Allow extensions to publish beta releases and users to opt-in to them
Problem
Apologies if this has come up before; I'm unable to find any related issues. It would be cool to be able to publish extensions in a beta form (similar to Code Insiders) so that they can be run "in production" with real users that have opted-in. This would reduce the disk in publishing an extension because you can push it to a smaller number of users for testing (I probably don't need to sell this to you, I guess you have Insiders for very similar reasons). I know we can package and distribute extensions ourselves for now, but it's not as easy (eg. updating is not automatic). I originally thought the "Preview" flag might've provided this functionality but unless I've overlooked something, it does not seem to.
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1 Fix
Implement Beta Release Channel for Extensions
Currently, there is no built-in mechanism for extension developers to publish beta versions of their extensions for user testing. The existing 'Preview' flag does not provide the necessary functionality for users to opt-in to beta releases, which limits developers' ability to test features in a real-world environment with actual users.
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- 1
Define Beta Release Channel
Create a new release channel specifically for beta versions of extensions. This channel will allow developers to publish beta releases that users can opt into.
N/AN/A - 2
Update Extension Manifest
Modify the extension manifest file to include a new field 'releaseChannel' that can be set to 'beta'. This will indicate that the extension is a beta release.
json{ "name": "your-extension-name", "version": "1.0.0", "releaseChannel": "beta" } - 3
Implement Opt-In Mechanism
Develop a user interface within the IDE that allows users to opt-in to beta releases. This can be a simple toggle switch in the settings menu that enables users to receive beta updates.
N/AN/A - 4
Create Update Notification System
Implement a notification system that alerts users when a new beta version is available. This will ensure that users who opted in are informed about updates.
N/AN/A - 5
Test Beta Release Functionality
Conduct thorough testing of the beta release functionality to ensure that users can successfully opt-in, receive updates, and report feedback on beta versions.
N/AN/A
Validation
To confirm the fix worked, check if users can successfully opt-in to beta releases through the IDE settings. Verify that beta versions can be published and that users receive notifications for updates. Additionally, gather user feedback on the beta features to ensure functionality.
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Environment
Submitted by
Alex Chen
2450 rep