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    CloudOps Orchestration Service:DevBox

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    CloudOps Orchestration Service:DevBox

    Last Updated:Jun 23, 2026

    DevBox is a cloud-based ECS instance pre-configured with popular languages and frameworks such as Python and Java. Connect to it from your local IDE, such as VS Code or Qoder, with a single click and start coding right away — no environment setup required.

    Why choose DevBox

    • Ready-to-use environments: Offers pre-configured development environments for languages, frameworks, and AI coding assistants, reducing setup time from hours to minutes.

    • Pay-as-you-go: Start, stop, or release your DevBox at any time. With rates as low as ¥0.10 per hour, you only pay for what you use.

    • Cloud storage: Your code, dependencies, and build artifacts are stored in the cloud, freeing up local disk space.

    • Direct IDE connection: Connect to mainstream IDEs like VS Code and Qoder with a single click, eliminating complex SSH configuration.

    • Instant deployment and verification: Deploy and test your application on your DevBox immediately after coding, bypassing CI/CD pipeline delays and cutting verification time from minutes to seconds.

    • AI security sandbox: AI coding assistants run in an isolated cloud environment, keeping your local system unaffected.

    How to use DevBox

    The following example shows how to connect to the Qoder IDE.

    1. Go to the DevBox page in the Alibaba Cloud OOS console.

    2. Click Create DevBox and select your specifications, region, and development environment.

    3. Once the DevBox is created, click the Qoder button on its details page. Your browser automatically launches Qoder and connects to the cloud environment.

    4. Once connected, the Explorer on the left displays the files in your DevBox working directory. This directory is initially empty, but you can create your own code files here. On the right is the AI chat panel, where you can interact with the AI to complete your coding tasks. To open a terminal, click View in the top menu bar and select Terminal from the drop-down menu.

    FAQ

    Where are files and code saved?

    All code and files are stored on your DevBox in the cloud. Your local IDE connects to the DevBox through an SSH tunnel and acts as a remote editor.

    DevBox underlying resources

    A DevBox is an ECS instance pre-configured with common development environments and SSH connection files. This enables one-click IDE connections and eliminates manual environment setup.

    Supported IDEs

    DevBox supports VS Code, Qoder, Cursor, and Trae.

    Pre-configured development environments

    DevBox supports the following environments:

    • Languages: Python, Java, Node.js, Golang

    • Frameworks: AgentScope, FastAPI, LangChain, Flask, Django

    • AI: Hermes, Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, QwenCode

    Can I shut down my DevBox?

    Yes. You can shut down your DevBox when you are not using it, for example at the end of the workday. When shut down, billing for compute resources (CPU and memory) is paused, but you are still billed for the system disk and data disks. Restart it anytime to resume your work. For more information, see Economical Mode.

    Using an existing ECS instance

    Yes. On the DevBox creation page, you can add an existing ECS instance as a DevBox.

    Troubleshooting IDE connection

    The initial connection may take 1 to 2 minutes. If the connection fails, check that port 22 is open for inbound traffic in the security group of the instance. If it is not, add the rule and try again. For detailed instructions, see Use security groups.

    Initial working directory

    /home/devbox/project