head to head · open source
platformio-core vs sidex
platformio-core has 9,583 GitHub stars, 917 forks, 272 open issues and last shipped 21 days ago. sidex has 3,165 stars, 266 forks, 50 open issues and last shipped 2 months ago. platformio-core leads on adoption by 203% (9,583 vs 3,165 stars). platformio-core is written in Python under Apache-2.0; sidex is written in TypeScript under MIT. platformio-core has attracted 10% as many forks as stars, sidex 8%. platformio-core 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
| platformio-core | sidex | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 9.6K | ★ 3.2K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Python | TypeScript |
| Last push | 2026-10-16 | 2026-08-26 |
| Forks | ⑂ 917 | ⑂ 266 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick platformio-core if
- You weight community size — 9.6K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick sidex if
- You want the sidex feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You evaluated both and sidex fits your workflow better
About platformio-core
PlatformIO Core =============== .. image:: :target: :alt: CI Build for PlatformIO Core .. image:: :target: :alt: CI Build for Docs .. image:: :target: :alt: CI Build for dev platform examples .. image:: :target: :alt: CI Build for the Community Projects .. image:: :target: :alt: Latest Version .. image:: :alt: PlatformIO Labs :target: Quick Links: Homepage PlatformIO IDE Registry Project Examples Docs Donate Contact Us Social: LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Community Forums .. image:: :target: PlatformIO : Your Gateway to Embedded Software Development Excellence. Unlock the true potential of embedded software…
read the full platformio-core overview →
About sidex
SideX VSCode's workbench, without Electron. Why · What's Working · AI Agent · Getting Started · How It's Built · Contributing · Discord SideX is a port of Visual Studio Code that replaces Electron with Tauri — a Rust backend and OS's native webview. The same TypeScript workbench, the same editor, terminal, and Git integration, running without a bundled browser. Early release. Core editing and the terminal are solid. The extension host and debugger are still in progress. See What's Working for the full picture. Why VSCode's memory useage is almost entirely from its bundled Chromium, not the editor itself. Tauri…
read the full sidex overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is platformio-core or sidex more popular?
platformio-core has 9,583 GitHub stars and sidex has 3,165. platformio-core has the larger community by that measure.
Are platformio-core and sidex free?
Both are open source. platformio-core is licensed under Apache-2.0 and sidex under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between platformio-core and sidex?
platformio-core is written in Python and sidex in TypeScript. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, platformio-core or sidex?
Choose platformio-core if you want the larger community (9,583 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose sidex if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.