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What “VS Code fork” can mean
Microsoft’s FAQ distinguishes Visual Studio Code from Code – OSS, the open-source repository on which it is based. A product may build on that source without being an independent open-source fork, and a shared code lineage does not make every downstream product open source. Microsoft also says products built from Code – OSS outside its branded distribution cannot access the Visual Studio Marketplace.
The options below are therefore four distinct VS Code-based routes, not four interchangeable open-source forks. The comparison covers what their official documentation establishes; it does not establish hands-on performance or feature parity.
| Option | What it is | Documented trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| VSCodium | Community-configured builds from Microsoft’s VS Code source | Telemetry disabled; uses Open VSX, and some extensions restricted to official builds may not work. |
| Cursor | Commercial AI editor based on a VS Code fork | Code data is sent to Cursor’s servers for AI features; privacy mode says it is not persisted. |
| Void | Open-source AI IDE and VS Code fork | Its repository reports a pause in active development and review of issues and pull requests. |
| Code – OSS | Open-source source repository behind Microsoft’s branded VS Code | It is a source-code route, not the same thing as Microsoft’s branded distribution or its Marketplace access. |
1. VSCodium: community builds with telemetry disabled
VSCodium’s project documentation describes scripts that clone Microsoft’s vscode source, customize product.json and build distributable binaries. The project is explicit: “This is not a fork.” It describes its resulting binaries as MIT-licensed and says telemetry is disabled.
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The extension-registry trade-off
VSCodium uses Open VSX rather than the Visual Studio Marketplace, citing Microsoft’s Marketplace terms. The project warns that some extensions restricted to official Visual Studio Code builds may not work. If a particular extension is essential to your workflow, verify its availability and compatibility before switching; do not assume that being able to install many extensions means every Marketplace extension is available.
The project page lists downloads for Windows, macOS and multiple GNU/Linux architectures. Check its current page for supported platforms and builds before installing.
2. Cursor: an AI editor, not an open-source alternative
Cursor’s security documentation describes the product as a fork of Microsoft’s open-source VS Code and says it merges upstream VS Code code periodically. That lineage does not make Cursor itself an open-source product: it is a commercial AI editor.
What its privacy-mode statement means
Cursor says code data is sent to its servers to power AI features. Its privacy-mode guarantee is that code data is not persisted. “Not persisted” is not the same as “never leaves your computer”: the documented AI workflow involves sending data to Cursor’s servers. Evaluate that distinction against your organization’s rules for source code and confidential material.
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This is a documented Cursor data flow, not a claim about every VS Code fork, build or AI extension.
3. Void: open-source positioning, paused active development
Void’s website describes it as an open-source AI IDE and a VS Code fork. However, its GitHub repository reports that active development is paused: maintainers are not actively reviewing issues and pull requests, though they will respond to inquiries about building and maintaining a version.
That status is consequential if you need a maintained editor for daily or team use. The repository notice does not establish a release cadence, support commitment or guaranteed roadmap. Check the current notice and project activity before relying on Void or planning a migration around it.
4. Code – OSS: the open-source source repository
Code – OSS is Microsoft’s open-source VS Code repository, not a separate independent fork with the same distribution and services as Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Microsoft’s FAQ says alternative products built from Code – OSS are not permitted to access the Visual Studio Marketplace. This distinction helps explain why community builds may use another extension registry.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Choosing the source repository is different from simply downloading Microsoft’s branded editor. It is the route to consider if your priority is the open-source codebase itself and you are prepared to work with a build rather than assume Microsoft’s branded services and distribution are included.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Telemetry, online services and AI are different questions
Telemetry is not the same as sending source code to an AI service. Microsoft’s telemetry documentation describes telemetry and additional online services used by Visual Studio Code, including updates, extensions, Settings Sync and Natural Language Search in Settings. Those services should not be collapsed into one blanket claim about code handling, nor assumed to behave identically in custom builds.
- For VSCodium: the project says its builds disable telemetry. That statement does not establish that every extension or external service you add is telemetry-free.
- For Cursor: its AI functionality involves code data being sent to its servers; privacy mode’s stated safeguard is non-persistence.
- For Microsoft Visual Studio Code: consult Microsoft’s telemetry documentation for its product and online services rather than generalizing those behaviors to Code – OSS alternatives.
Which route fits your priority?
- You want a community build that says telemetry is disabled: consider VSCodium, after checking whether your required extensions are available through its registry and work in its builds.
- You want an AI-focused editor: Cursor is the AI-oriented option here, but it is commercial and its documented AI workflow sends code data to its servers.
- You are considering Void: account for its repository’s paused-development notice and verify its current status before depending on it.
- You want the open-source codebase itself: Code – OSS is the relevant repository, but distinguish it from Microsoft’s branded Visual Studio Code distribution and Marketplace access.
Before switching, check three things against your actual workflow: whether your must-have extensions work, what telemetry or code-processing behavior the chosen product documents, and whether the project’s current maintenance status is acceptable for your use.
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