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DevPod
Open source dev environments anywhere
Developer ToolsFreeOpen SourceReplaces GitHub Codespaces ($)
DevPod — Official Website
Quick Take: DevPod
4.8
In 2026, DevPod has solidified its place as the essential tool for macOS developers who refuse to compromise between convenience and control. It brilliantly solves the 'vendor lock-in' problem of remote development, offering a truly open, flexible alternative to GitHub Codespaces. While it requires a slightly higher technical acumen to configure custom cloud providers compared to a one-click SaaS solution, the payoff is immense: infinite flexibility, lower costs, and total ownership of your infrastructure. Its performance on Apple Silicon is flawless, and the support for both VS Code and JetBrains makes it universally adaptable. For any developer managing complex dependencies or working across multiple environments, DevPod is not just a tool—it's a workflow superpower.
Best For
- •Platform Engineers & DevOps Teams
- •Freelancers managing multiple client stacks
- •Developers needing high-performance remote compute (GPUs)
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask devpodWhat is DevPod?
In the rapidly evolving landscape of 2026 macOS development, DevPod stands as the definitive open-source solution for 'Dev Environments as Code,' fundamentally disrupting how engineers interact with development infrastructure. Created by Loft Labs—the innovators behind vCluster—DevPod was designed to solve the 'it works on my machine' dilemma without locking developers into proprietary SaaS ecosystems like GitHub Codespaces or Gitpod. At its core, DevPod is a client-side tool that utilizes the open `devcontainer.json` standard to spin up reproducible, containerized development environments on any infrastructure you choose. Unlike its competitors that force you to rent their cloud compute, DevPod acts as a 'bring your own cloud' utility. It functions similarly to Terraform but specifically for ephemeral workspaces. Whether you want your code to run on your local Apple Silicon MacBook Pro via Docker, on a remote Kubernetes cluster, a specialized GPU instance on AWS, or a bare-metal server via SSH, DevPod handles the orchestration seamlessly. It automatically provisions the infrastructure, installs your defined tools, spins up an IDE (VS Code or JetBrains), and tunnels the connection locally. For Mac users in 2026, this tool is indispensable. It bridges the gap between the power of Apple's ARM-based hardware and the x86_64 dominance of server-side Linux environments. By decoupling the development environment definition from the execution platform, DevPod empowers teams to maintain a single configuration source while allowing individual developers the freedom to choose where that code runs. It represents the maturation of remote development, moving away from expensive, managed walled gardens toward a flexible, cost-effective, and open-source standard that fits perfectly into the modern, decentralized DevOps toolchain.
Key Features
Provider Agnosticism (Multi-Cloud Support)
DevPod's architecture is built on a modular 'provider' system, allowing it to interface with virtually any backend. Out of the box in 2026, it supports Docker (local), Kubernetes, AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, and plain SSH servers. This means you can code on a local container for low latency or instantly switch to a massive cloud instance for AI model training using the exact same configuration, without changing a single line of code in your project.
Native IDE Injection & Tunneling
Unlike legacy VDI solutions, DevPod does not stream pixels; it streams data. It automatically installs your preferred IDE server—be it VS Code Server, JetBrains Gateway (IntelliJ, GoLand, PyCharm), or a terminal-based editor like Neovim—directly into the remote container. It then establishes a secure SSH tunnel, allowing your local Mac application to act as a UI client. This results in a zero-latency typing experience that feels native to macOS, regardless of where the backend logic is executing.
Client-Only Architecture
DevPod differs significantly from Gitpod or Codespaces because it requires no server-side management component or control plane. It is a lightweight binary that runs entirely on your Mac. The state is managed locally, and it communicates directly with the infrastructure provider API. This drastically reduces complexity for IT security teams, as there is no middleware to secure or audit—DevPod simply automates commands you could theoretically run manually, but with vastly superior speed and consistency.
Full DevContainer Spec Compliance
DevPod is built to be fully compatible with the open `devcontainer.json` specification. If a repository works in VS Code Remote Containers or GitHub Codespaces, it works in DevPod without modification. It parses build arguments, features, lifecycle hooks (like `postCreateCommand`), and extensions, ensuring that your team does not need to maintain separate configuration files for different tools. This adherence to standards makes migration to DevPod frictionless.
Local-to-Remote Context Injection
One of DevPod's smartest features is how it handles the developer's personal context. It can automatically inject your Git credentials, SSH keys, and GPG keys from your Mac's keychain into the container securely. Furthermore, it supports 'dotfiles' synchronization, ensuring that your shell aliases, Zsh themes, and personal CLI configurations are present in every ephemeral container you spin up, making a fresh environment feel like home instantly.
