Fix tsdk relative path overwrite and unnecessary prompt on workspace open by Copilot · Pull Request #4072 · microsoft/typescript-go

Copilot · 2026-05-28T20:10:41Z

Committed relative tsdk paths (e.g. "./node_modules/@typescript/native-preview") get overwritten with machine-specific absolute paths when accepting the workspace version prompt, dirtying source-controlled .vscode/settings.json. The prompt also re-fires every session because the extension never recognizes an existing relative path as "already opted in."

Changes

Preserve existing tsdk on Allow: When the user accepts the workspace version prompt, the extension now checks whether the current tsdk setting already resolves to the workspace install. If so, it sets the trust flag and restarts without overwriting the setting, preserving committed relative paths.
Write relative paths: Both promptUseWorkspaceVersion and promptSelectVersion now write ./node_modules/@typescript/native-preview instead of the absolute fsPath when the tsdk needs to be written.
Fix active-version indicator: promptSelectVersion compares against exePath (the resolved executable) rather than the absolute tsdkPath for the "active" dot.
Multi-root workspace support: Relative paths are only used for the first workspace folder (which workspaceResolve anchors to). For packages detected in other workspace folders, the absolute path is written so the setting resolves correctly.
Always require explicit trust: The useWorkspaceTsdkStorageKey trust flag is never set without explicit user interaction (clicking "Allow" on the prompt or using the version picker). A committed tsdk alone does not bypass the trust prompt.
No settings mutation on version switch: Switching to the bundled version via the version picker now only toggles the trust flag in workspace state, without removing tsdk from .vscode/settings.json. Since getExe already ignores workspace-level tsdk when the trust flag is false, this avoids dirtying committed settings files. This matches the behavior of the built-in TypeScript extension.
Suppress prompt after explicit bundled switch: When the user explicitly switches to the bundled version via the version picker, the workspace-version prompt is suppressed so it doesn't re-fire on the next session. Switching back to a workspace version via the picker clears the suppression.

// Before: always wrote absolute path
await config.update("tsdk", wsVersion.tsdkPath, vscode.ConfigurationTarget.Workspace);
// e.g. "/Users/alice/projects/myrepo/node_modules/@typescript/native-preview"

// After: writes portable relative path (first workspace folder)
await config.update("tsdk", wsVersion.relativeTsdkPath, vscode.ConfigurationTarget.Workspace);
// e.g. "./node_modules/@typescript/native-preview"

- Add relativeTsdkPath to DetectedVersion to store portable relative path - promptUseWorkspaceVersion: skip prompt when existing tsdk already resolves to a workspace install (auto opt-in without modifying settings) - promptUseWorkspaceVersion: write relative path when user clicks Allow - promptSelectVersion: use relative path and compare against exePath for active version indicator Co-authored-by: DanielRosenwasser <972891+DanielRosenwasser@users.noreply.github.com>

DanielRosenwasser · 2026-05-28T21:12:07Z

    if (workspaceVersions.length === 0) return;

+    // If the existing tsdk setting already resolves to a workspace install,
+    // treat it as already opted in — don't prompt and don't overwrite the setting.


Suggested change

// treat it as already opted in — don't prompt and don't overwrite the setting.

// treat it as already opted in - don't prompt and don't overwrite the setting.

Applied in 52d9917.

DanielRosenwasser

@copilot fix.

Copilot

Pull request overview

This PR updates the VS Code extension’s workspace TypeScript Native Preview version selection so committed relative tsdk settings are preserved instead of being overwritten with absolute machine-specific paths.

Changes:

Adds a stored relative tsdk path for detected workspace native-preview packages.
Uses executable paths for active-version comparison in the version picker.
Skips the workspace-version prompt when the existing tsdk already resolves to a detected workspace install.

Show a summary per file

File	Description
`_extension/src/session.ts`	Updates workspace package detection, version picker display/update behavior, and prompt short-circuit logic for existing `tsdk` settings.

