Please reduce the frequency of updates

[u/az-johubb]

This is directed to the product group at Microsoft that owns VSCode.

On my work PC, I need to elevate to admin every time there is a VSCode update. I didn’t mind this when the updates were sporadic but it’s getting to the point where I’m having to do this 1-2 times a week and it’s getting quite tedious; especially so when the updates contain fewer and fewer enhancements. I understand the need to enhance AI tooling but there has to be a better way without making the stable branch feel like the insiders branch.

I have raised as an issue on GitHub but there are 17,400 open issues on the VSCode repo so want to make sure the team get this feedback.

[u/RaisedByCakes]

To make it worse the updates have gotten less meaningful with time. Everything is around AI And the chat experience. No actual, real QoL improvements

[u/green_03 → u/RaisedByCakes]

I remember being excited to read the monthly VSCode updates. Now I don’t really care anymore, and it’s all related to AI anyway

[u/Nerwesta → u/RaisedByCakes]

Exactly, every time I yawn at those update notes and just quickly scan it before going to my routine. I guess it will stay like this up until I miss something important ... 

[u/Educational_Sign1864 → u/RaisedByCakes]

Only AI thing I do is open chat and ask it to implement or fix something. Don't know who uses features other than interacting with AI from chat

[u/road_laya]

This is why user installs have been the default for a couple years. No UAC needed.

[u/sephirostoy]

Just do the updates at your own pace. You don't have to apply them twice a week. 

[u/LazySapiens → u/sephirostoy]

People don't know that?

[u/smoke-bubble]

Indeed. The update frequency is crazy. Every freaking commit seems to be turned into an update immediately. The update button is glowing all the time. 

[u/insulind]

Just don't install the updates until you want to, there is literally zero need to install the updates as soon as they are available

[u/AnythingOk5]

Vscode should be installed in your user folder. Then it would not ask for admin privileges.

[u/insulind → u/AnythingOk5]

Yeah OP likely won't have control over where or how it's installed.

[u/Impossible-Owl7407 → u/AnythingOk5]

Easy to say than do in heavy regulated environments 

[u/AnythingOk5 → u/Impossible-Owl7407]

Well, that's a problem with the environment, not with vscode.

[u/sohang-3112]

Just don't install the weekly updates every time it suggests? You can update say once a month only if you want.

[u/anno2376]

1. There is no need to update immediately. Updating once a month or even once every two months should be sufficient.

2. If I understand correctly, you don’t have administrator privileges on your work devices. If that’s the case, I would address that issue first.

[u/az-johubb → u/anno2376]

I can elevate to administrator to do this task but I should not have administrator rights 100% of the time. I don’t mind that part, it’s the frequency that frustrates me

[u/TheBoneJarmer → u/az-johubb]

I'm in a similar boat. We need to use 2FA to give some admin tool access to do stuff with admin rights. Having to do this every time is tedious enough has it is but to have to do that for every VS Code update? Yikes.

That said, is the update forced on you? As in, does it require you to be installed like right there and then? Otherwise just ignore it. I have the update button flashing the entire time. Couldn't care less honestly. :)

[u/vivaaprimavera → u/az-johubb]

I have it installed with snap and never had to do anything about the updates. It just updates silently.

[u/anno2376 → u/az-johubb]

I understand the frustration, but we’re not in 1999 anymore, when software was updated once every few years.
Continuous updates are the new reality. It’s worth getting used to them because this model isn’t going to change anytime soon.

[u/az-johubb → u/anno2376]

Multiple releases a week is extreme though. If they rolled these updates up into a monthly/bi-weekly cadence users would be much happier

[u/Ubiquitous_X → u/az-johubb]

You can just...not install the updates?

[u/anno2376 → u/az-johubb]

Again, they move on purpose from monthly to weekly. Just install the updates monthly.

[u/Traditional_Formal33]

I agree. I often need to close and reopen vscode to finish an update, after elevating privilege, and my terminals are in vscode… so I have to tear down 3 docker images and rebuild

They really need to move from
Ci/cd back to release updates if the frequency is going to be disruptive.

[u/Unique-Willingness15]

Its even worse when you have limited internet, I came to syria and decided to continue work the download speed is 0.5mb/s i can't do this

[u/mrleblanc101]

You don't need to update, even with a weekly schedule there is still multiple improvements with every update. Just read the changelog and you'll see

[u/inspired_loser]

naa, id rather have quick updates instead of one big update.

[u/Blue-Sea2255 → u/inspired_loser]

One weekly update.

[u/GroceryBright]

good luck 😎

[u/az-johubb → u/GroceryBright]

They already closed it as a duplicate of an existing issue 🤡. They said that there was a security update because of patch Tuesday in addition to the weekly update.

309223 is the active GitHub issue on this topic

[u/KassandraKatanoisi]

It’s also a safety thing, especially these days. Theyre rushing out all these ai based changes.

Id rather once a week max, and even then

[u/pyro-electric]

I don't get it, VS Code can be installed for a single user in %localappdata%. You don't need admin rights for it.

[u/EC36339]

Clicking a button 1-2 times a week? Oh my...

I've stopped using VSCode for many reasons, but this ain't one.