Why code-server --help so different in macos and unbuntu?

[qupig]

In both macos and unbuntu, use the following command to install directly:

curl -fsSL https://code-server.dev/install.sh | sh

Then, in macOS:

$ code-server --help
code-server 4.93.1 69df01185ce2f80e99c9e4f8c8de1907cc7a9bc5 with Code 1.93.1

Usage: code-server [options] [path]
    - Opening a directory: code-server ./path/to/your/project
    - Opening a saved workspace: code-server ./path/to/your/project.code-workspace

Options
      --auth                             The type of authentication to use. [password, none]
      --password                         The password for password authentication (can only be passed in via $PASSWORD or the config file).
      --hashed-password                  The password hashed with argon2 for password authentication (can only be passed in via $HASHED_PASSWORD or the config file).
                                         Takes precedence over 'password'.
      --cert                             Path to certificate. A self signed certificate is generated if none is provided.
      --cert-host                        Hostname to use when generating a self signed certificate.
      --cert-key                         Path to certificate key when using non-generated cert.
      --disable-telemetry                Disable telemetry.
      --disable-update-check             Disable update check. Without this flag, code-server checks every 6 hours against the latest github release and
                                         then notifies you once every week that a new release is available.
      --disable-file-downloads           Disable file downloads from Code. This can also be set with CS_DISABLE_FILE_DOWNLOADS set to 'true' or '1'.
      --disable-file-uploads             Disable file uploads.
      --disable-workspace-trust          Disable Workspace Trust feature. This switch only affects the current session.
      --disable-getting-started-override Disable the coder/coder override in the Help: Getting Started page.
      --disable-proxy                    Disable domain and path proxy routes.
   -h --help                             Show this output.
      --locale                           Set vscode display language and language to show on the login page, more info see
                                         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IETF_language_tag
      --open                             Open in browser on startup. Does not work remotely.
      --bind-addr                        Address to bind to in host:port. You can also use $PORT to override the port.
      --config                           Path to yaml config file. Every flag maps directly to a key in the config file.
      --socket                           Path to a socket (bind-addr will be ignored).
      --socket-mode                      File mode of the socket.
      --trusted-origins                  Disables authenticate origin check for trusted origin. Useful if not able to access reverse proxy configuration.
   -v --version                          Display version information.
      --user-data-dir                    Path to the user data directory.
      --extensions-dir                   Path to the extensions directory.
      --list-extensions                  List installed VS Code extensions.
      --force                            Avoid prompts when installing VS Code extensions.
      --install-extension                Install or update a VS Code extension by id or vsix. The identifier of an extension is `${publisher}.${name}`.
                                         To install a specific version provide `@${version}`. For example: 'vscode.csharp@1.2.3'.
      --enable-proposed-api              Enable proposed API features for extensions. Can receive one or more extension IDs to enable individually.
      --uninstall-extension              Uninstall a VS Code extension by id.
      --show-versions                    Show VS Code extension versions.
      --github-auth                      GitHub authentication token (can only be passed in via $GITHUB_TOKEN or the config file).
      --proxy-domain                     Domain used for proxying ports.
   -e --ignore-last-opened               Ignore the last opened directory or workspace in favor of an empty window.
   -n --new-window                       Force to open a new window.
   -r --reuse-window                     Force to open a file or folder in an already opened window.
 -vvv --verbose                          Enable verbose logging.
  -an --app-name                         The name to use in branding. Will be shown in titlebar and welcome message
   -w --welcome-text                     Text to show on login page
      --abs-proxy-base-path              The base path to prefix to all absproxy requests

In Ubuntu:

$ code-server --help
code-server 1.93.1

Usage: code-server [options][paths...]