Copilot's findings

Files reviewed: 1/1 changed files
Comments generated: 2

+    if (currentTsdk) {
+        const resolvedCurrent = await resolveTsdkPathToExe(currentTsdk);
+        if (resolvedCurrent && workspaceVersions.some(ws => ws.exePath === resolvedCurrent.path)) {
+            await context.workspaceState.update(useWorkspaceTsdkStorageKey, true);


            label: folder.name,
            version: resolved?.version ?? "unknown",
            tsdkPath: path.normalize(packagePath.fsPath),
+            relativeTsdkPath: "./node_modules/@typescript/native-preview",


Co-authored-by: DanielRosenwasser <972891+DanielRosenwasser@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-28T22:56:56Z

@copilot fix.

Fixed in 0f8de0c.

DanielRosenwasser · 2026-05-28T23:01:21Z

@copilot more feedback.

Also, what is the current behavior in the built-in TS extension if a user has an explicit tsdk? Do we ask if they really want to use it, even if the user has already granted workspace trust?

…tive paths Co-authored-by: DanielRosenwasser <972891+DanielRosenwasser@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-28T23:08:05Z

@copilot more feedback.

Also, what is the current behavior in the built-in TS extension if a user has an explicit tsdk? Do we ask if they really want to use it, even if the user has...

Addressed both reviewer points:

Restart on early-return: The early-return path now calls typescript.native-preview.restart after setting the opt-in flag, so the workspace tsdk takes effect immediately without waiting for a manual restart.
Multi-root workspaces: findWorkspaceNativePreviewPackages now only uses the relative path (./node_modules/@typescript/native-preview) for the first workspace folder (which is what workspaceResolve anchors to). For packages found in other workspace folders, it falls back to the absolute path so the setting resolves correctly.

Regarding your question about the built-in TS extension: yes, it has a similar pattern. When typescript.tsdk points to a workspace-level path, the extension shows a "Use Workspace Version" prompt even if the workspace is trusted. Once the user clicks "Allow", it stores an opt-in flag in workspace state and doesn't ask again. Workspace trust alone is not sufficient — the user must also explicitly allow the workspace tsdk through the prompt or version picker. Our behavior here mirrors that pattern.

andrewbranch

Regarding your question about the built-in TS extension: yes, it has a similar pattern. When typescript.tsdk points to a workspace-level path, the extension shows a "Use Workspace Version" prompt even if the workspace is trusted. Once the user clicks "Allow", it stores an opt-in flag in workspace state and doesn't ask again. Workspace trust alone is not sufficient — the user must also explicitly allow the workspace tsdk through the prompt or version picker. Our behavior here mirrors that pattern.

Skip prompt when tsdk already resolves to workspace install: Before showing the prompt, resolve the current tsdk setting and compare against detected workspace packages. If it matches, silently set useWorkspaceTsdkStorageKey and restart the server so the workspace tsdk takes effect immediately—without modifying the setting or prompting.

@copilot It seems like these two claims contradict each other, or am I misunderstanding? There should be no possible scenario where a user does a fresh repo clone and install and gets opted into using a workspace version of TS unprompted. If useWorkspaceTsdkStorageKey is about trust, not preference, then it's never appropriate to set it without explicit user interaction.

… tsdk on Allow Co-authored-by: andrewbranch <3277153+andrewbranch@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-29T18:03:08Z

Regarding your question about the built-in TS extension: yes, it has a similar pattern. When typescript.tsdk points to a workspace-level path, the extension shows a "Use Workspace Version" prompt ev...

You're right — useWorkspaceTsdkStorageKey is a trust gate and should never be set without explicit user interaction. Removed the silent auto-opt-in block. The prompt now always fires on fresh clone even if tsdk already resolves to the workspace install. When the user clicks "Allow", we skip overwriting the tsdk setting if it already resolves correctly, so committed relative paths are preserved. Fixed in 1cc3f16.

andrewbranch · 2026-05-29T18:13:22Z

@copilot what happens when the user changes their tsdk version away from the workspace version to the built-in one? In the old TypeScript extension, this doesn't persist a JSON settings change.

