[Feature Request] Granular Extension Loading Control via `tasks.json` or GUI

[shrimpballer]

Problem

Currently, VS Code loads extensions indiscriminately on startup or workspace load, which can:

• Slow down performance when many extensions activate unnecessarily.
• Cause unwanted behavior in certain project contexts (e.g., Python extensions interfering with Rust projects).
• Lack prioritization for critical extensions in large workspaces.

Proposed Solution

Introduce extension load control through either:

• Option 1: tasks.json Configuration

{
  "version": "2.0.0",
  "extensionControl": {
    "startup": ["ms-python.python", "rust-lang.rust-analyzer"],
    "taskSpecific": {
      "build": ["ms-vscode.cmake-tools"],
      "test": ["hbenl.vscode-test-explorer"]
    }
  }
}

• Option 2: GUI Toggle (Command Palette + Status Bar)

  • Command: Extensions: Configure Startup Extensions → Opens a multi-select UI.
  • Status Bar Indicator: Click to enable/disable extensions for the current session.

Benefits

• Performance: Faster startup by delaying non-critical extensions.
• Context-awareness: Load only relevant extensions per task/project.
• User Control: Override defaults without uninstalling extensions.

Related Issues

#248800 (only one close enough to my problem)

[shrimpballer]

Did this because I'm too lazy to clean up my extensions.
Also the way you guys did it with profiles is too confusing.

[vs-code-engineering]

This feature request is now a candidate for our backlog. The community has 60 days to upvote the issue. If it receives 20 upvotes we will move it to our backlog. If not, we will close it. To learn more about how we handle feature requests, please see our documentation.

Happy Coding!