# VSCodium Application: VSCodium Also called codium, vs codium VSCodium, Productivity A telemetry-free build of the VS Code source without Microsoft branding or the Microsoft Marketplace. The process is VSCodium.exe. It is not Visual Studio Code. ## What you need to know VSCodium.exe is the telemetry-free build. Code.exe is Microsoft VS Code. VSCodium rebuilds the VS Code source without Microsoft branding or telemetry. Visual Studio Code is Code.exe from Microsoft. Cursor.exe is Anysphere. Windsurf.exe is a different AI editor. devenv.exe is Visual Studio. - **What is it?**: Telemetry-free VS Code build **Is it VS Code?**: No. Code.exe is Microsoft **Marketplace?**: Open VSX by default, not Microsoft Feex says If VSCodium.exe is busy, I would disable extensions inside VSCodium. I would not uninstall Visual Studio Code to quiet this process. Code.exe is Microsoft. This window is the community build. ## What is VSCodium? VSCodium is a community build of the VS Code source with Microsoft telemetry and branding removed. It is not Visual Studio Code, not Visual Studio, and not Cursor. ## If you have never used it If you want the VS Code editor without Microsoft telemetry and branding, VSCodium is that build. Download it from vscodium.com. VSCodium.exe is this product. Code.exe is Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Extensions usually come from Open VSX, not the Microsoft Marketplace. Cursor and Windsurf are AI forks with different vendors. ## What is it used for? **Edit a folder of code** A VS Code-like workspace. Settings live under VSCodium, not under Microsoft VS Code. **Extensions from Open VSX** The default gallery is not the Microsoft Marketplace. Some Microsoft-owned extensions will not install here. **No Microsoft telemetry branding** That is the point of this build. Cursor adds AI and a different exe. Code.exe is Microsoft's branded build. ## Who is it for? - People who want a VS Code-like editor without Microsoft's build - Users who must not confuse VSCodium.exe with Code.exe - Anyone comparing it with Cursor or Windsurf, which are AI products on the same family of UI ## Current status VSCodium (2018) is a current code editor from VSCodium. The vendor still points Windows users at https://vscodium.com/. ## How old is it? VSCodium started in 2018 after VS Code (2015) as a community binary. It tracks upstream VS Code. It is not an AI editor like Cursor (2023) or Windsurf (2024). Microsoft's official build remains Code.exe. ## Versions Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here. VSCodium stable Insiders-style community builds ## System requirements Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need. ### Minimum | Operating system | A current 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, matching current VS Code-class editors | | ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | RAM | 1 GB class editors run. Language servers want more | ## Resource profile - **CPU demand**: Follows what you open inside the app **RAM demand**: Follows documents, tabs, or libraries ## Installed processes These executables belong to this product when it is installed. | VSCodium.exe | VSCodium editor | | ------------ | --------------- | ## Startup components VSCodium can reopen the last folder. That is session restore, not a Microsoft service. ## File locations | Typical install | C:\Users\\\\AppData\Local\Programs\VSCodium\\ | | --------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | ## File formats Many via extensions, JSON, Markdown ## Common problems ### An extension missing from Open VSX The Microsoft Marketplace is not the default here. That is expected. Code.exe can still install that Microsoft extension. ### People close Code.exe to stop VSCodium Two installs. Programs\VSCodium is this article. Microsoft VS Code is Code.exe. ## Getting unstuck ### Open file location on VSCodium.exe versus Code.exe VSCodium is the community build. Microsoft VS Code is the other folder. ### Install from vscodium.com or the GitHub releases A VSCodium pack on a random host is junk. The project hosts the real builds. ### Do not expect every Microsoft Marketplace extension Open VSX is the usual gallery. Cursor's AI features are not this product either. ## Alternatives Visual Studio Code if you want Microsoft's build and Marketplace. Cursor or Windsurf if you want a built-in AI editor. Neovim if you want a terminal editor. ## Official help and downloads Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel. | Download | [vscodium.com/ ](https://vscodium.com/)Official installer or vendor page | | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Help | [github.com/VSCodium/vscodium ](https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium)Vendor support | | Official site | [vscodium.com/ ](https://vscodium.com/)Start here, not a random exe host | | VSCodium GitHub | [github.com/VSCodium/vscodium ](https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium)Releases, issues, and how it differs from Code | ## Related hardware SSD and RAM help large repos. Same class of need as VS Code. A GPU is not required. ## Technical details Technical details Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build. ## Related These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link. [Visual Studio Code: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/visual-studio-code)[Cursor: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/cursor)[How to read Task Manager: Guide](https://feex.it/wiki/software/system/how-to-read-task-manager) ## Sources and verification Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research). - [VSCodium official site ](https://vscodium.com/)· Vendor product page - [VSCodium help ](https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium)· Vendor support - [VSCodium project ](https://github.com/VSCodium/vscodium)· What the build removes versus Microsoft VS Code - [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark. ## Was this article useful? A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note. Quick facts The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article. - **Developer**: VSCodium **Category**: Code editor **Process**: VSCodium.exe **License**: MIT (build of the VS Code source) **First released**: 2018 **Official site**: [vscodium.com](https://vscodium.com/) **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole Feex Reviewed: Last verified August 2026 --- Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/vscodium/) [Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)