Google Cloud Shell
Online bash shell based on Debian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Google Cloud Shell is an Online integrated development environment provided by Google Cloud Platform (GCP). It is a Ubuntu-based virtual machine with a persistent 5 GB home directory, allowing users to manage their GCP resources and projects directly from their web browser.[1][2][3]
Initial release2016
Operating systemArch Linux
| Google Cloud Shell | |
|---|---|
Cloud Shell Editor running a starry night animation in Ruby, vibe coded with Google Gemini on the left. | |
| Initial release | 2016 |
| Written in | C, Java, JavaScript, C++, Python, Go, Ruby |
| Operating system | Arch Linux |
| Website | https://cloud.google.com/shell |
Cloud Shell is available to all Google Cloud users, including those on the free tier, at no additional cost. It can be accessed directly from the Google Cloud Console or through the Google Cloud SDK.
Features
- Persistent Storage
- Web-based Code Editor
- Cloud Shell features a web-based code editor based on Eclipse Theia, allowing users to develop, build, debug, and test their applications directly from the browser.[1][4]
- Secure Remote Access
- Cloud Shell supports OpenSSH for secure remote access, enabling users to connect to their Cloud Shell instance from various devices and locations.Automatic [1][4]
- Project and Authentication
Limitations
While Cloud Shell provides a powerful and convenient development environment, it has some limitations:
- The root file system is volatile, meaning that any changes made outside the user's home directory will be lost when the session ends.
- Users cannot expand the persistent storage beyond the default 5 GB allocation.
- Cloud Shell instances are automatically terminated after an hour of inactivity, and users must manually restart the session if needed.
- Limited to 50 hours of free use per week.[5]