Why My VS Code Extensions Were Crashing and How I Fixed It with Cursor’s Rebuilt Tools

I was neck-deep in an AI project combining Python and C++ when my VS Code extensions in Cursor began crashing constantly. Debugging sessions froze, remote SSH connections dropped, and my frustration mounted. That’s when I discovered Cursor’s rebuilt in-house extensions – and the migration completely saved my workflow. Here’s how I fixed the chaos.

The Breaking Point: Buggy Tools Killing Productivity

Picture this: You’re racing against a deadline, coding AI integrations in Python and C++, when your debugging tools freeze. Again. Remote setups via SSH or WSL became unreliable, costing me precious hours. That constant instability? Pure developer nightmare fuel.

The Lightbulb Moment: Switching to Cursor’s Rebuilt Tools

After digging through release notes, I found Cursor had rebuilt their core extensions from scratch. These stable versions live right in Cursor’s Marketplace. My migration took minutes – here’s exactly how to do it:

• Clear out old extensions: I removed every problematic tool – C++, Python, SSH, DevContainers, WSL. Fresh start avoids conflicts.
• Grab the new versions: In Cursor’s Marketplace, search “Cursor C++” or “Cursor Python” (published by Anysphere). Install with one click. Pro tip: Use Cursor v0.50+ for remote tools.
• Python dependency fix: The new Python extension uses basedpyright instead of Pylance. If Pylance auto-installs? Uninstall it immediately after reloading your window. This stopped my crashes cold.

What Changed After the Switch

Night-and-day difference in stability! But some adjustments took getting used to:

• Python: basedpyright works reliably but lacks Pylance’s inline hints. Hoping they add this later!
• C#: Debugging improved with netcoredbg – more consistent than vsdbg.
• C++: Now runs on clangd/codelldb (Windows) or native tools (macOS/Linux).
• Remote work: SSH/Containers/WSL need internet on remote machines. No tunnels yet – I used a reverse proxy temporarily.

Bumps I Hit (And How You Can Avoid Them)

My migration wasn’t perfect. Watch for these:

• Installation fails: Check VPNs or firewalls blocking downloads. Annoyingly, no .vsix files exist – it’s Marketplace-only.
• Extension fights: If ms-python tools sneak back in? Uninstall immediately. Only keep Anysphere versions.
• Version headaches: Remote extensions vanish if you’re below v0.50. Update Cursor first.

Why This Switch Saved My Sanity

Since migrating? Zero crashes. Debugging actually works. I miss Pylance’s hints, but trading “fancy” for “functional” was worth it. For AI developers like us, that means more time building cool stuff instead of fighting tools. Give these rebuilt extensions a shot – your future self will thank you during crunch time.