AWS Cloud 9 vs CodeBunk

Cloud9 gives full terminal access to home directory. In their hosted Linux Ubuntu environment it has sudo powers. No UNIX commands have been blocked - npm, ifconfig, chmod, chown, tar, etc work. All commands can be accessed and any package can be installed.

And if the terminal is used when using Remote SSH feature it connects directly to the server and runs the commands on that server.

Cloud9 uses their own editor called ACE. Besides the basics, it covers most important advanced code editor features such as code folding, converting cases, auto-completion, code analysis and refactoring, regex search and offers easy access to relevant documentation.

It also gives access to the CLI, has support for Vim and Emacs keybindings, includes multiple cursors and zen coding mode that removes all distractions and allows focusing on code.

Cloud9 has extensive, well-organized documentation at docs.c9.io.

An important feature of Cloud9 is the real-time collaboration ability. It allows pairing programs or perform code reviews really easily as well as simultaneously text chat.

Prior to being part of the AWS Toolchain, AWS integrates deeply with CodeStar and AWS Lambda, allowing you to build serverless architechtures.

By installing and running a client application that syncs the local file system and cloud storage Cloud9 can be run locally. Great alternative for situations when the Internet connection is unreliable.

Since Cloud9 is an open source project with source code available on GitHub, it can be run as a self-hosted solution on own hardware and behind a firewall.

Git and hg commands can be run in the command-line, the same way as in a local terminal. There are also built-in add-on services for GitHub, BitBucket and GitLab.

The runner has built-in functionality fo Apache, Node, Python, Ruby, Ruby on Rails, Go, CoffeeScript, Julia, Mocha and Shell script, but any other language can be used by creating a runner for it.

Prior to the Cloud9 core source code being released, an Alpha version of a desktop version can be built from the source which is based from NW.js. Instructions can be found here.

Allows you to connect directly to your external server via SSH. Modifying files directly on your server using a cloud based editor allows you to have the portability of the a cloud based workspace with the control of your own server (including complete DNS control).

Breakpoints allow specifying a stopping points in the execution of the application. When these breakpoints are hit, the application will stop executing and give the ability to examine data such as local variables, run commands and control the execution flow of the application.

Cloud9 provides one free private workspace. However, I can host multiple projects there by cloning as many repositories into the root project directory, thanks to the full access terminal.

Similar to package managers for the desktop, Cloud9 also includes their own package manager, c9pm, which allows adding new software from a list of available utilities.

Apt-get can be used in the project's workspace terminal to install/update/upgrade software. Composer, Bower or any other utilities of choice can be installed to manage dependencies and packages.

Cloud9 allows quickly deploying apps via CLI. There are instructions on how to deploy to Azure, CloudFoundry, OpenShift, NodeJitsu, Modulus and Heroku. For example, all hosted environments have Heroku's toolbelt installed by default so all heroku commands are available from the get-go.

Cloud9 can connect to a dedicated VM to provide a powerful Ubuntu runtime environment in the cloud using Docker. Apps can be either run from the run panel where a selection of runners is provided or from a terminal.

In addition to launching a server to run code, Cloud9 will also host a database to develop against. Support for MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB and SQLite.

Cloud9 integrates with Sauce Labs a browser testing suite that allows previewing the app in any desktop or mobile browser.

Cloud9 allows quickly deploying apps via CLI. There are instructions on how to deploy to Azure, CloudFoundry, OpenShift, NodeJitsu, Modulus and Heroku. For example, all hosted environments have Heroku's toolbelt installed by default so all heroku commands are available from the get-go.

Code execution works with all of the available languages and shows you the output on the side.

Over a dozen languages are supported for syntax highlighting and execution: Python, PHP, Ruby, Perl, Lua, Java, Clojure, Javascript, C, C++, Julia, Go, Erlang, Haskell.

It's possible to see how the code got written character by character with a feature called Code Playback. It allows reviewing the whole process in a condensed amount of time. Great for interviews to check how the interviewee got to the result.

REPL (read–eval–print loop) enables you to run commands interactively and test ideas out before committing them to code. CodeBunk has a dedicated space for REPL shells in the top-right corner of the interface so they can always be quickly accessed.

You can embed your code in your blog with CodeBunk. The embedded code is synced in realtime and is also runnable. All you have to do is add this to your post:

<div class="codebunk" id="[bunkid]" data-lang="[language]" data-runnable="[true|false]"></div>

CodeBunk has reserved a an area for text chat it the bottom-right corner and can start a video conference with all active members with one click.

Allows you to fork a session

Multiple users can belong to a Team and view bunks created in that team.

You can try the editor and code execution for free without, and get 5 free shared session try-outs when you sign up. Also, if you email team@codebunk.com for trial bunks, they do provide a bunch for free.