PaizaCloud Cloud IDE

Overview

PaizaCloud Cloud IDE is a browser-based development workspace that pairs a Linux server with tools for editing and running projects. It is best suited to learners, teachers and developers who want to start coding without configuring a local environment. Its free tier supports brief sessions, but anyone who needs to publish a public web application must move to BASIC.

Key features

The browser workspace combines file management, a code editor, terminal, web server and database server, with an in-browser browser for viewing applications. Users can install or create additional apps, share a server workspace with others, and connect to the server over SSH. PaizaCloud says a new Linux development server starts in about three seconds, which can reduce setup friction for classes and short coding sessions.

Listed environments include LAMP, PHP, Ruby on Rails, JSP, Django, Node.js, Laravel, Go, Express and MEAN stack, plus tools such as Jupyter Notebook and Git. That range makes the service useful across web-development lessons and projects, though it does not change the underlying cloud environment: Linux (Ubuntu 18.04).

Pricing

FREE costs nothing. It includes one server, up to 24 hours of server lifetime, up to four hours of continuous running while the browser is open, and 1 GB of disk. Publishing is unavailable. This is a sensible way to learn or try short exercises, but the session cap and lack of publishing make it a poor fit for an always-on project.

LITE costs $9.80 a month, billed monthly. It allows three servers, unlimited server lifetime, up to four hours of continuous running while the browser is open, and 2 GB of disk. It still does not include application publishing, so the extra servers and lifetime suit separate experiments or coursework, not a public deployment.

BASIC costs $19.80 a month, billed monthly. It provides one always-on server plus three limited-running servers, unlimited server lifetime, application publishing and 4 GB of disk. Additional always-on servers cost $19.80 per month each. This is the required tier for publishing and the only listed plan with an always-on server; it is the clearest fit for a deployed project, though the disk allowance remains modest.

Platforms

PaizaCloud runs its development environment on Linux (Ubuntu 18.04) and is accessed through a browser. Recommended client systems are Windows 8.1 or later, Mac OS X 10.13 or later, iOS 12 or later, and Android 8 or later. The specifications also list Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows, giving users a broad range of client devices without changing the Linux server environment.

Who it's for

Beginners, teachers, instructors, schools and bootcamps are the natural audience: a shared browser workspace can avoid individual environment setup, and the listed language stacks cover a range of web-development teaching needs. Developers who want a hosted workspace with SSH access may also find it useful. It is less suitable for people who need public publishing on a free or lower-cost plan, or who require more disk space than the listed plans provide.

Pros and cons

Pro: Editor, terminal, web server and database server are brought together in the browser, reducing the need to assemble a local development setup.

Pro: Workspace sharing and SSH support serve collaborative teaching and command-line workflows.

Pro: The FREE plan gives learners a no-cost starting point, with one server and 1 GB of disk.

Con: FREE limits server lifetime to 24 hours and continuous running to four hours while the browser is open; it cannot publish applications.

Con: LITE costs $9.80 a month but still cannot publish, so users needing deployment must pay for BASIC.

Con: BASIC includes only 4 GB of disk, and each additional always-on server costs $19.80 per month.

Alternatives

For a locally installed free editor with a free forever personal plan, Zed is an alternative; PaizaCloud is the better fit when a hosted Linux server and web services in the browser matter more. Choose ICEcoder for a free browser-based code editor framework, rather than PaizaCloud's bundled server workspace. Visual Studio Code is another free option for users looking for an editor across Linux, macOS, web and Windows.

For Java and Kotlin core functionality on Linux, macOS or Windows, IntelliJ IDEA offers a free core plan; its focus differs from PaizaCloud's hosted web workspace. OpenIDE is a free IDE alternative for Linux, macOS and Windows. PHP-focused readers can compare Eclipse PHP Development Tools, a free, open-source PHP IDE framework, or browse PHP IDEs.

Cloud Development Environments and Coding Playgrounds are broader categories for comparing other hosted workspaces and browser-based coding options. Scriptcase is a paid alternative with a free trial. UltraCompare is another paid alternative with a free trial.

Verdict

Choose PaizaCloud if you are a learner, educator or developer who wants a ready-to-use Linux workspace in the browser, especially when sharing or SSH access matters. Its integrated tools and broad environment list make it practical for teaching and experimentation. Look elsewhere if you need public publishing without paying for BASIC, or want more disk capacity than its plans provide.