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DEV Community
dev.to › cubikca › using-github-codespaces-on-ipad-5412
Using GitHub Codespaces on iPad - DEV Community
December 12, 2021 - But, it has a nice feature that by default turns off your Codespace after 30 minutes of inactivity. This will truly get you a pay-as-you-go cloud-based coding environment. ... The GitHub environment feels very natural on the iPad Pro.
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Brianperry
brianperry.dev › til › 2021 › github-codespaces-on-ipad
Running GitHub Codespaces on an iPad - brianperry.dev
June 19, 2021 - This will create a .devcontainer directory in your project that contains a dockerfile and a configuration file. Commit these files to version control and push to your GitHub repository. In the Github Web UI on your iPad you should now be able to select ‘Open with Codespaces’ under the ‘Code’ dropdown button.
Discussions

GitHub Codepaces on iPad limitations
I’ve tried Codespaces on my iPad Air 2022 but unfortunately I can’t work with it productively. More on github.com
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5
April 9, 2022
Any plans for built in support of GitHub Codespaces in iPad/tablet version?
Select Topic Area Question Body It would be fantastic if GitHub's mobile app for iPad supported the direct opening of GitHub Codespaces in the web version within the app, eliminating the need t... More on github.com
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1
3
August 12, 2024
iPad full screen support
Select Topic Area Question Body Hello! I have been wanting to use GitHub Codespaces on the go for a long time. My IPad with keyboard and mouse/trackpad is perfect for this, however running Codespac... More on github.com
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4
1
March 15, 2026
You CAN use your iPad instead of your laptop!
The general consensus is for certain work-flows eg professional coding, iPads are too restricted by iPadOS so it's not a laptop replacement - YET. However with respect to owning an iPad and adding functionality, as OP demonstrates it becomes more possible to add such funtionality and support occassionally comes from developers to do this. The categories worth knowing about are: Native OS = iPadOS. Options include running Web Apps or Apps from App store that support som coding eg Swift Playgrounds is an example of learning to code being supported or Juno for Jyputer style Python coding in App store or this example from OP for VS Code. or via Web Browser various options exist to various degree. Running some VM like stuff is very limited eg UTM/iSH for Alpine Linux but limited Parallels on App store being allowed might help more full features VM solution if that comes to pass? Remote Desktop or other such connection can be local say sharing screens with another device, wired eg travel with RPi with you and use Linux to code or over internet via Remote Desktop software such as Screens, Duet, RealVNC and a lot more eg Remote Desktop Microsoft option, Team Viewer, Chrome Remote and more... Cloud PCs eg Shadow PC, AWS, Azure with Windows 365 sub etc but cost more In the above the solutions are work-arounds and do work but work-arounds are less practical in many situations than native solutions based on the Host OS iPadOS. Hopefully one day Apple will offer more functionality natively/directly. More on reddit.com
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February 23, 2023
People also ask

How do I enable Codespaces on GitHub?

Codespaces is on by default for developers with a GitHub free account. If you belong to an organization, there may be a policy that prevents cloning—but if you can clone a repository, you will be able to start using Codespaces. Organizations will also need to pay for, enable, and manage their Codespaces instances.

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github.com
github.com › features › codespaces
GitHub Codespaces · GitHub
How do I use Codespaces?

There are a number of entry points to spin up a Codespaces environment, including:

  • A template.

  • Your repository for new feature work

  • An open pull request to explore work-in-progress

  • A commit in the repository's history to investigate a bug at a specific point in time

  • Visual Studio Code

  • In beta, can you also use your JetBrains IDE or JupyterLab

Learn more about how to use Codespaces in our documentation.

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github.com
github.com › features › codespaces
GitHub Codespaces · GitHub
Is Codespaces available for individual developers?

Codespaces is available for developers in every organization, and under the control of the organization who pays for the user's codespace. All personal (individual) GitHub.com accounts include a quota of free usage each month, which organizations can enable (see the next question) for their private and internal repositories. GitHub will provide users in the free plan 120 core hours or 60 hours of run time on a 2 core codespace, plus 15 GB of storage each month. See how it's balanced on the billing page.

