microsoft/hve-core
Publicmirrored fromhttps://github.com/microsoft/hve-coreAvailable
docs/getting-started/methods/comparison.md
113lines · modecode
| 1 | --- |
| 2 | title: Comparing Setup Methods |
| 3 | description: Decision matrix, decision tree, and method comparison to help you choose the right HVE installation approach |
| 4 | sidebar_position: 9 |
| 5 | author: Microsoft |
| 6 | ms.date: 2026-03-11 |
| 7 | ms.topic: reference |
| 8 | keywords: |
| 9 | - installation |
| 10 | - comparison |
| 11 | - decision matrix |
| 12 | - setup methods |
| 13 | estimated_reading_time: 3 |
| 14 | --- |
| 15 | |
| 16 | Use this page when you need a detailed side-by-side comparison of all available setup methods. For a quick recommendation, see the [Install](../install.md) page. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | ## Help You Choose |
| 19 | |
| 20 | Answer these three questions to narrow down the best method for your environment: |
| 21 | |
| 22 | 1. **What's your development environment?** |
| 23 | * Local VS Code (no devcontainer) |
| 24 | * Local devcontainer (Docker Desktop) |
| 25 | * GitHub Codespaces |
| 26 | * Both local and Codespaces |
| 27 | |
| 28 | 2. **Solo or team development?** |
| 29 | * Solo: just you, no version control of HVE Core needed |
| 30 | * Team: multiple people, need reproducible setup |
| 31 | |
| 32 | 3. **Update preference?** |
| 33 | * Auto: always get latest HVE Core |
| 34 | * Controlled: pin to specific version, update explicitly |
| 35 | |
| 36 | ## Decision Matrix |
| 37 | |
| 38 | | Environment | Team | Updates | Recommended Method | |
| 39 | |---------------------------|------|------------|---------------------------------------| |
| 40 | | **Any** (simplest) | Any | Auto | [VS Code Extension](extension.md) ⭐ | |
| 41 | | Local (no container) | Solo | Manual | [Peer Directory Clone](peer-clone.md) | |
| 42 | | Local (no container) | Team | Controlled | [Submodule](submodule.md) | |
| 43 | | Local devcontainer | Solo | Auto | [Git-Ignored Folder](git-ignored.md) | |
| 44 | | Local devcontainer | Team | Controlled | [Submodule](submodule.md) | |
| 45 | | Codespaces only | Solo | Auto | [GitHub Codespaces](codespaces.md) | |
| 46 | | Codespaces only | Team | Controlled | [Submodule](submodule.md) | |
| 47 | | Both local + Codespaces | Any | Any | [Multi-Root Workspace](multi-root.md) | |
| 48 | | Advanced (shared install) | Solo | Auto | [Mounted Directory](mounted.md) | |
| 49 | | Any (CLI preferred) | Any | Manual | [CLI Plugins](cli-plugins.md) | |
| 50 | |
| 51 | ## Quick Decision Tree |
| 52 | |
| 53 | ```text |
| 54 | ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ |
| 55 | │ │ |
| 56 | │ Want the simplest setup? │ |
| 57 | │ └─ Yes ──────────────────────────────► VS Code Extension ⭐ │ |
| 58 | │ │ |
| 59 | │ Need to customize HVE Core? │ |
| 60 | │ ├─ Local VS Code only ──────────────► Peer Directory Clone │ |
| 61 | │ ├─ Local devcontainer only ─────────► Git-Ignored Folder │ |
| 62 | │ ├─ Codespaces only ─────────────────► GitHub Codespaces │ |
| 63 | │ └─ Both local + Codespaces ─────────► Multi-Root Workspace │ |
| 64 | │ │ |
| 65 | │ Working in a team? │ |
| 66 | │ └─ Yes, need version control ───────► Submodule │ |
| 67 | │ │ |
| 68 | │ Prefer terminal/CLI workflows? │ |
| 69 | │ └─ Yes ──────────────────────────────► CLI Plugins │ |
| 70 | │ │ |
| 71 | └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ |
| 72 | ``` |
| 73 | |
| 74 | ## Installation Methods by Category |
| 75 | |
| 76 | ### Simplest Method (Recommended for Most Users) |
| 77 | |
| 78 | | Method | Best For | Complexity | |
| 79 | |-------------------------------------|----------------------------------|------------| |
| 80 | | [VS Code Extension](extension.md) ⭐ | Anyone wanting zero-config setup | Minimal | |
| 81 | |
| 82 | ### Consumer Methods (Customization + Version Control) |
| 83 | |
| 84 | These methods are for projects that want to use and potentially customize HVE Core components: |
| 85 | |
| 86 | | Method | Best For | Complexity | |
| 87 | |---------------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------| |
| 88 | | [Multi-Root Workspace](multi-root.md) | Any environment, portable | Low | |
| 89 | | [Submodule](submodule.md) | Teams needing version control | Medium | |
| 90 | |
| 91 | ### Developer Methods |
| 92 | |
| 93 | These methods are for HVE Core contributors or advanced scenarios: |
| 94 | |
| 95 | | Method | Best For | Complexity | |
| 96 | |---------------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------| |
| 97 | | [Peer Directory Clone](peer-clone.md) | Local VS Code, solo | Low | |
| 98 | | [Git-Ignored Folder](git-ignored.md) | Local devcontainer, solo | Low | |
| 99 | | [Mounted Directory](mounted.md) | Advanced devcontainer sharing | High | |
| 100 | | [GitHub Codespaces](codespaces.md) | Codespaces-only projects | Medium | |
| 101 | | [CLI Plugins](cli-plugins.md) | Terminal-based CLI workflows | Low | |
| 102 | |
| 103 | ## Still Not Sure? |
| 104 | |
| 105 | Start with the [Marketplace Install](../install.md#marketplace-install-recommended) for the fastest path. If you outgrow it later, any clone-based method can be adopted alongside or instead of the extension. |
| 106 | |
| 107 | For detailed documentation on each method, see the [Setup Methods Overview](.). |
| 108 | |
| 109 | --- |
| 110 | |
| 111 | <!-- markdownlint-disable MD036 --> |
| 112 | *🤖 Crafted with precision by ✨Copilot following brilliant human instruction, then carefully refined by our team of discerning human reviewers.* |
| 113 | <!-- markdownlint-enable MD036 --> |
| 114 | |