Microsoft is restricting extensions such as C/C++ from running on third-party code editors based on Visual Studio Code, as these extensions use unconventional open-source licenses. For example, users of Cursor are now prompted to disable these extensions, and Cursor is preparing to phase out Microsoft’s own extensions in favor of open-source solutions in upcoming versions. Read more: https://ourl.co/108772
If you are using AI tools or code editors like Cursor, you may encounter errors when trying to install and use extensions such as C/C++ or Remote SSH, indicating that these extensions can only be used with Microsoft products and services like Microsoft Visual Studio Code.
Image source:GitHub
Specifically, these error messages may appear as follows:
The C/C++ extension may be used only with Microsoft Visual Studio, Visual Studio for Mac, Visual Studio Code, Azure DevOps, Team Foundation Server, and successor Microsoft products and services to develop and test your applications.
The reason for this issue is that these extensions developed by Microsoft do not use conventional open-source licenses. In fact, Microsoft has never allowed these extensions to be used in non-Microsoft development tools; however, they previously did not enforce strict restrictions until now, when they began to implement strict limitations (by verifying the client to identify usage).
In short, while Microsoft Visual Studio Code is open-source and allows for the development of various types of code editors based on the project, Microsoft’s extensions are not open-source and therefore do not support use in non-Microsoft official code editors, as this would violate commercial terms.
These supported applications include Microsoft Visual Studio, Visual Studio for Mac, Visual Studio Code, Azure DevOps, Team Foundation Server, etc., and Cursor is a third-party code editor developed based on VSCode, so users will see error notifications when using it.
To address this issue, Cursor is currently collaborating with the open-source community to prepare to phase out Microsoft’s extensions and adopt open-source solutions. In future versions of Cursor, open-source solutions will be integrated to replace Microsoft’s extensions, resolving the disabled status encountered by developers during use.
Note: Extensions such as C/C++ can be found on GitHub, but they use Microsoft’s software license and a license called Runtimelicenses.
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