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github.com
github.com › features › codespaces
GitHub Codespaces · GitHub
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Ddulic
ddulic.dev › github-codespaces-on-ipad
GitHub Codespaces on iPad - dev/urandom
November 17, 2020 - I have an iPad Pro 2020 12.9" and it is a wonderful tool, the fluent 120hz display makes reading, watching videos (although most are locked at 30), and even navigating the UI pure joy. The only thing I was missing was being able to code and publish my website with it. As of writing this, GitHub Codespaces is in Early Access and I was lucky enough to have been given access.
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Journeysthroughglass
journeysthroughglass.net › using-github-codespaces-on-the-ipad
Using GitHub Codespaces on the iPad
June 28, 2025 - I started an experiment over 2 months ago, where I would try to use the iPad Pro as my main computing device (outside of work obviously), as I was excited about iPadOS 26. This started well. I had many plans where I wanted to see how the iPad had improved · I'm starting to feel a little friction with the iPad again. Specifically for one use case, software development. I wrote recently about one solution for that, which was to use GitHub Codespaces to run a remote version of Visual Studio Code.
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cri.dev
cri.dev › posts › 2023-03-22-ipad-programming-github-codespaces-raspberry-pi-vscode
Programming on an iPad - cri.dev
March 22, 2023 - In this blog post I wanted to share my experience of programming on an iPad Pro (no PC at the moment). With the right software tools (and optional hardware accessories), an iPad can serve as a powerful mobile development environment. ... Go with Github Codespaces, it’s free and you can use it on the go.
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GitHub
github.com › features › codespaces
GitHub Codespaces · GitHub
Quickly spin up a codespace with only an IDE or browser and a GitHub account. With a few configuration files, you can give your developers an instant, fully configured, and secure development environment so they can start coding immediately. Code from any device. Want to code on an iPad?
Find elsewhere
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Principles of Visualization
ericmjl.github.io › blog › 2022 › 9 › 16 › coding-on-an-ipad-with-codespaces-and-blink
Coding on an iPad with Codespaces and Blink
I enjoy using VSCode because of ... my work productive. While I enjoy using my MacBook Air, I've sometimes wanted to lug around nothing more than my iPad and its keyboard to do my blogging, coding, and other work. I've tried many different solutions to do coding on an iPad. For example, I test-drove GitHub's Codespaces in the built-in ...
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GitHub
github.com › microsoft › vscode › issues › 147134
GitHub Codepaces on iPad limitations · Issue #147134 · microsoft/vscode
April 9, 2022 - Sometimes it kills the processes in the terminal, for example when building. I even had this with a machine with 8GB memory. It never happens on my MacBook Air with 8GB memory. Maybe you should enable swap memory on the codespaces machines?
Author   microsoft
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Medium
medium.com › engineeringcreativity › developing-go-programs-on-ipad-using-github-codespaces-1cf7a62bfe89
Developing Go programs on iPad using GitHub Codespaces While Commuting | by Aravind | Engineering Creativity | Medium
June 17, 2023 - Developing Go programs on iPad using GitHub Codespaces While Commuting Learning on-the-go made easy I was looking for a solution that enabled me to write golang code for learning purposes on my iPad …
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cri.dev
cri.dev › blog › how i edit this site on an ipad
How I edit this site on an iPad - cri.dev
February 21, 2023 - Learn how to code on an iPad using GitHub Codespaces and Visual Studio Code. Improve your development workflow with these simple steps.
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YouTube
youtube.com › federico terzi
Developing on an iPad using Github Codespaces - YouTube
Can you actually code something on the iPad? With Github Codespaces you can! Sort of, at least...Thank you very much for watching! If you liked the video, pl...
Published   September 24, 2020
Views   58K
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Knightoftheoldcode
knightoftheoldcode.com › 2021 › 12 › 12 › codespaces-on-ipad.html
Codespaces on iPad | Knight of the Old Code
December 12, 2021 - But for now, I’ll just highlight how I’ve made more changes than I expected I could directly on the iPad (including marked-up screenshots using only iOS tools). The main tool that makes this whole workflow possible is Codespaces. If you’re curious about the files that drive Codespaces, you can view them in the actual repo. The .devcontainer directory contains the files which Github will detect and use to create or spin up a Codespace.
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The Mac Observer
macobserver.com › home › cool stuff found › github codespaces lets you code visual studio on an ipad
GitHub Codespaces Lets You Code Visual Studio on an iPad - The Mac Observer
May 7, 2020 - GitHub has a new tool it’s working on called Codespaces. It gives you a full Visual Studio coding experience in a browser. This means it can work on an iPad, Mac, and PC. Codespaces sets up a cloud-hosted, containerized, and customizable VS ...
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GitHub
github.com › orgs › community › discussions › 135358
Any plans for built in support of GitHub Codespaces in iPad/tablet version? · community · Discussion #135358
August 12, 2024 - @Anselmoo Thank you for your suggestion. We have been discussing the best way to support Codespaces on iPad but we do not have any concrete plan for that yet.
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Hi @Dariton4000,

I totally understand your struggle. Working on an iPad with a keyboard/trackpad is a great portable setup, but Safari's UI can definitely get in the way. Since there isn't a dedicated "GitHub Codespaces App" yet, here are the three best ways to get a full-screen experience:

  1. The "PWA" Method (Best for Web)
    If "Add to Home Screen" redirects you, try this specific sequence:

Go to github.com/codespaces (the dashboard, not an active session).