Workspace Prebuilds (via CI Integration)
To eliminate the downtime associated with `npm install` or compiling binaries when opening a project, DevPod integrates with CI pipelines to create prebuilds. While DevPod is client-side, it offers a CLI that can be triggered in GitHub Actions or GitLab CI to build the Docker image ahead of time. When you eventually click 'Open' on your Mac, DevPod pulls the pre-cached image, reducing startup time from minutes to mere seconds.
Who Should Use DevPod?
1The Full-Stack Freelancer
Alex works with five different clients, each with specific Node.js, Python, and database version requirements. Instead of cluttering their macOS system with version managers (nvm, pyenv) and conflicting Homebrew packages, Alex uses DevPod. For Client A, DevPod spins up a local Docker container mimicking their production Linux environment. For Client B, who requires heavy compilation, DevPod provisions a temporary AWS EC2 instance. Alex switches contexts instantly without ever polluting their local file system or worrying about library conflicts.
2The Enterprise Platform Engineer
Sarah manages tooling for a bank with strict data residency laws. Cloud-hosted SaaS IDEs like GitHub Codespaces are banned due to security compliance. Sarah deploys DevPod to the team. She configures a custom Kubernetes provider that points to the bank's private, on-premise OpenShift cluster. Developers install DevPod on their Macs and point it to the internal repo. DevPod orchestrates the environments securely within the bank's firewall, satisfying compliance while giving developers the modern, ephemeral workflow they demand.
3The AI/ML Researcher
Marcus develops Large Language Models (LLMs) on a MacBook Air. The laptop is great for writing code but lacks the VRAM for training. Using DevPod, Marcus defines a `devcontainer.json` that requests an NVIDIA H100 GPU. When he starts the workspace, DevPod uses the cloud provider to provision a GPU instance, sets up the CUDA drivers, and connects his local VS Code. He codes locally, but the execution happens on the cloud GPU. Once finished, he shuts down the workspace, terminating the billing instantly.
How to Install DevPod on Mac
Installing DevPod on macOS is streamlined thanks to excellent support for Homebrew. The application is available as both a CLI tool and a GUI desktop application, catering to both terminal purists and visual users.
1
Install via Homebrew
The most efficient method for macOS users is using Homebrew. Open your terminal (iTerm2 or Terminal.app) and run: `brew install --cask devpod`. This installs both the core binary and the GUI wrapper.
2
Initial Launch & Docker Setup
Launch 'DevPod' from your Applications folder. On the first run, it will check for a container runtime. Ensure you have Docker Desktop or OrbStack (recommended for Apple Silicon) installed and running, as this is the default provider for local environments.
3
Install IDE Companion
DevPod needs to know which editor to launch. Go to Settings > Default Editor. Select 'VS Code' (if installed) or 'JetBrains Gateway' if you plan to use IntelliJ or PyCharm. Ensure the corresponding IDE is installed in your `/Applications` folder.
4
Add a Provider (Optional)
By default, DevPod uses the 'Docker' provider. To use a remote backend, click 'Providers' > 'Add', select 'Kubernetes' or 'AWS', and follow the authentication prompts to link your cloud credentials.
Pro Tips
- • Use OrbStack instead of Docker Desktop on Apple Silicon Macs for significantly faster file system performance and lower battery drain.
- • Enable the 'SSH Agent Forwarding' option in DevPod settings to easily use your local Git keys inside the remote container.
- • Install the DevPod browser extension if you want to open GitHub/GitLab repositories directly into DevPod with a single click.
Configuration Tips
Optimize for Apple Silicon
When writing your `devcontainer.json`, explicitly check for multi-architecture base images. Use `dind` (Docker-in-Docker) images that support `linux/arm64`. If you must use x86 images, ensure Rosetta is enabled in your Docker provider settings to prevent massive performance penalties during compilation.
Leverage Workspace Hooks
Use the `postStartCommand` in your `devcontainer.json` to handle environment-specific tasks that shouldn't be baked into the image, such as running database migrations or `npm install`. This keeps the base image smaller and ensures your environment is fresh every time you spin it up via DevPod.
Alternatives to DevPod
While DevPod leads the 'client-only' niche, several other tools offer remote development environments, usually with a managed SaaS approach.
G
GitHub Codespaces
Codespaces is the most direct competitor but operates as a fully managed SaaS tightly integrated into GitHub. While easier to use (zero setup), it locks you into GitHub's pricing model and infrastructure. DevPod offers the same functionality but lets you run the environment on your own cheaper hardware or local machine, offering significantly more flexibility at the cost of convenience.
G
Gitpod
Gitpod is a powerful, server-based orchestration platform. Unlike DevPod's client-side approach, Gitpod requires installing a heavy platform (or using their SaaS). Gitpod is better for large enterprises needing centralized governance and massive prebuild infrastructure, whereas DevPod is superior for individuals and teams who want a lightweight, infrastructure-agnostic tool without overhead.
