head to head · open source
code-server vs denova
code-server has 79,705 GitHub stars, 6,897 forks, 152 open issues and last shipped 4 days ago. denova has 973 stars, 151 forks, 9 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. code-server leads on adoption by 8,092% (79,705 vs 973 stars). code-server is written in TypeScript under MIT; denova is written in Go under Apache-2.0. code-server has attracted 9% as many forks as stars, denova 16%. denova was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (ide), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| code-server | denova | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 80K | ★ 973 |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | Go |
| Last push | 2026-10-23 | 2026-10-25 |
| Forks | ⑂ 6.9K | ⑂ 151 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick code-server if
- You weight community size — 80K stars and counting
- You want the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick denova if
- You want the denova feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Go
- You evaluated both and denova fits your workflow better
About code-server
code server Run VS Code on any machine anywhere and access it in the browser. Highlights Code on any device with a consistent development environment Use cloud servers to speed up tests, compilations, downloads, and more Preserve battery life when you're on the go; all intensive tasks run on your server Requirements See requirements for minimum specs, as well as instructions on how to set up a Google VM on which you can install code server. TL;DR: Linux machine with WebSockets enabled, 1 GB RAM, and 2 vCPUs Getting started There are five ways to get started: 1. Using the install script, which automates most of…
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About denova
Denova 是一个面向小说写作与 AI 角色扮演游戏的一体化 AI 创作平台，内置 AI Agents、Skills、SubAgent 协作、自动化、图像生成与项目版本管理 English 中文 当前版本： v0.6.3 （2026 10 20） · Beta · 下载最新版本 查看更多界面截图 游戏 资料库 创作方案 修改审阅 工作台 支持局域网连接、手机自适应布局和 PWA 应用。 为什么选择 Denova Denova 把小说写作、互动故事、结构化资料库、AI Agent、图像生成、自动化和本地版本管理放进同一个工作区，适合需要长期维护设定、反复修改并持续积累内容的创作项目。 你可以从一个灵感开始新书，导入已有小说继续创作，也可以使用角色卡和资料库搭建可分支的文字冒险。Agent 能读取项目内容、调用工具并修改文件，所有重要变更仍可检查、撤销和恢复。 核心能力 小说写作 ：Markdown 文档与源码编辑、多文档 Tab、查找替换、大纲与章节细纲、进度追踪、正文评论、修改审阅和现有小说导入。 创作 Agent ：支持 Native、Codex 和 Claude Code，结合当前选区、项目文件、图片和资料库进行创作；支持多会话、SubAgent 协作和任务暂停恢复。 互动游戏
read the full denova overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is code-server or denova more popular?
code-server has 79,705 GitHub stars and denova has 973. code-server has the larger community by that measure.
Are code-server and denova free?
Both are open source. code-server is licensed under MIT and denova under Apache-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between code-server and denova?
code-server is written in TypeScript and denova in Go. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, code-server or denova?
Choose code-server if you want the larger community (79,705 stars) or its MIT licence terms. Choose denova if its feature set, stack or Apache-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.