VSCode config to disable popular extensions' annoyances (telemetry, notifications, welcome pages, etc.)

settings.jsonc

// I'm tired of extensions that automatically:
// - show welcome pages / walkthroughs
// - show release notes
// - send telemetry
// - recommend things
//
// This disables all of that stuff.
// If you have more config, leave a comment so I can add it!!

{
	"clangd.checkUpdates": false,
	"code-runner.enableAppInsights": false,
	"docker-explorer.enableTelemetry": false,
	"extensions.ignoreRecommendations": true,
	"gitlens.showWelcomeOnInstall": false,
	"gitlens.showWhatsNewAfterUpgrades": false,
	"java.help.firstView": "none",
	"java.help.showReleaseNotes": false,
	"julia.enableTelemetry": false,
	"kite.showWelcomeNotificationOnStartup": false,
	"liveServer.settings.donotShowInfoMsg": true,
	"Lua.telemetry.enable": false,
	"material-icon-theme.showWelcomeMessage": false,
	"pros.showWelcomeOnStartup": false,
	"pros.useGoogleAnalytics": false,
	"redhat.telemetry.enabled": false,
	"rpcServer.showStartupMessage": false,
	"shellcheck.disableVersionCheck": true,
	"sonarlint.disableTelemetry": true,
	"telemetry.enableCrashReporter": false,
	"telemetry.enableTelemetry": false,
	"telemetry.telemetryLevel": "off",
	"terraform.telemetry.enabled": false,
	"update.showReleaseNotes": false,
	"vsicons.dontShowNewVersionMessage": true,
	"workbench.welcomePage.walkthroughs.openOnInstall": false
}

If you want telemetry disabled by default, use VSCodium: https://vscodium.com

The main thing about vscodium is that not every extension is available to be installed on it. That's my main issue with that version of vscode

There are workarounds, although not the situation is not optimal: VSCodium/vscodium#519

I used vscodium for a long time, but then I switched to a windows machine with WSL and unfortunately the plugin for WSL doesn't work on VSCodium, so i had to switch back to VSCode

Grouped config with extension names:

{
	// Disable sending telemetry
	"clangd.checkUpdates": false, // Clangd
	"code-runner.enableAppInsights": false, // Code Runner
	"docker-explorer.enableTelemetry": false, // Docker
	"extensions.ignoreRecommendations": true, // VSCode Core
	"julia.enableTelemetry": false, // Julia
	"kite.showWelcomeNotificationOnStartup": false, // Kite
	"Lua.telemetry.enable": false, // Lua
	"pros.useGoogleAnalytics": false, // PROS
	"redhat.telemetry.enabled": false, // Red Hat
	"rpcServer.showStartupMessage": false, // VSCode Remote Development
	"sonarlint.disableTelemetry": true, // SonarLint
	"telemetry.enableCrashReporter": false, // VSCode Core
	"telemetry.enableTelemetry": false, // VSCode Core
	"telemetry.telemetryLevel": "off", // VSCode Core
	"terraform.telemetry.enabled": false, // HashiCorp Terraform

	// Disable showing release notes
	"gitlens.showWhatsNewAfterUpgrades": false, // GitLens
	"java.help.showReleaseNotes": false, // Language Support for Java
	"update.showReleaseNotes": false, // VSCode Core

	// Disable showing welcome pages / walkthroughs
	"gitlens.showWelcomeOnInstall": false, // GitLens
	"kite.showWelcomeNotificationOnStartup": false, // Kite
	"material-icon-theme.showWelcomeMessage": false, // Material Icon Theme
	"pros.showWelcomeOnStartup": false, // PROS
	"vsicons.dontShowNewVersionMessage": true, // VSCode Icons
	"workbench.welcomePage.walkthroughs.openOnInstall": false // VSCode Core
}

I see an opportunity for a(nother) plugin here :)

The main thing about vscodium is that not every extension is available to be installed on it. That's my main issue with that version of vscode

@georgikoemdzhiev It's possible to manually revert to Microsoft' marketplace and other features — these packages provides automatic patches:

• https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/vscodium-bin-marketplace
• https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/vscodium-bin-features

I see an opportunity for a(nother) plugin here :)

This would make a fantastic addon!

And of course that addon should send telemetry and show a welcome page

And of course that addon should send telemetry and show a welcome page

Is this a problem for you? I mean I'm genuinely asking

@Microeinstein Thanks a lot for sharing these, you're a lifesaver!