# VS Code Remote Containers
> VS Code Remote - Containers (now Dev Containers) is an extension that allows developers to use a Docker container as a full-featured development environment. It enables the isolation of tools, libraries, and dependencies within a container while allowing the user to interact with them through the VS Code interface as if they were local.
- URL: https://optimly.ai/brand/vs-code-remote-containers
- Slug: vs-code-remote-containers
- BAI Score: 92/100
- Archetype: Challenger
- Category: Developer Tools
- Last Analyzed: April 11, 2026
- Part of: Microsoft (https://optimly.ai/brand/microsoft)
## Competitors
- Coder (https://optimly.ai/brand/coder)
- GitHub Codespaces\n\n GitHub Codespaces (https://optimly.ai/brand/github-codespaces)
- Gitpod (https://optimly.ai/brand/gitpod)
## Also Referenced By
- DevPod (by Loft Labs) (https://optimly.ai/brand/day-2-loft-devpod)
- DevPod (https://optimly.ai/brand/devpod)
## Buyer Intent Signals
Problems: Local OS Development: Manually setting up dependencies, libraries, and environment variables directly on the local OS. | Basic SSH Development: Developing on a remote server via SSH without containerization.
Solutions: how to develop inside docker containers vscode | vscode remote containers extension | best tools for reproducible dev environments | what is devcontainer.json | browser based ide with local docker support | Virtual Machines: Using a virtual machine (e.g., VirtualBox, VMware) to isolate the development environment. | Standard Docker CLI: Using Docker Compose or Docker CLI via terminal without IDE integration.