DevAds
DevAds shows one short, clearly labelled sponsored message in a panel in your VS Code sidebar. Advertisers reach developers while they work, and you earn for ads you actually view.
Features
- Sponsored View panel in the activity bar. It rotates through one ad at a time, and refreshes about every 15 seconds.
- Status bar sponsored message.
- Ads are marked "Sponsored". They never block your editor or change your code.
- Earnings are credited only after an ad is shown for a minimum time, and only when the server can verify it.
Getting started
- Install the extension and open the DevAds view in the activity bar.
- Run DevAds: Set API Key from the Command Palette and paste the key from your DevAds dashboard (devads.io → API Keys).
- Ads appear within a few seconds. Use DevAds: Refresh Ads to fetch a new one.
To stop using DevAds on this machine, run DevAds: Delete API Key. This removes the key from this machine.
To delete your DevAds account, go to devads.io → Settings → Delete my account. Your personal details are removed, and your API keys stop working.
Commands
| Command |
What it does |
| DevAds: Refresh Ads |
Fetches the next ad now |
| DevAds: Set API Key |
Connects this machine to your DevAds account |
| DevAds: Delete API Key |
Removes the stored key from this machine |
| DevAds: Open Sponsored View |
Opens the sidebar panel |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
devAds.apiUrl |
https://api.devads.io |
DevAds API server. Change it only when told to by DevAds support. |
devAds.dataSource |
./data/ads.json |
Local ads file used for offline testing. |
Telemetry
DevAds respects VS Code's telemetry setting for ad clicks. If telemetry is turned off in VS Code, clicking an ad opens the link but isn't reported to DevAds, so it isn't counted for advertisers.
Ad views are still reported when telemetry is off. They are needed to deliver ads and to credit earnings. Turn the extension off to stop them.
Privacy
To choose a relevant ad, DevAds reads the dependency names listed in your workspace's manifest files (for example package.json, requirements.txt, go.mod, Cargo.toml). Folders named node_modules, vendor, .git, dist, build, and venv are skipped.
DevAds sends to its server:
- a machine identifier for this installation
- the extension version, VS Code (or VSCodium) app name, and operating system
- dependency names from the manifest files, such as
react or scrapy
- a hash of your open project folder paths (the paths themselves are not sent)
- your country, derived from your IP address
- which ads were shown to you, how long they were visible, and (if telemetry is on) which ads you clicked
DevAds never sends your source code, file contents, file names, or folder paths.
Read the full privacy policy and terms of service.
Legal
Support
Questions and bug reports: github.com/AbyvargheseMandapathel/DevAdsSDK/issues
