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.
- 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, run DevAds: Delete API Key. This removes the key from this machine.
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 |
| 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. |
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
DevAds never sends your source code, file contents, file names, or folder paths.
Support
Questions and bug reports: github.com/AbyvargheseMandapathel/DevAdsSDK/issues
