[NFBCS] visual studio code

Sat Mar 25 18:35:15 UTC 2023

I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm interested in whatever you'd like
to share about your experiences getting this set up and working in a
class environment.

Chris

On Sat, Mar 25, 2023 at 02:23:59PM -0400, Paul York via NFBCS wrote:
> Yes. Codespaces was recently added as a free option for GitHub Classroom (
> https://docs.github.com/en/education/manage-coursework-with-github-classroom/integrate-github-classroom-with-an-ide/using-github-codespaces-with-github-classroom).
> It's a hosted version of the Development Containers concept (
> https://containers.dev/). I've just started using it this semester for a
> database course here at Augusta University. Super useful as it allows me to
> give students access to individualized, hosted Ubuntu instances customized
> to run MariaDB and a few development tools with pretty minimal effort. Can
> even open and forward ports for testing web apps, running management
> interfaces, etc. And it's all fully integrated into VS Code (or full Visual
> Studio if that's your preference).
> 
> Yeah, it's all wrapped up inside of a Docker container with limited
> resources, but to the students it behaves as though it's a full Linux
> instance...even able to run their own Docker containers matryoshka doll
> style.
> 
> I've had a couple small hiccups but so far it's worked well. Happy to share
> more offline to avoid spamming the list.
> 
> 
> On Sat, Mar 25, 2023 at 1:52???PM <bjduarte at asu.edu> wrote:
> 
> > Thank you Paul for sharing this information. So these Code Spaces that you
> > are referencing are just Docker instances? So basically you are using a
> > github code space to serve up a Docker instance that provides a custom dev
> > environment? Did I understand that correctly? I use Docker and github but I
> > have never used the code spaces you are talking about.
> >
> >
> >
> > Bryan Duarte Ph.d.
> >
> >
> >
> > *From:* NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> *On Behalf Of *Paul York via
> > NFBCS
> > *Sent:* Saturday, March 25, 2023 1:27 PM
> > *To:* NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> > *Cc:* Paul York <paul at yorkfamily.com>
> > *Subject:* Re: [NFBCS] visual studio code
> >
> >
> >
> > As a (nearly blind) professor using GitHub Codespaces in my (virtual)
> > classroom, I'd be interested in hearing more about your experience with
> > this.
> >
> >
> >
> > To assuage Bryan's concern, Codespaces is not a virtual machine in the
> > "full desktop" sense. It's really all Docker, SSH, peanut butter and magic
> > behind the scenes.
> >
> >
> >
> > There are two ways to use Codespaces.
> >
> >
> >
> > One way is entirely in the browser. This runs VSCode inside of a browser
> > window. This I would imagine is far less optimal because the browser might
> > intercept the commands intended for VS Code. I've not used it with screen
> > readers, but I imagine it likely wouldn't work perfectly. Certainly the
> > keyboard shortcuts are sometimes intercepted in very inconvenient ways
> > (like Ctrl+W will close the entire session instead of just closing an
> > editor tab).
> >
> >
> >
> > The other way is to use the Codespaces extension from within VS Code
> > itself. Here you just connect to the Codespace using the same URL. See:
> > https://docs.github.com/en/codespaces/developing-in-codespaces/using-github-codespaces-in-visual-studio-code
> > <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/docs.github.com/en/codespaces/developing-in-codespaces/using-github-codespaces-in-visual-studio-code__;!!IKRxdwAv5BmarQ!aksb86uj7eLAbCAFKoXaGnOb5YZOK-u1Ps7R2jIHhS7f_OR25gAnWMefu94cXZ_hd8AB0TF_pm9zqg$>
> >
> >
> >
> > If you are currently using the browser method, I'd strongly recommend
> > trying the "native" method to see if your experience is better. Certainly
> > for me it is a significantly superior UX.
> >
> >
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Paul York
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Mar 25, 2023 at 12:58???PM Bryan via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > Hey thee Pete,
> >
> > I have used VS Code for years on a Mac with no problem at all. I have also
> > used VS Code on Windows using Jaws with no problems at all. VS Code is
> > accessible and offers lots of ways of executing commands from shortcut key
> > strokes to a search function that is amazing. I have honestly never heard
> > of
> > a github virtual machine but here is what I will say. While virtual
> > machines
> > are not typically the best for running a full desktop, running secure
> > shells
> > with a terminal is usually pretty solid. When using a screen reader it is
> > difficult to use a virtual machine because we do not use a mouse to
> > interact
> > with the interface. When using a screen reader we use keyboard commands
> > which presents the issue of which system are you issuing commands to? It
> > could be screen reader specific commands, host machine commands, and
> > virtual
> > system commands. I know some virtual machines have tried to fix this with
> > Unity view patching all commands into the virtual machine but it is not
> > perfect.
> >
> > I wish I had better news for you but my suspicion is that you are trying to
> > issue commands to the virtual machine and the host machine is not allowing
> > them to pass through. Typing text into the virtual machine will probably
> > work but when executing other commands the host computer is not knowing how
> > to handle where the commands should be going. Perhaps you can ask your
> > professor which tools they have loaded on the github instance so you can
> > duplicate them on your personal machine. From there you can write your code
> > on your personal machine and load it to github as you are doing with full
> > access to the tools you need.
> >
> > Bryan Duarte Ph.d.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Peter Mark via NFBCS
> > Sent: Friday, March 24, 2023 8:32 AM
> > To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> > Cc: Peter Mark <usapetermark at gmail.com>
> > Subject: [NFBCS] visual studio code
> >
> > hi cs list
> >
> > a week ago or so, i wrote asking about help using visual studio code on a
> > github virtual machine.
> > it is not working well with voiceover.
> >
> > there were no responses, maybe no one here is using such a system, so may i
> > ask a more general question?
> >
> > do most coders use nvda with visual studio?
> >
> > i mean, vs code that i installed on my mac is pretty ok, but on the virtual
> > machine it is not very good.
> > the editor does not read correctly no matter what i try.
> >
> > is it the opinion of the group that this may work better if i had a windows
> > computer?
> > i mean, vs code and the github codespace seems to be microsoft products.
> >
> > i do like apple for the terminal is in my opinion better than the windows
> > command line, but i will switch if the editing is better.
> >
> > i have been working in textedit and compiling in the terminal on my mac
> > then
> > pasting the finished code into the github codespace for submission, but
> > this
> > is becoming more of an issue because the corse i am in is using things that
> > i don't have on my local machine.
> >
> > please, any advice or if anyone can direct me to others who may be advanced
> > coders using such github codespaces.
> >
> > thanks, pete
> >
> >
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