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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsYou can run Codiad behind Nginx by serving its directory as the document root and forwarding PHP requests to the exact PHP-FPM listener configured on your server. The most common installation failures are a mismatched FPM socket (502), an incorrect document root, unwritable configuration or workspace files, and Nginx location rules that block JavaScript and CSS.
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There is an important security qualification: Codiad’s upstream repository was archived on September 8, 2023, and lists its latest stable release as October 26, 2013. It is no longer actively maintained. Pin the revision you deploy, inspect the source, keep the editor behind HTTPS and access controls, and maintain backups before exposing it to the internet.
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Decide whether Codiad is suitable for this server
Codiad is a browser-based IDE. Its historical documentation describes project data as JSON-formatted PHP files and the workspace as the place where project files are stored. That design makes ordinary filesystem ownership and write permissions part of the application’s operation, not an optional deployment detail.
| Fact | What it means for an installation |
|---|---|
| Upstream status | The official repository was archived on September 8, 2023 and says Codiad is no longer under active maintenance by core contributors. |
| Latest stable release listed upstream | October 26, 2013. Historical instructions therefore refer to PHP 5 package names and paths that are obsolete on many current distributions. |
| Repository counters | The archived page showed about 2.8k stars and 690 forks when captured on October 15, 2026. These counters change over time and are not a support or adoption guarantee. |
| Security support | No current security-support SLA, installation-success rate, user-count report or performance benchmark is established for the archived project. |
For a private lab or a restricted administrative server, a pinned and reviewed snapshot can still be useful. For a public, multi-user development service, the lack of active maintenance should weigh heavily in your decision.
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Choose a deployment shape before installing
The installation steps are similar across distributions, but five choices affect troubleshooting and security.
| Choice | Option 1 | Option 2 | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| PHP-FPM transport | Unix socket on the same host | TCP address and port | Both work. The Nginx fastcgi_pass value must exactly match PHP-FPM’s listen value. A Unix socket is usually the least exposed option when both services share a machine. |
| Exposure | Dedicated host or virtual host | Subdirectory of another site | A dedicated hostname makes the document root and access rules easier to reason about. A subdirectory requires careful handling of URL paths and asset references. |
| Source | Pinned archived release | Reviewed fork or snapshot | Record the exact commit or archive checksum. A fork may contain fixes, but you must review its changes and maintenance history yourself. |
| Hosting | Existing local server | Linux VPS | Use the existing server only if its PHP version and access controls are suitable. A VPS gives you an isolated host, but you remain responsible for updates, firewall rules, backups and monitoring. |
| Permissions | Service-specific ownership | Broad convenience ownership | Give the PHP-FPM account only the write access Codiad needs. Recursive write permissions for every user or mode 777 make compromise more damaging. |
Prerequisites and preflight checks
- A supported Linux distribution with administrative access.
- Nginx and PHP-FPM installed from repositories supported by that distribution.
- The PHP extensions required by the particular Codiad revision. A historical Ubuntu recipe installed MySQL and a PHP MySQL module, but do not install obsolete PHP 5 packages merely because an old tutorial names them; inspect the revision’s requirements and use current package names.
- A hostname or internal address, plus HTTPS if the editor will carry credentials or source code across an untrusted network.
- A backup destination for the Codiad configuration, data and workspace.
First identify which PHP-FPM service and pool are active. Service names vary by distribution and PHP version:
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systemctl list-units --type=service 'php*-fpm.service'
systemctl status php8.3-fpmUse the service name that actually exists on your host. Then locate the pool listener and service account:
grep -R '^[[:space:]]*listen[[:space:]]*=' /etc/php /etc/php-fpm.d /etc/php-fpm 2>/dev/null
grep -R '^[[:space:]]*\(user\|group\|listen.owner\|listen.group\|listen.mode\)[[:space:]]*=' /etc/php /etc/php-fpm.d /etc/php-fpm 2>/dev/nullWrite down the listener exactly, including whether it is a Unix path such as /run/php/php8.3-fpm.sock or a TCP endpoint such as 127.0.0.1:9000. This value is the source of truth for Nginx.
Install Codiad under a pinned path
1. Install Nginx, PHP-FPM and only required extensions
On Debian- or Ubuntu-family systems, the broad starting point is:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx php-fpmAdd modules only after checking the selected Codiad revision, for example a database, JSON, XML, multibyte-string or cURL module when that revision requires one. On other distributions, use the distribution’s supported Nginx and PHP-FPM packages and note the resulting PHP version and pool file location. Do not copy the historical php5-fpm or php5-mysql names onto a modern host unless that distribution explicitly provides them.
