Does PreviewShip replace production hosting inside VS Code?

No. It is optimized for preview sharing rather than full production hosting and infrastructure management.

Can non-Git projects use the VS Code extension?

Yes. PreviewShip does not require a connected repository to create a preview URL.

Can I deploy a single HTML file from VS Code?

Yes. Open the .html file and run PreviewShip: Deploy Active HTML File. The extension packages it as index.html before upload.

Can I use the extension offline?

The extension can be installed from a VSIX package, but deployment still requires access to PreviewShip services to upload and publish the build.

Docs / VS Code

Ship a preview from VS Code without leaving the editor

Use the PreviewShip VS Code extension to authenticate once and deploy a build output folder or active HTML file to a live preview URL.

Updated 2026-04-17

Answer First

PreviewShip VS Code extension is built for developers who already live inside the editor and want a shareable preview URL without switching to a hosting dashboard. Install the extension, save your API key, and deploy your static build output or current HTML file when it is ready for review.

Key takeaways

Best for editor-first frontend teams.
Good fit for fast QA handoffs and client approvals.
Requires no Git integration to get a preview URL.

Recommended workflow

Install the extension with `ext install previewship.previewship`.
Run “PreviewShip: Set API Key” from the command palette.
Open the project folder you want to share.
Run “PreviewShip: Deploy Workspace or HTML File” or “PreviewShip: Deploy Active HTML File” to generate the live preview URL.

What this removes from the workflow

VS Code deployment removes the manual steps that often slow review cycles: zipping files, opening a dashboard, creating a project, and copying upload artifacts around.

For small frontend changes, that reduction in friction often matters more than deeper production-hosting features.

Where VS Code deploys are most useful

This flow works best for prototypes, staging previews, internal review, AI-generated single HTML files, and any situation where the main job is to show the current UI to another person quickly.

For framework projects, run the build first and deploy the generated static output rather than raw source files.

FAQ

Does PreviewShip replace production hosting inside VS Code?: No. It is optimized for preview sharing rather than full production hosting and infrastructure management.
Can non-Git projects use the VS Code extension?: Yes. PreviewShip does not require a connected repository to create a preview URL.
Can I deploy a single HTML file from VS Code?: Yes. Open the .html file and run PreviewShip: Deploy Active HTML File. The extension packages it as index.html before upload.
Can I use the extension offline?: The extension can be installed from a VSIX package, but deployment still requires access to PreviewShip services to upload and publish the build.