…e trust flag Co-authored-by: andrewbranch <3277153+andrewbranch@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-29T18:18:02Z

@copilot what happens when the user changes their tsdk version away from the workspace version to the built-in one? In the old TypeScript extension, this doesn't persist a JSON settings change.

Previously it was calling config.update("tsdk", undefined, ...) which would remove the key from .vscode/settings.json — dirtying a committed file. Now the "Use Bundled Version" path only toggles useWorkspaceTsdkStorageKey to false, which is sufficient since getExe already ignores workspace-level tsdk when that flag is false. The JSON settings file is left untouched. Fixed in 2506adb.

andrewbranch · 2026-05-29T18:42:17Z

@copilot setting useWorkspaceTsdkStorageKey to false will re-trigger the prompt...

…picker Co-authored-by: andrewbranch <3277153+andrewbranch@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-29T18:47:08Z

@copilot setting useWorkspaceTsdkStorageKey to false will re-trigger the prompt...

Right. Now when the user explicitly chooses bundled via the version picker, we also set suppressPromptWorkspaceTsdk to prevent re-prompting. Switching back to workspace version via the picker clears that flag. Fixed in 2f67be1.

DanielRosenwasser

@copilot consider and address

DanielRosenwasser · 2026-05-28T22:51:55Z

            label: folder.name,
            version: resolved?.version ?? "unknown",
            tsdkPath: path.normalize(packagePath.fsPath),
+            relativeTsdkPath: "./node_modules/@typescript/native-preview",


Extract this out above and use it as the argument for vscode.Uri.joinPath.

DanielRosenwasser · 2026-05-28T23:12:47Z

+        // workspaceResolve anchors relative paths there. For other folders,
+        // fall back to the absolute path so the setting resolves correctly.
+        const relativeTsdkPath = i === 0
+            ? "./node_modules/@typescript/native-preview"


Extract this out to a relative location above, then use it in joinPath.

DanielRosenwasser · 2026-05-29T19:00:30Z

+        // Use a relative path only for the first workspace folder since
+        // workspaceResolve anchors relative paths there. For other folders,
+        // fall back to the absolute path so the setting resolves correctly.


This logic seems to be hacks on hacks. Why not just funnel along the workspace path and calculate the relative path from that?

Extracted relativeWorkspacePath as a constant above the loop. It's now used both as the argument to joinPath (split on /) and to construct the relative tsdk path (prepending ./). This eliminates the duplication and makes the relationship clear.

…tivePreviewPackages Co-authored-by: DanielRosenwasser <972891+DanielRosenwasser@users.noreply.github.com>

Copilot · 2026-05-29T19:05:47Z

@copilot consider and address

Addressed in the latest commit — extracted relativeWorkspacePath as a constant and used it for both joinPath and the relative tsdk path calculation.

Co-authored-by: DanielRosenwasser <972891+DanielRosenwasser@users.noreply.github.com>

Initial plan

aeaaa3c

Copilot AI assigned Copilot and DanielRosenwasser May 28, 2026

Copilot started work on behalf of DanielRosenwasser May 28, 2026 20:10 View session

Copilot AI linked an issue May 28, 2026 that may be closed by this pull request

typescript.native-preview.tsdk: relative path in committed .vscode/settings.json gets overwritten with absolute path when accepting the workspace version prompt #4070

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Copilot AI changed the title ~~[WIP] Fix overwriting of relative path in .vscode/settings.json~~ Fix tsdk relative path overwrite and unnecessary prompt on workspace open May 28, 2026

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Restart session on early-return opt-in; fix multi-root workspace rela…

ac405f3

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Remove silent auto-opt-in; always prompt for trust, preserve existing…

1c4303d

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Don't remove tsdk from settings when switching to bundled; only toggl…

32b4cd7

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Suppress prompt when user explicitly switches to bundled via version …

d90c019

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refactor: extract relative workspace path constant in findWorkspaceNa…

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refactor: hoist path segment split outside the loop

51ebaaf

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	// treat it as already opted in — don't prompt and don't overwrite the setting.
	// treat it as already opted in - don't prompt and don't overwrite the setting.

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