Creating a worker thread in the extension host crashes VS Code

[connor4312]

The worker_thread API is available, but attempting to use it in an extension crashes VS Code.

1. Create a "hello world" extension from a template
2. Create a blank worker.js file
3. Add this to your extension's activate:

const { Worker } = require('worker_threads');
new Worker(join(__dirname, 'worker.js'));

4. Run the extension. VS Code crashes upon activation.

[DonJayamanne]

Agreed, fails. Trying to use this in the Python extension as well, and kaboom.
Couldn't find any reason for this.

[anonimitoraf]

Any updates on this?

[bpasero]

I have a feeling this does not reproduce with our exploration builds. Can you try?

We are building exploration builds that use a much newer version of our UI framework (Electron version 8.x). I wonder if this issue reproduces with one of these builds, could you try? Download:

• macOS: Download
• Linux (DEB): Download
• Linux (RPM): Download
• Linux (ZIP): Download
• Windows: Download

[DonJayamanne]

@bpasero Tried and works (am to start a worker thread and things work as expected).
Thanks.

[bpasero]

This seems to be more of a debugging problem than actually being able to use worker threads. E.g. I created an extension that uses this and it seems to work fine unless I debug.

[DonJayamanne]

I created an extension that uses this and it seems to work fine unless I debug.

FYI - It worked for me while debugging the extension.

[bpasero]

What I mean to say is: it works for me even in Electron 7. But not when debugging.

[deepak1556]

Does this still crash with latest insiders ?

[connor4312]

Yep it seems to work in electron 9.

(note that debugging the threads doesn't work either in Electron or in Node nodejs/node#26609)