Boost Your Development Workflow: SSH with VS Code Remote vs. Traditional Terminal SSH (PuTTY)

In today’s fast-paced development environment, seamless access to remote machines is crucial. Traditionally, developers relied on SSH clients like PuTTY, but VS Code Remote – SSH extension has emerged as a powerful alternative.

This blog explores why VS Code Remote – SSH is superior to PuTTY, focusing on:

• Cross-platform support
• Key credentials management
• Collaboration in cross-functional teams
• Enhanced workflows with VS Code’s remote features

By the end, you’ll understand why using VS Code’s SSH extension can boost productivity, streamline workflows, and enhance security.

1. Traditional SSH (PuTTY) vs. VS Code Remote – SSH

What is PuTTY?

PuTTY is a lightweight, standalone SSH client for Windows. It provides a terminal to connect securely to remote systems. However, PuTTY has limitations, especially when managing multiple servers, using SSH keys, and collaborating across teams.

What is VS Code Remote – SSH?

VS Code’s Remote – SSH extension allows developers to work on remote systems as if they were local. You can:

✔ Access full VS Code features like IntelliSense, debugging, and extensions
✔ Work with remote files seamlessly
✔ Avoid clunky PuTTY sessions
✔ Share workspace configurations with teams

2. Setting Up VS Code Remote – SSH

Prerequisites

• VS Code installed (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
• Remote – SSH extension installed (ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh)
• A remote server with SSH access
• SSH keys (recommended for authentication)

Step 1: Install Remote – SSH Extension

Open VS Code and navigate to:

Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X) → Search for "Remote - SSH" → Install

Step 2: Configure SSH in VS Code

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P)
2. Type: “Remote-SSH: Add New SSH Host”
3. Enter the SSH connection string:sqlCopyEditssh user@your-remote-server-ip
   

ssh user@your-remote-server-ip

Host myserver
    HostName your-remote-server-ip
    User your-username
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_rsa

Step 3: Connect to the Remote Server

Now, open the Command Palette again and run:

Remote-SSH: Connect to Host

Select myserver, and VS Code will launch a new window connected to the remote machine.

3. Cross-Platform Support: Why VS Code Wins

PuTTY’s Limitations

❌ Windows-only (Requires third-party tools like plink for integration)
❌ No built-in file management
❌ Manual key handling for authentication

VS Code’s Advantage

✔ Works across Windows, macOS, and Linux
✔ Seamless file system navigation
✔ Integrated terminal with full SSH support

With VS Code, you can manage projects on remote servers without worrying about OS-specific tools.

4. Key Credentials Management & Security

Managing SSH Keys Securely

Using SSH keys instead of passwords enhances security.

1. Generate SSH Key Pair (If Not Already Created)

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]

2. Copy Public Key to Remote Serverbash

ssh-copy-id user@your-remote-server-ip

3. Ensure Key-Based Authentication is Enabled
Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config on the remote server:

PasswordAuthentication no 
PubkeyAuthentication yes

4. Restart SSH Service

sudo systemctl restart ssh

VS Code’s SSH Key Integration

VS Code automatically detects and uses SSH keys from ~/.ssh/config. You don’t have to manually configure PuTTY’s Pageant or deal with private key file conversions.

5. Enhancing Cross-Functional Team Workflows

Challenges in Traditional SSH (PuTTY)

• Sharing server access is manual and insecure
• No shared workspace or extensions
• Lack of collaboration tools

How VS Code Remote – SSH Solves This

✅ Shared Workspace Configuration
Teams can maintain a remote VS Code workspace that includes extensions, debugging tools, and preconfigured environments.

✅ Live Collaboration with VS Code Live Share
Use Live Share to pair-program remotely, even without full SSH access.

✅ Remote Port Forwarding for Web Apps
Run web applications on the remote server and access them locally via port forwarding in VS Code:

"remote.SSH.remotePlatform": {
    "myserver": "linux"
},
"remote.SSH.localForwarding": [
    {
        "remotePort": 8080,
        "localPort": 8080
    }
]

6. Advanced Features & Productivity Boost

1. Persistent SSH Sessions

Unlike PuTTY, VS Code remembers your last session, allowing you to reconnect instantly.

2. Integrated Debugging & Extensions

• Run and debug Python, Node.js, Go, etc., directly on the server
• Use extensions like Docker, Kubernetes, and Git within the remote environment

3. Seamless File Transfers

Use VS Code Explorer instead of scp or rsync. Just drag and drop files into the remote server.

4. Remote Development Containers

For teams working with containerized environments, VS Code allows you to develop inside Docker containers over SSH, ensuring a consistent setup.

7. Final Verdict: Should You Switch?

When to Use PuTTY

✔ Quick, lightweight SSH access
✔ Basic server management tasks
✔ No need for IDE-level features

Why VS Code Remote – SSH is the Future

✅ Cross-platform, developer-friendly environment
✅ Supports multiple workflows (coding, debugging, file transfers)
✅ Better security & credential management
✅ Ideal for DevOps, software teams, and cloud development

Verdict: If you are a developer or work with teams, VS Code Remote – SSH is the best choice. It eliminates PuTTY’s limitations and transforms SSH into a powerful remote development experience.

8. Next Steps: Get Started Today!

1️⃣ Install VS Code Remote – SSH Extension
2️⃣ Set up your SSH keys for authentication
3️⃣ Start coding on remote machines like they are local

Let me know in the comments: Are you still using PuTTY, or have you switched to VS Code Remote – SSH?

Happy coding! 🚀