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Pre-install VS Code extensions in desktop VS Code module #207
Description
Extend the VS Code desktop module to automatically install the specified extensions and apply settings.
- Should accept the extension list as a parameter
- Should accept settings as input
- Should install the extension for the remote host
- Extend the existing VSCode Desktop module with this new feature
Note
When a user connects to a Coder workspace for the first time, the extension and settings should be pre-installed and pre-applied.
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yashksaini-coder commentedon Jul 11, 2025
/attempt #207
My appraoch it to Add an extra extensions parameter that accepts a list of extension IDs. Create a new
run.shscript that usescode --install-extensionto install each extension during VM provisioning after VS Code setup. Include basic error handling and ensure proper user context for persistent installations.yashksaini-coder commentedon Jul 12, 2025
@matifali I have raised PR, for this issue, #218
matifali commentedon Jul 18, 2025
/bounty 100
8 remaining items
Pranith124 commentedon Aug 24, 2025
/attempt #207
m4rrypro commentedon Aug 25, 2025
/attempt 207
bpmct commentedon Sep 22, 2025
Hmm... Why is this challenging?
matifali commentedon Sep 22, 2025
Discussed internally, and we want to solve this more systematically for all IDEs based on VSCode.
DevelopmentCats commentedon Oct 22, 2025
from what I understand installing extensions in a workspace where you aren't currently connected to it with said IDE, is difficult at least with
code-clito install the extensions during the workspace build.this is described here in their documentation: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/remote/ssh#_managing-extensions
DevelopmentCats commentedon Oct 22, 2025
Also this issue is relevant to this topic microsoft/vscode-remote-release#9454
lsrtech commentedon Jun 16, 2026
/attempt #207
I've submitted PR #926 to address this.
Approach: Adds
extensions,settings, andextensions_dirvariables to thevscode-desktopmodule. On workspace start, a script installs the requested extensions to~/.vscode-server/extensions/and merges machine settings into~/.vscode-server/data/Machine/settings.json.This addresses the blocker from the previous attempt (#218): the script auto-detects an existing VS Code CLI and falls back to downloading VS Code Server when none is present, so it works on a fresh workspace. It follows the same per-module pattern already shipped in
vscode-webandcode-server, and exposesextensions_dirso the same approach can be reused by the Cursor/Windsurf/Kiro wrappers in follow-ups.feat(vscode-desktop): pre-install remote extensions (#1094)
linear-code commentedon Sep 17, 2026
REG-116
feat(vscode-desktop): pre-apply machine settings (coder#207)