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2. Obtain and verify a fixed source revision
Download a release archive or reviewed repository snapshot from a source you trust, record its version or commit identifier, and review the code before making it reachable. Avoid deploying an automatically changing branch. The following commands assume the archive has already been placed at /tmp/codiad-release.tar.gz:
sudo mkdir -p /var/www/codiad
sudo tar -xzf /tmp/codiad-release.tar.gz -C /var/www/codiad --strip-components=1
sudo find /var/www/codiad -maxdepth 2 -type f | headInspect the archive before using --strip-components=1; if its files are not inside one top-level directory, extract it into a temporary directory and move the application contents deliberately. The final directory must contain Codiad’s index.php.
3. Create configuration and data paths
Some revisions expect a config.php file to exist before the first browser visit. Create it only if the revision’s installer or documentation calls for it, and identify every data and workspace path that must be writable:
sudo touch /var/www/codiad/config.php
sudo mkdir -p /var/www/codiad/workspaceThe exact directory layout can differ between snapshots. Do not invent additional writable directories; inspect the source and the installer’s error messages. Codiad’s historical Ubuntu instructions create config.php and assign the web-server account ownership recursively because the application must write its configuration and project data.
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Find the user and group settings in the active pool. Debian and Ubuntu commonly use www-data; other systems may use nginx or another account. Use the account shown by your pool, not a copied example:
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/codiad
sudo find /var/www/codiad -type d -exec chmod 0750 {} ;
sudo find /var/www/codiad -type f -exec chmod 0640 {} ;
sudo chmod 0660 /var/www/codiad/config.phpIn this example, replace www-data:www-data only after confirming the real service account. If the Nginx worker and PHP-FPM pool use different groups, grant the minimum group access needed to read application files and write the required Codiad paths. Do not make the entire tree world-writable to solve a single failed write.
Configure Nginx for Codiad
Create a virtual-host file such as /etc/nginx/sites-available/codiad. Adapt the hostname, PHP version and listener to your machine:
server {
listen 80;
server_name codiad.example.com;
root /var/www/codiad;
index index.php index.html;
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php$is_args$args;
}
location ~ .php$ {
include fastcgi_params;
fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php8.3-fpm.sock;
}
}The sample uses a Unix socket. If your pool says listen = 127.0.0.1:9000, use fastcgi_pass 127.0.0.1:9000; instead. If it says listen = /run/php/php8.2-fpm.sock, use fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php8.2-fpm.sock;. The two values must correspond exactly; changing only the Nginx version number is not a fix.
Why each directive matters
rootmust be the directory that contains Codiad’sindex.php. Pointing it at/var/wwwor at a parent directory produces missing files or exposes unrelated content.indexlets a request for the hostname resolve toindex.php.try_filesserves an existing file or directory first and sends application routes to Codiad’s front controller. Without a controlled fallback, application URLs can return 404 or loop.include fastcgi_paramssupplies the standard request parameters expected by PHP-FPM.SCRIPT_FILENAMEtells PHP-FPM which file to execute. Omitting it can produce “file not found” responses even when Nginx can see the file.fastcgi_passselects the PHP-FPM listener. A dead or mismatched listener produces a 502 response.
Ensure the active Nginx configuration has MIME types loaded in the global http section, normally through an include mime.types; directive. Custom configurations that omit MIME definitions or place regex locations in an unexpected order can make CSS and JavaScript requests fail.
Enable, test and reload
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/codiad /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/codiad
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx
sudo systemctl restart php8.3-fpmRun nginx -t before every reload. If the test fails, Nginx keeps the previous working configuration; fix the reported file and line rather than forcing a restart. Use the service name and PHP version present on your system.
Complete the first browser setup
Open the configured hostname after Nginx and PHP-FPM are running. The initial screen should let you create the administrator username and password and create the first project. If the page is blank or reports that a file cannot be written, stop and correct ownership or session storage before weakening permissions. Confirm that the browser is using the intended hostname and scheme, particularly if a reverse proxy or HTTPS redirect is involved.
Fix a 502 Bad Gateway
A 502 means Nginx cannot obtain a valid response from PHP-FPM. In this deployment, the most common cause is a listener mismatch.
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- Check that PHP-FPM is running:
sudo systemctl status php8.3-fpm. - Read the active pool’s
listen =value with thegrepcommand shown earlier. - Compare it character-for-character with Nginx’s
fastcgi_pass. For a Unix socket, Nginx requires theunix:prefix. - If using a socket, check that the file exists and that its owner, group and mode allow the Nginx worker to connect:
ls -l /run/php/php8.3-fpm.sock. - Inspect logs for the precise failure:
sudo tail -n 100 /var/log/nginx/error.logand the PHP-FPM journal or pool log. - Restart PHP-FPM after correcting the pool or socket, run
sudo nginx -t, and reload Nginx.
