What it does
Eclipse Che is a platform for creating cloud development environments from Git repositories. A workspace runs in Kubernetes and opens in a browser editor, with Visual Studio Code - Open Source as the documented default and other supported IDE choices. A devfile can describe the container image, tools, and commands for a project, so a team can version its workspace setup alongside its code.
Start from a repository, then make the workspace repeatable
Che is most useful when an organization already has a running Che instance or chooses the Red Hat hosted option. The project README documents a factory URL that opens a Git repository in the instance. For a personal evaluation, the Che home page also links to sample workspaces. You are not installing a conventional editor on your laptop; the project and its development tools live in the cluster while the editor is presented in a browser.
For a team project, add a devfile.yaml to the repository root. Che reads that recipe to set up the workspace container and commands. The documentation says a project without a devfile can still start with a default development image. A workspace can use the default Code - OSS editor or another supported IDE, and IDE settings can be kept with repository configuration. That gives a team a practical way to make new workspaces more consistent without requiring each developer to reproduce the setup manually.
The platform is part of the decision
Che's open-source software is designed for Kubernetes. An administrator who runs it independently must provide and maintain the cluster and its capacity; this is a bigger operational commitment than downloading a desktop IDE. The project repository is under the Eclipse Public License 2.0. The separate Red Hat hosted service has its own access and commercial terms, which are not classified here. These are documented workflows and product descriptions, not a Che deployment performed for this listing.
Strengths
- A repository URL can open a project as a cloud workspace instead of requiring the developer to install its toolchain locally.
- The default editor is Code - OSS, and the documentation lists an alternative JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate editor for workspaces.
- A devfile can describe workspace components and commands alongside the project source, supporting repeatable setup across users.
Watch out for
- Running Che yourself requires a Kubernetes cluster and capacity planning, adding platform administration beyond a typical desktop editor install.
Best for
- Teams that want consistent, Kubernetes-backed development workspaces for repository projects
- Opening a Git project in a shared browser IDE without setting up each developer's machine
- Platform teams that want project development-environment configuration versioned with source code
Sources
- Home | Eclipse Che (Oct 25, 2026)
- IDEs in workspaces :: Eclipse Che Documentation (Oct 25, 2026)
- Introduction to devfile in Che :: Eclipse Che Documentation (Oct 25, 2026)
- eclipse-che/che (Oct 25, 2026)
- Eclipse Public License - v 2.0 (Oct 25, 2026)