To read from stdin, append '-' (e.g. 'ps aux | grep code | code-server -')

Options
  -d --diff <file> <file>                    Compare two files with each other.
  -m --merge <path1> <path2> <base> <result> Perform a three-way merge by providing paths for two modified versions of a file, the
                                             common origin of both modified versions and the output file to save merge results.
  -a --add <folder>                          Add folder(s) to the last active window.
  -g --goto <file:line[:character]>          Open a file at the path on the specified line and character position.
  -n --new-window                            Force to open a new window.
  -r --reuse-window                          Force to open a file or folder in an already opened window.
  -w --wait                                  Wait for the files to be closed before returning.
  -h --help                                  Print usage.
  -c --stdin-to-clipboard                    copies the STDIN to the clipboard

Extensions Management
  --list-extensions                   List the installed extensions.
  --show-versions                     Show versions of installed extensions, when using --list-extensions.
  --category <category>               Filters installed extensions by provided category, when using --list-extensions.
  --install-extension <ext-id | path> Installs or updates an extension. The argument is either an extension id or a path to a
                                      VSIX. The identifier of an extension is '${publisher}.${name}'. Use '--force' argument to
                                      update to latest version. To install a specific version provide '@${version}'. For example:
                                      'vscode.csharp@1.2.3'.
  --uninstall-extension <ext-id>      Uninstalls an extension.
  --update-extensions                 Update the installed extensions.

Troubleshooting
  -v --version Print version.
  --verbose    Print verbose output (implies --wait).
  -s --status  Print process usage and diagnostics information.

[im-coder-lg]

code-server on macOS and Ubuntu are running on different versions - check the output you'll see it. Basically Ubuntu is running a very old version of code-server.
There's something off with this, as the cURL command installs the latest version of code-server for the system, along with the specific architecture(amd64, arm64, etc.). Re-run the cURL command, but dry run it, and spot which version it mentions.

Edit: the version changed from 4.93.1(macOS) to 1.93.1(Ubuntu Linux). Something may be wrong with install.sh

[im-coder-lg]

Update: I tested this on a cloud instance of Ubuntu(Gitpod), and everything looks good. @qupig can you tell me which version of Ubuntu you may be using? Basically info about the Ubuntu system/VM/instance.
It might be due to something in the system, since the Ubuntu instance I just used is 22.04, and the dry-run looks good.
https://asciinema.org/a/UMcTWzWj5ag8LZSnNkGekQ6vB
The link above is an asciinema recording of what I re-ran for proof.

[qupig]

Looking at the installation output, I don't think an older version is installed?

> curl -fsSL https://code-server.dev/install.sh | sh
Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS
Installing v4.93.1 of the amd64 deb package from GitHub.
+ mkdir -p ~/.cache/code-server
+ curl -#fL -o ~/.cache/code-server/code-server_4.93.1_amd64.deb.incomplete -C - https://github.com/coder/code-server/releases/download/v4.93.1/code-server_4.93.1_amd64.deb
######################################################################## 100.0%
+ mv ~/.cache/code-server/code-server_4.93.1_amd64.deb.incomplete ~/.cache/code-server/code-server_4.93.1_amd64.deb
+ sudo dpkg -i ~/.cache/code-server/code-server_4.93.1_amd64.deb
Selecting previously unselected package code-server.
(Reading database ... 266916 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../code-server_4.93.1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking code-server (4.93.1) ...
Setting up code-server (4.93.1) ...
deb package has been installed.

[im-coder-lg]

Huh...
Well that's odd, can you check if you have the latest version now?
Edit: this isn't from the asciinema which then means that you have the latest LTS Ubuntu version. But then this isn't possible, you can't have an older version.

[qupig]

I think I've found the cause of the issue, but I'm not sure how it happened.

> /usr/bin/code-server -v
4.93.1 69df01185ce2f80e99c9e4f8c8de1907cc7a9bc5 with Code 1.93.1

> /usr/lib/code-server/bin/code-server -v
4.93.1 69df01185ce2f80e99c9e4f8c8de1907cc7a9bc5 with Code 1.93.1

> which code-server
/usr/lib/code-server/lib/vscode/bin/remote-cli/code-server

> /usr/lib/code-server/lib/vscode/bin/remote-cli/code-server -v
1.93.1
3542bd157b0ccc8bf732acdb03d4d69d85f48ea9
x64

Again, I don't know why:

> echo $PATH
/usr/lib/code-server/lib/vscode/bin/remote-cli:...:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

I am running the above commands in code-server instance, that is vscode’s built-in TERMINAL panel with bash.
Do you think it's possible that in the instance,/usr/lib/code-server/lib/vscode/bin/remote-cli was automatically added to $PATH?

Anyway, the same way of doing things, which works without issue in macOS, but occurs in Ubuntu.