Tap the Share icon and select Add to Home Screen.

Open the new "Codespaces" icon from your home screen and log in there.

Now, launch your specific Codespace from within this standalone app window. This usually strips away the Safari address bar.

  1. Using "Blink Shell" (Pro Experience)
    If you want the absolute best iPad experience with full keyboard shortcut support (like Cmd+W not closing your tab), use an app like Blink Shell:

It has native integration with GitHub Codespaces.

You can run blink> codespaces inside the app to connect directly.

It provides a 100% full-screen terminal and VS Code interface without any browser bars.

  1. Safari "Hide Toolbar" Trick
    If you want to stay in Safari without extra apps:

Open your Codespace.

Tap the 'AA' icon in the address bar.

Select Hide Toolbar.
Note: To bring it back, just tap the top of the screen.

  1. Enable "Request Desktop Website"
    Sometimes iPadOS tries to serve a mobile-optimized view. Ensure Safari is set to "Request Desktop Website" by default for github.com in your iPad Settings > Safari.

Hopefully, one of these helps you reclaim that screen real estate!

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Reddit
reddit.com › r/ipad › you can use your ipad instead of your laptop!
r/ipad on Reddit: You CAN use your iPad instead of your laptop!
February 23, 2023 -

Ok after a long research (I‘ve been trying to code on ipad for a while now too tbh), download Blink Shell app and use it with Github codespaces. And you‘ll have a real VScode environment.

Blink She’ll App: https://apps.apple.com/il/app/blink-shell-build-code/id1594898306

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/events/vs-code-day-2022/on-the-go-coding-on-an-ipad-with-blink-shell-and-vs-code

*Also, don’t forget to register for the Github students in order to get free 180 hours of codespaces and a lot of other dope stuff
https://education.github.com/pack

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The general consensus is for certain work-flows eg professional coding, iPads are too restricted by iPadOS so it's not a laptop replacement - YET. However with respect to owning an iPad and adding functionality, as OP demonstrates it becomes more possible to add such funtionality and support occassionally comes from developers to do this. The categories worth knowing about are: Native OS = iPadOS. Options include running Web Apps or Apps from App store that support som coding eg Swift Playgrounds is an example of learning to code being supported or Juno for Jyputer style Python coding in App store or this example from OP for VS Code. or via Web Browser various options exist to various degree. Running some VM like stuff is very limited eg UTM/iSH for Alpine Linux but limited Parallels on App store being allowed might help more full features VM solution if that comes to pass? Remote Desktop or other such connection can be local say sharing screens with another device, wired eg travel with RPi with you and use Linux to code or over internet via Remote Desktop software such as Screens, Duet, RealVNC and a lot more eg Remote Desktop Microsoft option, Team Viewer, Chrome Remote and more... Cloud PCs eg Shadow PC, AWS, Azure with Windows 365 sub etc but cost more In the above the solutions are work-arounds and do work but work-arounds are less practical in many situations than native solutions based on the Host OS iPadOS. Hopefully one day Apple will offer more functionality natively/directly.
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I think the point is that yes, you more or less can, it's just a fuckton of effort compared to just using that laptop.
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Threads
threads.com › @kpawpi › post › DE6RfGINvRW › github-codespaces-is-what-i-use-to-code-on-my-ipad-the-editor-is-local-but-the-c
GitHub Codespaces is what I use to code on my iPad. The editor is local but the code itself runs on a cloud VM that GitHub creates for you in one click, but it does require internet. If you just want the editor though then use vscode.dev
January 16, 2025 - GitHub Codespaces is what I use to code on my iPad. The editor is local but the code itself runs on a cloud VM that GitHub creates for you in one click, but it does require internet. If you just want the editor though then use vscode.dev
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Hacker News
news.ycombinator.com › item
I’ve been using Github codespaces on my iPad and it’s been great! Highly recomme... | Hacker News
July 1, 2023 - I had tested a web version of VScode through code-server self hosted · It is not totally usable for me, there’s too much issue with text selection and scrolling, it works okay for a moment and in other it was barely usable
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Medium
medium.com › @ow › the-2021-guide-to-coding-on-an-ipad-pro-5428d062c5ff
The 2021 guide to coding on an iPad Pro | by Owen Williams | Medium
October 30, 2021 - GitHub CodeSpaces allows you to use the cloud to code on an iPad, no config fiddling required. In 2019, I wrote a guide to coding web apps on the iPad Pro — which was finally feasible for the first time albeit slightly fiddly— but since ...