Code-settings-sync: Does not download extensions when switching to official user installation

[stereokai]

🐛 Describe the bug
The original official installation of VSCode was system wide. Since then, Microsoft has released a user-only installation. After uninstalling the system-wide VSCode, and reinstalling the (latest) user-only VSCode, code-settings-sync is not capable of restoring backed up extensions.

🌴 Visual Studio Code Version : 1.29
🌴 Code Settings Sync Version : [ 3.2.0 ]
🌴 Standard or Insiders : [ Standard ]
🌴 OSS or Portable : [ No ]
🌴 Operating System : [ Win 10 1803 ]
🌴 Occurs On: [ Download ]
🌴 Proxy Enabled: [ No ]
🌴 Gist Id: [ [6922d55b455e32e9619195fd8aed0ccc](https://gist.github.com/stereokai/6922d55b455e32e9619195fd8aed0ccc) ]

📰 To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Install older version of VSCode which is a system-wide installation
2. Install any extension
3. Back up to gist using sync
4. Uninstall VSCode, install latest version which is a user-only installation
5. Restore from gist using sync
6. Observe "No extensions installed" status message.

💪 Expected behavior
Backed up extensions should be installed.

📺 Console Error Log

  ERR ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'C:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\extension-output-#6': Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open 'C:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\extension-output-#6'
    at Object.fs.openSync (fs.js:646:18)
    at Object.module.(anonymous function) [as openSync] (ELECTRON_ASAR.js:166:20)
    at Object.fs.readFileSync (fs.js:551:33)
    at Object.fs.readFileSync (ELECTRON_ASAR.js:538:29)
    at TrailingSpaces.freezeLastVersion (C:\Users\Tom\.vscode\extensions\shardulm94.trailing-spaces-0.2.11\out\src\trailing-spaces\trailing-spaces.js:266:51)
    at C:\Users\Tom\.vscode\extensions\shardulm94.trailing-spaces-0.2.11\out\src\trailing-spaces\trailing-spaces.js:56:19
    at e.fire (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:105:344)
    at c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:585:804
    at e.fire (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:105:344)
    at e.$acceptDocumentsAndEditorsDelta (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:496:483)
    at t._doInvokeHandler (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:609:757)
    at t._invokeHandler (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:609:423)
    at t._receiveRequest (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:608:15)
    at t._receiveOneMessage (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:606:957)
    at c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:604:773
    at c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:103:886
    at e.fire (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:105:344)
    at a (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:156:881)
    at Socket._socketDataListener (c:\Users\Tom\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\node\extensionHostProcess.js:157:95)
    at emitOne (events.js:116:13)
    at Socket.emit (events.js:211:7)
    at addChunk (_stream_readable.js:263:12)
    at readableAddChunk (_stream_readable.js:250:11)
    at Socket.Readable.push (_stream_readable.js:208:10)
    at Pipe.onread (net.js:594:20)

📺 Additional context
Add any other context about the problem here.

[danielwagn3r]

I've seen a slightly different behavior; everything seems to work during the Download of the settings, even the installation of the extension. However the aren't installed, and don't get visible after a restart of Code as well.

[shanalikhan]

The problem is Code team doenst provide API for which we ( authors ) can get the required things.
If you look into the code base, all the paths are Hard Coded.

Why you want to use older version of Code. is there any scenario for which you need older version. Its better to use latest versions.

[stereokai]

@shanalikhan

Why you want to use older version of Code. is there any scenario for which you need older version. Its better to use latest versions.

I'll clarify: User-specific installation on Windows has been introduced in version 1.26 (July 2018). Until then, the only installation available for Windows computers was the system-wide installation. Until July 2018, system-wide installations on Windows were actually the rule, not the exception. Since version 1.26, users of system-wide installation are being shown a notification recommending them to switch over to user installations.

[shanalikhan]

alright, there are many other issues opened needs assistance.

PR is welcome for it - will release new version if anyone send PR for it.

[JMLdev]

Hi Shanalikhan,

I have experienced this exact same issue. The plugin was working fine until I switched to the user version of Visual Studio Code. Now it no longer works. I don't think Microsoft is distributing a system wide version of Code any more, so this is an issue that will need to be fixed if the plugin is going to continue offering value to the community.

Thanks

[shanalikhan]

I have looked into this and found currently its a limitation for code API itself, Code team doesnt provide such identifier to let authors know either extension is running user wide or system wide.

They need to expose user-data-dir and extensions-dir .

Issue is opened @ https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues/66029
It would be great if you guys upvote that thread and let code team know about the urgency accordingly.

Similar issue but different scenario already opened - https://github.com/shanalikhan/code-settings-sync/issues/411

Problem you guys facing is limited to installing extensions or settings are not able to download as well ? (for user wide code)

[shanalikhan]

It is fixed now. Let me know if you find some problem.