Using VS Code on Aalto Workstations

It is of course possible to use the Aalto Linux Workstations to work on the exercises in this course. Both in the computer labs or remotely, via the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

Accessing the VDI

(This step is only for accessing an Aalto Workstation Virtual Desktop; if you have physical access go to Starting IntelliJ or Starting VS Code below.)

Note that working on VDI can be a bit slower than on your own computer, so we recommend using this method only if you neither can access the labs (due to e.g. pandemic restrictions) nor can work on your own computer.

To use Aalto VDI, do the following:

  1. Read the Aalto VDI instructions.

  2. Log into Aalto VDI by using either the client or the HTML access at vdi.aalto.fi.

  3. Select “Ubuntu 20.04”

After this, you have access to your Ubuntu desktop in an Aalto computer. You can use Firefox to log into A+, fetch the assignment packages, and submit your solutions.

Starting IntelliJ

IntelliJ is installed by default on the Aalto Linux Workstations. To start it, simply open the Applications menu or a terminal and run idea.

Starting VS Code

VS Code is available on the Aalto Linux Workstations as a software module.

In order to start Code, you will need to

  1. Open a terminal

  2. (On VDI only) Authenticate to make vscode (and other) software module available: kinit

  3. Load the vscode module by the command: module load vscode/a1140

  4. Start VS Code by the command: code

Warning

Do not forget the /a1140 part of the module name. It denotes the version of VS Code used in this course, and contains tweaks to make the Scala plugins work better on VDI. If you simply load vscode then you will have the vanilla version. (If you happen to load the default version, you can unload it with the command module unload vscode).

The VS Code editor should now open, and you are ready to start working. If this is the first time you start VS Code for the course, make sure to also read and follow the set-up instructions in Using the Visual Studio Code editor.

Warning

Do not place the assignment projects under any of the ‘standard’ folders Desktop, Downloads, or Documents (or any other linked folder) on the Aalto Workstations. Due to an open issue, compilation errors are not handled correctly. Instead, place them under some sub-directory you have created in your home directory.

Note

  • You need to run kinit and load the vscode/a1140 module every time you log in to the VDI workstation

  • If you get an error message saying Lmod has detected the following error:  The following module(s) are unknown: "vscode/a1140" you may have forgotten to run kinit on VDI

  • If you get an error message saying code: No such file or directory when trying to run code, then you may have forgotten to load the module properly.

  • A successful call to module load vscode/a1140 will print nothing. If you get an error message here, check that you have typed the command correctly.

  • If you want to check that the module is loaded you can give the command module list.

Note

kinit is part of the kerberos suite, a protocol for authentication of network resources. It will ask for your Aalto password in order to provide the extra software modules of which VS Code is a part. In the Aalto computer labs this is done automatically when you log in, but if you connect to a virtual machine you have to do it yourself. This is current Aalto IT policy, however in general, always think twice when somebody asks you to execute a program which asks for your password.