fix: explain that Amazon Q is unavailable in browser-only VS Code - #202
Open
laileni-aws wants to merge 3 commits into
Open
fix: explain that Amazon Q is unavailable in browser-only VS Code#202laileni-aws wants to merge 3 commits into
laileni-aws wants to merge 3 commits into
Conversation
… Code In the browser-only extension host (vscode.dev / github.dev without a remote environment) the Amazon Q language server cannot be spawned, so the extension appeared installed but 'Sign in' did nothing and a 'Failed to launch Amazon Q language server' error was shown. - Show a one-time notification on web activation explaining that Amazon Q requires desktop VS Code or a browser editor connected to a remote environment. - Skip language server activation and the first-use chat panel focus in web mode, since neither can work there. - Make the status bar 'Sign in' entry show the same explanation instead of starting an auth flow that never completes.
laileni-aws
marked this pull request as ready for review
September 8, 2026 23:33
laileni-aws
enabled auto-merge (squash)
September 8, 2026 23:40
ashishrp-aws
approved these changes
Sep 9, 2026
This file contains hidden or bidirectional Unicode text that may be interpreted or compiled differently than what appears below. To review, open the file in an editor that reveals hidden Unicode characters.
Learn more about bidirectional Unicode characters
Sign up for free
to join this conversation on GitHub.
Already have an account?
Sign in to comment
Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.This suggestion is invalid because no changes were made to the code.Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is closed.Suggestions cannot be applied while viewing a subset of changes.Only one suggestion per line can be applied in a batch.Add this suggestion to a batch that can be applied as a single commit.Applying suggestions on deleted lines is not supported.You must change the existing code in this line in order to create a valid suggestion.Outdated suggestions cannot be applied.This suggestion has been applied or marked resolved.Suggestions cannot be applied from pending reviews.Suggestions cannot be applied on multi-line comments.Suggestions cannot be applied while the pull request is queued to merge.Suggestion cannot be applied right now. Please check back later.
Problem
When the Amazon Q extension is installed in the browser-only version of VS Code (for example vscode.dev or github.dev opened without a remote environment such as a codespace), the extension appears to be installed and shows a "Sign in" entry, but clicking it does nothing. On activation users also see an error notification:
and the log contains:
Amazon Q depends on the Amazon Q language server, which runs as a Node.js child process. The browser-only extension host cannot spawn processes, so Amazon Q cannot work there. Today nothing tells the user this; the extension just looks broken.
Solution
extensionWeb.ts), show a one-time informational notification explaining that Amazon Q is not available in the browser-only version of VS Code and that they should use desktop VS Code or connect the browser editor to a remote environment.focusAmazonQPanelcall in web mode, since the chat view is intentionally hidden there (!aws.isWebExtHost) and the command is never registered.New helper:
packages/core/src/amazonq/webMode.ts(showWebModeUnsupportedMessage,showWebModeUnsupportedMessageOnce).Testing
packages/core/src/test/amazonq/webMode.test.ts(3 tests): the notification is shown as info, the web-mode sign-in entry shows it, and it is not shown outside web mode. All pass.codewhisperer/commands/basicCommands.test.ts(40 tests, exercisescreateSignIn) passes.npm run testWeb -w packages/amazonq(46 tests) passes; the web extension host log now showsamazonqLsp: skipping language server activation: not supported in the web extension hostand no longer reports the language server launch failure.npm run compileDev -w packages/amazonqbuilds both the Node and web bundles; eslint/prettier clean on changed files.feature/xbranches will not be squash-merged at release time.