For UMN: How to setup remote enviroment with CSE lab machine via VSCode

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VSCode Setup with CSE Lab Machines on Your Own Computer

Demo

Demo

Why should you consider this setup?

  • feel like working on CSE Lab Machines literally
  • don’t have to install OCaml on your computer because you’re using lab’s OCaml
  • graphical user interface with OCaml Syntax Highlighting
  • faster than vole since it talks to server directly rather than transmitting through web browser
  • can be used on Linux, MacOS and Windows because they all have VSCode
  • file transfer: drag you local file into CSE lab machine

Tutorial

This tutorial can help you to set up your remote enviroment graphically with CSE lab machines on your own computer.

  1. Open VSCode, go to extension on the left nevigation bar and search ssh
    step1

  2. Install REMOTE - SSH, click SSH extension icon on the left nevigation bar and click connect
    step2

  3. On the pop-up command window, type in ssh <x500>@<cse lab machines> -A.
    For instance, I will use:

    • ssh luo00042@atlas.cselabs.umn.edu -A ATLAS is a server machine which has 256G RAM! But sometimes if a student is running heavy-duty task on ATLAS, you may want to use another machine.
    • ssh luo00042@csel-kh4250-03.cselabs.umn.edu -A

step3

Note: A list of CSE lab UNIX machines that you can remotely work on, you can find them here.

Remember: Replace the x500 with yours, not mine; and make sure to include the -A flag, otherwise you have to use VPN or be under university wifi to connect.

  1. Click to update ssh configuration so you don’t have to type the long ssh command every time.
    step4

  2. When it’s done, there will be a SSH target on the left. Click connect
    step5

  3. A new window will pop up and there will be prompt that you need to enter your x500 password.
    step6

  4. You are in CSE lab machine via SSH connection! Click Open Folder. Doesn’t it look familiar to you? That’s your CSE lab folder! Navigate to your own repo and click OK
    step7

  5. That’s it! You can open a terminal within VSCode, and it will be under SSH connection as well!
    step8

OCaml Syntax Highlighting Enable

  1. This is how it looks before enabling OCaml syntax highlighting
    step9

  2. Go to extension on the left nevigation bar again and search OCaml. Install it, and reload the window.
    step10

  3. Now you OCaml code should be highlighted accoridng to the syntax.
    step11

Now you can edit your code on lab machine, save your code on lab machine, and test your code with terminal on lab machine!

Editor Note: While it’s easier to edit your code with a nice-looking IDE, it’s still good to pick up tools like emacs and vim. I hope you find this tutorial helpful to you!