I built a 'VSCode-Exclusive' BBS for Software Engineers using PocketBase
Source: Dev.to
Inspiration
The inspiration for this project came from a personal challenge in my daily development workflow. Since I began using LLMs for coding, I’ve noticed frequent “micro‑waiting periods” while the AI generates responses. During these short gaps, I often found myself reflexively checking social media, which shattered my concentration. I realized that switching from an editor to a browser carries a high context‑switching cost.
VS Lounge Overview
VS Lounge is a dedicated space for engineers that lives entirely within VSCode.
- Zero Switching Cost – Engage with the community directly inside your editor while waiting for LLM responses or long builds, staying firmly in the “development zone.”
- Exclusively for Engineers – Access is restricted to the VSCode extension and requires GitHub authentication, naturally fostering a high‑quality environment for developers.
Why PocketBase?
For the backend, I chose PocketBase, an open‑source, Go‑based BaaS that bundles a SQLite database, authentication, file storage, and an Admin UI into a single executable. It proved to be a powerful, lightweight solution for modern app development.
Key Advantages
- Relational Database (SQLite) over NoSQL – Data modeling is more intuitive and reliable for structured data.
- Seamless Migration Management – No manual migration files; PocketBase automatically handles schema changes via the Admin UI, making iteration very fast.
- Streamlined Authentication – Implementing GitHub OAuth was incredibly straightforward; the SDK is well‑designed and required minimal effort.
- Granular Access Control with API Rules – Similar to Firebase Security Rules, you can define detailed permissions for viewing or updating records directly in the UI.
- Integrated Frontend Hosting – By placing built files in the
pb_publicdirectory, PocketBase can serve the frontend directly, simplifying the deployment architecture significantly.
Conclusion
VS Lounge aims to be a place where engineers can stay connected without losing their flow. Thanks to PocketBase, I was able to focus on the core user experience and bring this idea to life quickly. If you’re a developer looking to stay in the zone, I’d love for you to check it out:
If you are using an editor like Cursor that forks VSCode, you’ll need to update the Marketplace Service URL specified in the README.