Lean VS Code v0.3.2

Lean VS Code v0.3.2

Lean VS Code v0.3.2 adds automatic app updates for Apple Silicon Macs. It uses Electron's built-in Squirrel.Mac updater and the familiar Code-OSS update controls. The app checks a static stable feed on GitHub Releases after the first window opens, downloads a ZIP containing the signed and notarized app when a newer version is available, and offers Restart to Update. A downloaded update may also install on normal quit. The DMG remains available for first installs and manual recovery.

Install v0.3.2 once by hand if you use v0.3.0 or obtained the withdrawn v0.3.1 candidate. v0.3.0 had no updater; v0.3.1 was withdrawn after a native trial exposed a packaged-version mismatch. v0.3.2 sets the macOS bundle and Electron package versions to the fork's release number while preserving Code-OSS 1.139.1 as the extension API version. The release keeps editing, search, terminal, local Git review, and Open VSX extension installation. Settings offer automatic, startup-only, manual, or disabled future update checks. A previously staged update can still apply after checking is disabled.

The signed app was built from fork commit d896bbd416920fb87760927ba9e08b540d6e7f50. The DMG and update ZIP contain identical files and symlink targets across 2,236 app-bundle paths. Both the app and DMG passed Developer ID signature checks, Apple notarization and stapled-ticket validation, and Gatekeeper assessment. The feed's ZIP SHA-256 and byte count match the packaged ZIP. The extracted signed app installed and listed EditorConfig 0.18.2 from Open VSX in an isolated profile. The source build passed its production compile; the focused updater test suite previously passed 25 cases, and the TypeScript client check and changed-file lint passed for the updater implementation.

• DMG SHA-256: 7a109806e3c649300e78cabaebfca58da49d7f1ba51954246cfe25f382033dfe
• Update ZIP SHA-256: 33021d1d55e07a65da319af6ed9b923fd55a0ce0809484ceb058bf372db1a7a9 (205,499,518 bytes)

The native updater was exercised against the public stable feed using an isolated, signed v0.3.1 test app. It checked, downloaded v0.3.2, exposed Restart to Update, and replaced that test bundle with an app whose macOS bundle and Electron package versions both read 0.3.2. The updated bundle passed strict code-signature verification, Gatekeeper assessment, and stapled-ticket validation; the isolated user setting and installed EditorConfig extension remained in their profile directories. This verifies the v0.3.1-to-v0.3.2 update path; a future release still needs its own A-to-B trial.

The published v0.3.0 performance comparison measured 18% less time to an editable file and 13% lower idle app-tree footprint than the original Code-OSS build at the same revision on the reference Apple M3 Max. Those measurements are from v0.3.0, not v0.3.2. Full paired comparisons are recorded for new minor releases; routine patch releases retain the last minor release's clearly labeled figures. This release is Apple Silicon-only and distributes full ZIP updates; delta packages are not implemented.

For changes across releases, see the changelog.

Lean VS Code v0.3.0

Lean VS Code v0.3.0

Lean VS Code is a focused Code-OSS editor for writing code and reviewing local Git changes. This release measures its performance against a build of the original Code-OSS at the same upstream revision and keeps the results available for future version comparisons.

• 18% less time to an editable file: 1.64 s median versus 2.00 s for same-revision Code-OSS on an Apple M3 Max (30 alternating, warm-cache runs per app).
• 13% lower idle app-tree memory footprint: 746 MiB median versus 854 MiB for Code-OSS (three macOS physical-footprint snapshots per app after 30 seconds idle).
• The bundled Git extension now activates when Source Control, a Git resource, or a Git command needs it, rather than merely when a folder contains .git. Git review and side-by-side diffs remain available.
• The signed Apple Silicon app keeps core editing, search, terminal, and Open VSX extension support, while shipping 33 curated built-in extensions. Optional extensions remain off until installed.

The public method, signed-release results, and v0.2.0 history explain the setup and limits. The v0.3.0 Git change did not produce a meaningful direct file-ready speedup over v0.2.0 in development trials; the headline comparison is each Lean release versus the original Code-OSS baseline, not a v0.2.0-to-v0.3.0 gain. These numbers are reference-machine measurements, not guarantees for every project or Mac. The 1-second startup and 250 MiB idle targets remain unmet.

The release was built from commit 13fbbf8e65a1733a0b03ce47111d2f1a00c31b02 on Code-OSS 1.139.1, signed with Developer ID Application: Matti Vilola (MM233FKU38), notarized by Apple, and stapled. DMG SHA-256: e6d0b0a0b4d5c23b639ab62a72a65f85333dee8cd4870eccb64392f082ecc0e0.

The extracted release app passed signature and Gatekeeper checks, 58 Git integration tests, and 182 focused editor/extension-API tests (with 2 and 5 pending, respectively). An isolated CLI profile installed EditorConfig 0.18.2 from Open VSX and listed it afterward. The full upstream API folder also contains cases that assume browser chat tools, bundled notebook/JSON extensions, or test-only settings unavailable in this lean configuration; 13 of its 347 cases failed under that broad run. These checks do not establish universal extension compatibility.

Open the DMG and drag Lean VS Code into Applications. It can coexist with Microsoft VS Code and keeps separate settings and extensions. There is no automatic updater yet.

Lean VS Code v0.2.0

Lean VS Code v0.2.0

The first Apple Silicon release of Lean VS Code: a quiet, independent Code-OSS fork for editing code and reviewing local Git changes.

• Emerald branding, separate app identity and storage, and a visible Lean release number alongside the Code-OSS extension API version.
• Local Git changes and side-by-side diff review work out of the box.
• 33 curated built-in extensions for syntax, themes, and Git; optional extensions are available through Open VSX or a local VSIX. Signed Open VSX packages are checked against its pinned Ed25519 public key.
• Default telemetry, experiments, update checks, extension recommendations, onboarding, and built-in AI surfaces are turned off.
• The release app omits generated JavaScript source maps, reducing uncompressed disk usage by about 227 MiB without claiming a runtime-memory improvement.
• Signed and notarized DMG for macOS on Apple Silicon; drag the app into Applications. No automatic app updater in this version.

Lean VS Code is based on Code-OSS 1.139.1 and uses that extension API version. This is an early release. Extensions that depend on Microsoft services, proposed APIs, or removed built-in AI providers may require testing or may not work. Optional extensions can add their own processes and network requests. Startup and idle-memory targets are not yet benchmarked.

Artifact and verification

• Source commit: a6a44252769ce477da1ab517e2292d158804c733
• Platform: macOS Apple Silicon (arm64)
• DMG SHA-256: b54dc7743cb64dcfe56b5ad31a8461279fe31b998734919a6c41580326a1eb21
• Apple notarization: accepted; ticket stapled; Gatekeeper accepted.
• Smoke tested from /Applications: editor, workspace search, terminal, local Git diff, and verified Open VSX install of esbenp.prettier-vscode@12.4.0.