Codespaces documentation - GitHub Docs Skip to main content GitHub Docs Version: Free, Pro, & Team Search or ask Copilot Search or ask Copilot Select language: current language is English Search or ask Copilot Search or ask Copilot Open menu Collapse sidebar Expand sidebar Scroll breadcrumbs left * Home * Codespaces Scroll breadcrumbs right Codespaces * * * Quickstart * Getting started * What are Codespaces? * Codespaces features * The codespace lifecycle * Deep dive into Codespaces * Developing in a codespace * Develop in a codespace * Create a codespace for a repo * Create a codespace from a template * Delete a codespace * Open an existing codespace * Work collaboratively * Source control * Pull requests * Stop a codespace * Forward ports * Rebuilding a container * Default environment variables * Persist variables and files * Connecting to a private network * Machine learning * Visual Studio Code * GitHub CLI * Customizing your codespace * Rename a codespace * Change your shell * Change the machine type * Setting your user preferences * Personalize your codespaces * Set the default editor * Set the default region * Set the timeout * Configure automatic deletion * Choose the host image * Setting up your project * Adding a dev container configuration * Introduction to dev containers * Setting up a Node.js project * Setting up a C# (.NET) project * Setting up a Java project * Setting up a PHP project * Setting up a Python project * Configuring dev containers * Set a minimum machine spec * Adding features * Automatically opening files * Specifying recommended secrets * Setting up your repository * Facilitating codespace creation * Set up a template repo * Prebuilding your codespaces * About prebuilds * Configure prebuilds * Allow external repo access * Manage prebuilds * Test dev container changes * Managing your codespaces * Codespaces secrets * Repository access * Security logs * GPG verification * Managing your organization * Enable or disable Codespaces * Billing and ownership * List organization codespaces * Manage Codespaces costs * Manage secrets * Audit logs * Restrict machine types * Restrict codespace creation * Restrict base image * Restrict port visibility * Restrict timeout periods * Restrict the retention period * Reference * Access a private registry * Copilot in Codespaces * VS Code Command Palette * Security in Codespaces * Disaster recovery * Troubleshooting * Codespaces logs * Codespaces clients * Included usage * Exporting changes * Creation and deletion * Authenticating to repositories * Connection * Codespaces prebuilds * Personalization * Port forwarding * GPG verification * Working with support * github.dev editor Codespaces documentation Create a codespace to start developing in a secure, configurable, and dedicated development environment that works how and where you want it to. Overview Quickstart Recommended Quickstart for GitHub Codespaces Get started with GitHub Codespaces quickly. What are GitHub Codespaces? Learn about what GitHub Codespaces are. Understanding the codespace lifecycle Learn how to develop in a GitHub Codespaces environment, and maintain your data throughout the entire codespace lifecycle. Articles Category : All categories Speed up codespace creation with prebuilds About GitHub Codespaces prebuilds GitHub Codespaces prebuilds help to speed up the creation of new codespaces for large or complex repositories. Set up dev containers for a project Adding features to a devcontainer.json file With features, you can quickly add tools, runtimes, or libraries to your dev container configuration. Speed up codespace creation with prebuilds Allowing a prebuild to access other repositories You can permit your prebuild to access other GitHub repositories so that it can be built successfully. Set up dev containers for a project Allowing your codespace to access a private registry You can allow GitHub Codespaces to access container images or other packages in a private registry. Set up dev containers for a project Automatically opening files in the codespaces for a repository You can set particular files to be opened automatically whenever someone creates a codespace for your repository and opens the codespace in the Visual Studio Code web client. Customize your codespace Changing the machine type for your codespace You can change the type of machine that's running your codespace, so that you're using resources appropriate for the work you're doing. Customize your codespace Changing the shell in a codespace You can change your shell in a codespace to keep the setup you're used to. Customize your codespace Choosing the stable or beta host image You can choose to build codespaces using either the stable or beta version of the host image for the underlying virtual machine. Manage codespaces for your organization Choosing who owns and pays for codespaces in your organization You can choose whether codespaces are paid for and owned by your organization or by your members. Showing 1-9 of 82 Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 10 Next Help and support Did you find what you needed? Yes No Privacy policy Help us make these docs great! All GitHub docs are open source. See something that's wrong or unclear? Submit a pull request. Make a contribution Learn how to contribute Still need help? Provide GitHub Feedback Contact support Legal * © 2026 GitHub, Inc. * Terms * Privacy * Status * Pricing * Expert services * Blog