Feature Request: Streamlined Local VSCode Extension Installation with install:vsix

[devxpain]

Problem Statement:

Developing VSCode extensions often involves a repetitive and manual process for local testing. After every significant code change, developers typically need to perform multiple manual steps: building the VSIX package, uninstalling any previously installed version of the extension from VSCode, installing the newly built VSIX package, and finally, reloading the VSCode window to ensure the changes take effect.

This multi-step process is cumbersome, error-prone, and significantly slows down the development feedback loop, especially when iterating quickly on features or bug fixes. It introduces friction and reduces developer productivity.

Proposed Solution:

To address this, I propose a new install:vsix script that automates the entire local installation process into a single, convenient command. This script would encapsulate all necessary actions: ensuring dependencies are up-to-date, cleaning previous builds, building the latest VSIX package, uninstalling any existing extension version, installing the new VSIX.

Benefits:

The install:vsix script offers several significant advantages for developers:

Enhanced Developer Experience: Transforms a tedious, multi-step manual process into a single command, drastically improving the development workflow.
Increased Productivity: Reduces the time and effort spent on local testing, allowing developers to iterate faster and focus more on coding.
Reduced Errors: Automates error-prone manual steps, ensuring consistent and reliable installations.
Consistency: Provides a standardized way to install the extension locally, beneficial for onboarding new developers and maintaining consistency across development environments.
Seamless Integration: Integrates directly into the existing project scripts, making it easily discoverable and runnable.
Call to Action:

I believe this install:vsix script is a crucial quality-of-life improvement for anyone developing VSCode extensions. We encourage its adoption and welcome feedback on its utility and potential enhancements.