion** *(optional)*: Saltstack version to use (value evolves with time). It is not recommended to change this value (only for testing purposes for developers).
* **profile** *(optional)*: type of installation profile (**linux\_user** by default)

#### Profiles

There are 3 kinds of `profile` for different use cases :

* **linux\_admin**: require administrator rights (for local use)
* **linux\_user**: no administrator rights required (for local use)
* **linux\_portable**: does not exist. Use `linux_user` instead (also works with a portable device like an usb stick)

| **profile**         | **advantages**                                                                                                                                                                                                         | **disadvantages**                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **linux\_admin**    | <ul><li>No Linux namespaces</li><li>Better compatibility</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                     | <ul><li><code>/nix</code> and <code>/home/linuxbrew</code> will be created on your system</li><li>Not recommended if you already nix or brew is installed on your system</li><li>Need to have a privileged account (<em>sudo</em>)</li></ul> |
| **linux\_user**     | <ul><li>No privileged account needed for the installation process and modules</li><li>‘’/nix’’ and <code>/home/linuxbrew</code> is encapsulated in the <code>installdir</code> directory with the namespaces</li></ul> | <ul><li>less compatibility</li><li>Must have a Linux distribution that manages namespaces</li></ul>                                                                                                                                          |
| **linux\_portable** | <ul><li>Not needed at this time</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                              | <ul><li>Not needed at this time</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

## Post-installation

### Linux shortcuts icons

For some security reasons, some file managers like the [gnome Files](https://wiki.gnome.org/action/show/Apps/Files) are no longer allowed to run desktop files inside the file manager which causes some problems for VSCode-Anywhere.

If you are in this case, there are multiple choices:

* if you are **root**, you can install another file manager that allow to run desktop files like [nemo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemo_\(file_manager\)) and run the desktop files with this manager
* On [gnome](https://www.gnome.org), you can copy desktop files in the desktop and right-click on them and select `Allow Launching`

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/fUvqz2G_G64>" %}

* Copy manually desktop files in `~/.local/share/applications` or set  `install_desktop_files` to `True` in [vscode-anywhere.sls](/vscode-anywhere/structure/conf/saltstack/pillar.md#vscode-anywhere-sls) and runthe [install.sh](/vscode-anywhere/structure/tools/install.md) script:

```yaml
vscode-anywhere:
  config:
    linux:
      install_desktop_files: True
```

### HOME

After the installation with the `linux_user` profile (default), the home directory is no longer your home inside VSCode-Anywhere but  it is inside`VSCode-Anywhere/apps/vscode-anywhere/home`.

This mechanism aims to avoid polluting your home directory. If you want to retrieve your real home directory, there are 2 ways:

* remove the `VSCode-Anywhere/apps/vscode-anywhere/home` and create a link that points to your home:

```
rm -fr VSCode-Anywhere/apps/vscode-anywhere/home
ln -s ~ VSCode-Anywhere/apps/vscode-anywhere/home
```

* override settings in [vscode-anywhere.sls](/vscode-anywhere/structure/conf/saltstack/pillar.md#vscode-anywhere-sls):

```yaml
vscode-anywhere:
    env_core:
        USER: myuser
        HOME: myhome
```

{% hint style="info" %}
Replace `myuser` and `myhome` by your real user and your real home directory.
{% endhint %}