install-vscode-extension

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by microsoft · part of microsoft/vscode-copilot-chat

How to install a VS Code extension from an extension ID. Useful when the user wants to add new capabilities to their VS Code environment by installing…

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🧩 One of 7 skills in the microsoft/vscode-copilot-chat package — works on its own, and pairs well with its siblings.

This is the playbook your agent receives when the skill activates — you don't need to read it to use the skill, but it's here to audit before installing.

name: install-vscode-extension description: 'How to install a VS Code extension from an extension ID. Useful when the user wants to add new capabilities to their VS Code environment by installing extensions.'

Installing VS Code extensions

VS Code extensions are identified by their unique extension ID, which typically follows the format publisher.extensionName. For example, the Python extension by Microsoft has the ID ms-python.python.
To install a VS Code extension, you need to use the VS Code command workbench.extensions.installExtension and pass in the extension ID. The args are of the format:

[extensionId, { enable: true, installPreReleaseVersion: boolean }]

NOTE: install the pre-release version of the extension if the user explicitly mentions it or if the current environment is VS Code Insiders. Otherwise, install the stable version.

Run that command via the copilot_runVscodeCommand tool. Make sure to pass the skipCheck argument as true to avoid checking if the command exists, as we know it does.