CodeBox - local PySide6 desktop code editor

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CodeBox is a local-first desktop IDE for Windows developers who want a lightweight PySide6 code editor with tabs, a project tree, an integrated terminal, Git helpers, syntax highlighting, and Language Server Protocol diagnostics.

Start here

Need	Start with
Run the editor from source	pip install -r requirements.txt and python main.py
Open a file directly	python main.py --open path/to/file.py
Build a local Windows executable	build_exe.bat
Add diagnostics or completion	Install a local language server such as python-lsp-server[all]
Understand the roadmap	DEVELOPMENT_PLAN.md

Why CodeBox

• Local-first: edit files on your machine without cloud accounts or telemetry.
• PySide6 desktop stack: native Windows app behavior with a small Python codebase.
• Multi-language workflow: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, Rust, Go and Java.
• LSP-ready: diagnostics and completion can connect to installed language servers.
• Dev-bricks ecosystem: companion to PythonBox and DevCenter for small local tools.

Screenshot

Features

• Syntax highlighting for Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, C++, Rust, Go, and Java
• Integrated terminal with shell selection and command history
• Project file tree with filtering and context menus
• Multiple editor tabs, search, and go-to-line navigation
• Robust tab handling with drag-and-drop reordering and save-failure guards
• Theme system via features/theme_manager.py
• REST API and CLI foundation for later remote control
• LSP diagnostics and completion for installed language servers

Installation

git clone https://github.com/dev-bricks/CodeBox
cd CodeBox
pip install -r requirements.txt
python main.py

You can also start the app on Windows by double-clicking start.bat.

Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• PySide6 >= 6.5.0

Optional language servers

• Python: pip install "python-lsp-server[all]" for completion and diagnostics (pip install python-lsp-server is enough for completion only)
• TypeScript: npm install -g typescript-language-server
• Rust: rustup component add rust-analyzer
• Go: go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls@latest
• C++: install clangd through LLVM

CodeBox prefers pylsp on PATH. If the script is not on PATH, it falls back to the current Python interpreter with python -m pylsp. The UI availability check uses the same fallback logic.

Optional remote-editing dependency

The prepared SSH/SFTP layer uses paramiko, but it is not required for the local editor startup:

pip install paramiko

Local Windows build

build_exe.bat

The script uses PyInstaller and creates a local CodeBox.exe with CodeBox.ico. The versioned CodeBox.spec bundles icon and theme files, while temporary build data stays under C:\_Local_DEV\codex_build\codebox. Build outputs in build/, dist/, and releases/ remain local artifacts and are not versioned.

start.bat first looks for dist\CodeBox.exe, then for an existing release EXE, and finally falls back to python main.py.

Project structure

main.py            Application entry point
core/              Editor core, tabs, output panel, highlighter
features/          Terminal, project tree, LSP, Git, themes, remote editing
languages/         Language profiles and LSP configuration
ui/                MainWindow and UI composition
config/            Configuration files
themes/            QSS themes
README/screenshots Screenshot assets for the project page

Search and disambiguation

CodeBox is best described as a local PySide6 code editor, Windows desktop IDE, offline code editor, LSP-enabled Python editor, and lightweight multi-language developer tool. The repository name collides with older projects called codebox, so searches are most precise with dev-bricks CodeBox, CodeBox PySide6, CodeBox LSP editor, CodeBox local desktop IDE, or PySide6 code editor with LSP diagnostics.

Status

Current status: DEV, version 0.1.0.

Already usable:

• Multi-language editor
• Project tree and terminal in the main window
• Consistent window titles via version.py
• Light/dark theme switching through the central theme manager
• Save, close, and run flows that keep tabs open if a filesystem error prevents saving

Open for the next larger expansion:

• Runtime test with an installed LSP server
• Linter/problems panel
• Plugin system for additional languages
• Remote editing over SSH/SFTP

Privacy

CodeBox works locally on files that the user opens. The base editor does not require credentials and does not contact external services unless you start a local language server, external build/run tools, or optional remote-editing features yourself.

Optional remote connections may use SSH passwords or key paths at runtime. Such data does not belong in the repository and should only live in local ignored configuration files or the system keyring.

Local working files such as AUFGABEN.txt, LOCK*.txt, .env files, credentials, SSH keys, logs, databases, and build artifacts are excluded through .gitignore.

License

MIT License

Liability

This project is an unpaid open-source donation. Liability is limited to intent and gross negligence (Section 521 German Civil Code). Use at your own risk. No warranty, maintenance guarantee, or fitness-for-purpose is assumed.