Troubleshooting VSCode Extension Installation with Proxy Issues

Troubleshooting VSCode Extension Installation with Proxy Issues | Generated by AI

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To check the extension installation log in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) or use the command line to install an extension with code --install-extension and view the log—especially if you suspect a proxy issue—here’s how you can proceed:

Using the Command Line with `code --install-extension`

You can install extensions via the command line and get some visibility into the process, which might help diagnose proxy issues.

Install with Verbose Output
Run the following command to install an extension and see more detailed output:
```
code --install-extension <extension-id> --verbose
```
- Replace <extension-id> with the ID of the extension (e.g., vscodevim.vim).
- The --verbose flag increases the output detail, showing progress and potential errors, such as proxy or network issues.

Handle Proxy Issues
If you’re behind a proxy, it might interfere with the installation. Try these approaches:

Set Proxy Environment Variables:
Before running the command, configure the proxy settings:

export HTTP_PROXY=http://your-proxy-server:port
export HTTPS_PROXY=http://your-proxy-server:port
code --install-extension <extension-id>

On Windows, use set instead of export:

set HTTP_PROXY=http://your-proxy-server:port
set HTTPS_PROXY=http://your-proxy-server:port
code --install-extension <extension-id>

Specify Proxy Directly:
Use the --proxy-server flag:

code --install-extension <extension-id> --proxy-server=http://your-proxy-server:port

Check the Output
- The console output from the --verbose flag will show the installation progress and any errors (e.g., connection timeouts or proxy authentication failures).
- Note: The command-line interface (code) has limited proxy support compared to the VSCode GUI, so logs might not be as detailed as expected.

Checking Logs in VSCode

For more detailed logs—especially after an installation attempt—use VSCode’s built-in logging features:

Open the Logs Folder
- Open VSCode and access the Command Palette:
  - Press Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS).
  - Type and select Developer: Open Logs Folder.
- This opens a folder containing various log files. Look for:
  - exthost.log: Logs related to extension host processes, including installation attempts.
  - sharedprocess.log: Logs for shared processes that might include extension-related events.
- Open these files in a text editor and search for errors mentioning the extension ID, network issues, or proxy problems.
View the Output Panel
- In VSCode, go to View > Output to open the Output panel.
- In the dropdown menu on the right, select Extensions.
- This shows real-time logs for extension activities when installing from within VSCode (not directly via CLI). If you retry the installation through the VSCode UI, you might see proxy-related errors here.

Additional Steps for Proxy Troubleshooting

Since you suspect a proxy issue, here are extra tips to ensure proper configuration:

Configure Proxy in VSCode
- Open VSCode settings (File > Preferences > Settings or Ctrl+,).
- Search for proxy and set:
```
"http.proxy": "http://your-proxy-server:port"
```
- Optionally, adjust "http.proxyStrictSSL" (set to false if needed) or "http.proxyAuthorization" (for authenticated proxies).
- These settings apply to installations within VSCode, not necessarily the CLI.
Test Network Access
- Manually test if the proxy allows access to the VSCode Marketplace:
  - Find the extension’s VSIX file URL (e.g., from the Marketplace website).
  - Use a tool like curl:
    curl -x http://your-proxy-server:port <vsix-url>
  - If this fails, your proxy might be blocking the connection.

Recommended Approach

For CLI Installation: Use code --install-extension <extension-id> --verbose with proxy environment variables or --proxy-server to see immediate output. Check for errors in the terminal.
For Detailed Logs: Install the extension via the VSCode UI (Marketplace) and check the Output > Extensions panel or the logs folder (exthost.log).
Proxy Check: Ensure proxy settings are correct in both your system and VSCode.

This combination lets you monitor progress and diagnose proxy issues effectively. If the CLI output isn’t sufficient, the VSCode logs will provide deeper insight into what’s going wrong.

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