TIL - VS Code Extension Bisect
TIL - VS Code Extension Bisect
When VS Code starts acting weird — slow startup, freezing, crashes, or broken features — it's often an extension causing the problem. But with dozens of extensions installed, how do you find the culprit?
Extension Bisect is VS Code's built-in tool that uses binary search to identify problematic extensions efficiently.
How to Use It
1. Start Extension Bisect
Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run:
Start Extension Bisect
VS Code will reload with only half of your extensions enabled.
2. Check if the Problem Persists
After reload, check if the issue still occurs:
Problem still exists → Click "I can't reproduce" to disable the current half and test the other half
Problem is gone → Click "I can reproduce" to continue bisecting within the current set
3. Repeat Until Found
VS Code continues splitting the extension set in half each time. After log₂(n) iterations, it identifies the problematic extension.
4. Review Results
Once found, VS Code shows you:
The problematic extension name
Option to disable or uninstall it
Option to report the issue to the extension's repository