Unix sockets and TCP listeners are both valid. A same-host Unix socket is often preferable because it avoids exposing a network listener, but it is not inherently correct unless the path and permissions match the pool configuration.
Fix PHP source being downloaded or displayed as text
If the browser downloads index.php or shows PHP source, Nginx is serving the file as static content instead of passing it to PHP-FPM. Verify that:
- The PHP location block is in the active server block, not only in an unused file.
- The block matches
.php$and includesfastcgi_params. SCRIPT_FILENAMEresolves to the real Codiad path.fastcgi_passpoints to a running listener.- You ran
nginx -tand reloaded Nginx after editing.
Never leave a site publicly accessible while PHP source is exposed; it can disclose credentials, paths and application logic.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix JavaScript or CSS 404 errors and a broken interface
A page that loads without styling, editor controls or scripts usually has asset requests returning 404 or an incorrect content type. Open the browser’s developer tools, identify one failing asset URL, and request it directly from the server. Then check the following:
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- Confirm the file exists under
/var/www/codiadat the path requested by the browser. - Ensure
rootis not pointing to a parent directory or a different release. - Keep the general
location /fallback from intercepting real static files;try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php$is_args$args;serves existing assets first. - Review custom regex locations. Nginx location ordering can cause a broad rule to win over the rule you intended for static files or PHP.
- Make sure the global MIME configuration is loaded so CSS and JavaScript receive appropriate content types.
- Check filesystem read permission for the Nginx worker and inspect
/var/log/nginx/error.log.
Do not “fix” an asset 404 by adding random rewrites. First establish whether the URL is wrong, the file is absent from the pinned snapshot, or a location rule is intercepting it.
Fix permission denied, blank setup pages and failed writes
Codiad must be able to read its application files and write the configuration, data and workspace paths required by the selected revision. Determine the exact failing path from the Nginx, PHP-FPM or application log, then compare its ownership with the pool’s service account:
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namei -l /var/www/codiad/config.php
ls -ld /var/www/codiad /var/www/codiad/workspace
ls -l /var/www/codiad/config.phpCorrect only the affected path or the application tree:
sudo chown service-account:service-group /var/www/codiad/config.php
sudo chmod 0660 /var/www/codiad/config.phpUse the real account and group from the active pool. Parent directories also need execute permission so the service can traverse them. Avoid recursive mode 777; it hides the cause and allows any local account or compromised process to alter project code.
Fix a wrong document root or fallback loop
Check that the configured root contains index.php and that Nginx is using the server block selected for the hostname. A fallback loop commonly appears when every request, including the fallback target, is rewritten back to itself or when a second virtual host catches the request. Keep the fallback limited to the controlled try_files pattern, test with nginx -t, and inspect the complete active configuration if several server blocks share an address.
Fix login and session problems
When the login form reloads without creating a session, or the first-project setup loses data between requests, check:
- PHP session storage exists and is writable by the PHP-FPM account.
- The browser is reaching the intended hostname, port and scheme, with no conflicting reverse-proxy rewrite.
- Cookies are not being discarded because the hostname changes between HTTP and HTTPS.
- Nginx and PHP-FPM logs do not show permission, time or fatal-PHP errors.
Find the configured PHP session directory in the active PHP configuration and fix its ownership rather than granting broad write access to the entire Codiad tree.
Protect an archived application after it works
Use HTTPS and restrict administration
Credentials and source code should not cross an untrusted network over plain HTTP. Put the site behind a valid TLS configuration and, where practical, restrict access by firewall, VPN or an allowlist. Codiad’s age makes reducing exposure more important than adding convenience features.
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Do not place unrelated sites, backups or archive files under the Codiad document root. Review the revision before adding deny rules for configuration or data paths: blocking a path that Codiad must read can break the editor, while leaving a sensitive file downloadable can disclose credentials. Test every rule with both an authenticated browser session and direct requests to representative files.
Back up the three things that matter
- The pinned source archive or commit identifier, so you can reproduce the deployed code.
- Codiad’s configuration and JSON data.
- The workspace containing project files.
Store backups outside the web root and test restoring them on a separate directory or host. A backup that has never been restored is not a verified recovery plan.
Quick Recap
Final verification checklist
- The deployed source revision is recorded and has been reviewed.
- Nginx’s
rootcontains the intended Codiadindex.php. - The PHP-FPM service is running under the account used for ownership decisions.
- Nginx’s
fastcgi_passexactly matches the pool’slistenvalue. sudo nginx -tsucceeds before reload.- The home page, login, first-project creation and an actual file save work.
- JavaScript and CSS requests return 200 responses with appropriate content types.
- Configuration, data and workspace writes succeed without world-writable permissions.
- Logs are free of recurring 502, permission and session errors.
- HTTPS, access restrictions and off-root backups are in place before public exposure.
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