[qupig]

I tested it on a fresh Ubuntu system and my suspicions were confirmed.
The /usr/lib/code-server/lib/vscode/bin/remote-cli is added to PATH to the built-in TERMINAL by the code-server instance.
That is, in the external SHELL environment, there is no such extra path, and that path only exists in the terminal in the code-server instance.

[im-coder-lg]

Well then you can fix it right? Something might be wrong with code-server here, so once I test it I'll ping maintainers and let them know. @qupig can you try fixing this issue by editing the PATH variable? Or can you edit it in the first place?

[qupig]

Why should I edit PATH env?
Apparently editing the PATH env could fixes it, but I didn't add it and I shouldn't edit or delete it.
I could directly run /usr/bin/code-server --help instead.
There are already so many identical issues out there that you can definitely report it to the maintainers if they are really willing to fix it.

[im-coder-lg]

You could add an alias to your shell or try creating a symbolic link, something might help remedy that. I can't imagine anyone running code-server by putting the actual executable in, so that oughta remedy your issue for now.
I'll try something and reproduce this, and maybe I'll get some idea on a fix.

[im-coder-lg]

Unfortunately, I cannot recreate this issue, maybe due to factors with Gitpod.
I looked up the other issues, and I understand one thing: Microsoft's code-server gets more priority than our code-server. I think Microsoft is issuing PATH as [path-to-their-code-server]:$PATH but they aren't fixing that, and that's what is leading to this conflict. Moreover, both programs share the same name. There is no permanent fix for this yet, but rearranging PATH, creating an alias, or trying some symbolic link might work.

[qupig]

Actually:

• [Bug]: Cannot invoke code-server from integrated terminal #5335
• fix: invoking code-server in integrated terminal #5360
• Coder/code-server conflicts with the startup command of visual studio code server[Bug]:  #5502
• [Bug]: code-server (run with docker) will always overwrite PATH variable #5621 (comment)
• [Feat]: I wonder if you can create a choice that we can chose config file in other path #6240 (comment)

[qupig]

The issue is years old, it doesn't seem like it will be fixed, and it's not well documented.
This means that everyone falls down this rabbit hole. 😫

[code-asher]

If I understand correctly, what is going on here is that in some cases our code-server command is being ran, and in other cases VS Code's code-server is being ran.

VS Code's runs in the integrated terminal by default (it gets automatically added to PATH). This version of code-server allows interacting with the current instance of code-server (for example opening a file in the current instance), but it does not allow spawning a full new code-server instance; they are different scripts and have different options and purposes (although there is overlap).

Understandably confusing! This is how it works upstream though, so it is not specific to code-server, and appears to be the intended behavior.

[code-asher]

Or actually maybe it would be OK if we said to use this, run this command instead: <print the new name here>

[qupig]

I recommend not mixing the flags of the two tools together, since that is actually maintained by two different teams, any future modifications will easily create new conflicts.

As a relatively easy alternative, and something that can be done by this downstream project, is to ensure that the project's code-server command always has priority in the PATH, whether it is an external terminal or an internal integrated terminal. (i.e. make sure it always overrides the upstream project and will not confuse users)

For the code-server command in the upstream original remote-cli, you could:

• Make an alias like code-server-instance
• It is detected that the code-server command is running in the inherited terminal, and a prompt is given at the beginning: <If you need to control this instance, please run the absolute path "/.../bin/remote-cli/code-server"> or if alias in last step <If you need to control this instance, please use code-server-instance command>

Or actually maybe it would be OK if we said to use this, run this command instead:

I recommend that you never do this. It prompts you to run another command after entering some flags exist.
This is definitely a disaster. Very bad user experience.
If you don't function/maintain these flags, don't add them.

[code-asher]

I agree giving ours priority is a good idea, but we have to implement the missing flags first (--wait, etc) to avoid a breaking change.

Unfortunately, I think we are stuck copying the flags in order to support them in external terminals.

[qupig]

Suffice it to say, if "breaking change" ends the ongoing chaos that has been and will continue to be, then it's worth it.
Regardless, at least having this documented well in somewhere prevents others from suffering the same confusion.
Thank you for your work and I will respect your decision.

[code-asher]

I appreciate your input!

Copying the flags is pretty quick so if we did this I would like to copy the missing ones real quick first and skip the breaking change.

Truthfully though, we update VS Code and merge PRs but are not actively working on the project so it may not happen for a while 😅