D
Daytona
Rising in popularity in 2026, Daytona acts as a 'self-hosted Codespaces' offering a management plane. Compared to DevPod, Daytona is more opinionated and offers a central dashboard for managing environments, which is better for team leads but heavier to deploy than DevPod's simple CLI/Desktop binary approach.
Pricing
Free, Open-Source
DevPod is genuinely open-source software (Apache 2.0 License). There are no paid tiers, subscriptions, or 'Pro' features for the client application itself. You can download it, inspect the code on GitHub, and use it without limits on concurrent workspaces or hours. However, users must pay for the *underlying infrastructure* they use. If you configure DevPod to spin up AWS EC2 instances, you pay AWS directly for that compute time. If you run it locally on Docker, it is completely free.
Pros
- ✓True vendor neutrality: Works with AWS, GCP, Azure, DigitalOcean, Kubernetes, or local Docker.
- ✓No SaaS subscription fees; you only pay your cloud provider for raw infrastructure.
- ✓Excellent Apple Silicon (M-series) support using Rosetta or native ARM64 containers.
- ✓Fully client-side architecture eliminates the need for hosting a central management server.
- ✓Supports both VS Code and full JetBrains IDE suite (IntelliJ, WebStorm, etc.).
- ✓Drastically reduces 'works on my machine' issues by codifying environments.
- ✓High performance: Local execution is fast; remote execution uses efficient SSH tunneling.
Cons
- ✗Steeper learning curve than GitHub Codespaces for initial configuration of custom providers.
- ✗Requires knowledge of Docker and potentially Kubernetes to debug if environments fail to build.
- ✗No built-in 'dashboard' for team management or auditing (since it's client-side only).
- ✗Initial container build times can be slow without setting up external prebuild pipelines.
- ✗Syncing files between local Mac and remote container can be tricky if not using the default mount behaviors.
Community & Support
DevPod boasts a vibrant, technical community driven by Loft Labs. The project is hosted on GitHub with high activity levels, featuring frequent releases and rapid bug fixes. Community support is primarily handled via the Loft Community Slack channel, which is very active with engineers and maintainers. Documentation is comprehensive, covering provider creation and troubleshooting depth. In 2026, the ecosystem of community-contributed 'Providers' (plugins for different clouds) has grown significantly, making it easy to find templates for niche infrastructure needs.
Video Tutorials
Getting Started with DevPod
Colin J Codesalot5.9K views
More Tutorials
Remote Environments with Dev Containers and Devpod: Are They Worth It?
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Open Source Dev Containers for macOS with Colima and DevPod
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Frequently Asked Questions about DevPod
Docker Desktop is a runtime—an engine that executes containers. DevPod is an orchestrator that sits *on top* of Docker (and other providers). While Docker lets you run a container, DevPod reads a `devcontainer.json` file to understand *how* to build that container, which extensions to install, which ports to forward, and how to inject your IDE. You can think of Docker as the engine and DevPod as the driver who knows exactly where to go. You often use them together: DevPod tells Docker Desktop to spin up a specific environment, mounts your source code, and connects your VS Code to it automatically.
Our Verdict
4.8/5
In 2026, DevPod has solidified its place as the essential tool for macOS developers who refuse to compromise between convenience and control. It brilliantly solves the 'vendor lock-in' problem of remote development, offering a truly open, flexible alternative to GitHub Codespaces. While it requires a slightly higher technical acumen to configure custom cloud providers compared to a one-click SaaS solution, the payoff is immense: infinite flexibility, lower costs, and total ownership of your infrastructure. Its performance on Apple Silicon is flawless, and the support for both VS Code and JetBrains makes it universally adaptable. For any developer managing complex dependencies or working across multiple environments, DevPod is not just a tool—it's a workflow superpower.
Best for:Platform Engineers & DevOps TeamsFreelancers managing multiple client stacksDevelopers needing high-performance remote compute (GPUs)
About the Author
Related Technologies & Concepts
Loft Labsdevcontainer.jsonDockerKubernetesSSHVS CodeOrbStack
Loft Labs (Creator and maintainer of the DevPod open-source project.), devcontainer.json (The configuration standard used by DevPod to define environments.), Docker (The default local container runtime used by DevPod on macOS.), Kubernetes (A major provider backend allowing DevPod to spin up pods in clusters.), SSH (The protocol used to tunnel traffic between the local IDE and the remote container.), VS Code (The primary IDE supported by DevPod for remote connections.), OrbStack (A recommended Docker Desktop alternative for Mac users using DevPod.)
Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: Feb 15, 2026
- 1DevPod Official Website
Accessed Feb 15, 2026
Research queries: DevPod Mac 2026