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VS Code Codex extension log/error loop precedes renderer crashes #18515

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VS Code Codex extension log/error loop precedes renderer crashes#18515
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bugSomething isn't workingextensionIssues related to the VS Code extension

Description

@omokpo
omokpo
opened on Apr 19, 2026

Summary

The VS Code Codex extension (openai.chatgpt) appears to enter a high-volume error/logging loop and shortly afterward VS Code's renderer process crashes.

I diagnosed this on a local macOS machine and uninstalling the extension stopped the loop immediately.

Environment

  • VS Code: 1.116.0 (560a9dba96f961efea7b1612916f89e5d5d4d679, arm64)
  • macOS: 26.3.1 (25D2128), Apple Silicon
  • Extension: openai.chatgpt / Codex - OpenAI's coding agent
  • Extension version observed: 26.415.20818-darwin-arm64

What happened

VS Code's main log showed repeated renderer crashes:

2026-04-16 00:12:56.071 [error] CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)
2026-04-17 07:27:21.716 [error] CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)
2026-04-18 00:40:51.645 [error] CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)
2026-04-18 18:49:02.115 [error] CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)

Immediately before the latest crash, the extension host log was repeatedly emitting this stack from the Codex extension:

RangeError: Set maximum size exceeded
    at Set.add (<anonymous>)
    at LS.handleCancel (~/.vscode/extensions/openai.chatgpt-26.415.20818-darwin-arm64/out/extension.js:233:24821)
    at Object.handleCancel (~/.vscode/extensions/openai.chatgpt-26.415.20818-darwin-arm64/out/extension.js:263:26949)
    at T_.handleMessage (~/.vscode/extensions/openai.chatgpt-26.415.20818-darwin-arm64/out/extension.js:263:27484)
    at t.handleMessage (~/.vscode/extensions/openai.chatgpt-26.415.20818-darwin-arm64/out/extension.js:263:69236)

The same RangeError: Set maximum size exceeded pattern appeared in several prior sessions, usually immediately before Extension host terminating: renderer closed the MessagePort.

The extension's own Codex.log was also filling rapidly with repeated messages like:

worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git

During one live check, that log grew by about 327,510 bytes / 3,127 lines in 3 seconds. macOS also produced Code Helper (Plugin) disk-write diagnostics showing about 2.1 GB written by the plugin helper during an affected session. The live Code Helper (Plugin) process was also using elevated CPU.

Mitigation / confirmation

After uninstalling openai.chatgpt:

  • The Codex.log stopped growing (0 bytes growth over a fresh 5-second check).
  • The extension host no longer activated openai.chatgpt.
  • VS Code CPU returned to idle.
  • No new RangeError, worker_rpc_response_error, or renderer-crash lines appeared in the fresh VS Code log session.
  • Restarting VS Code cleaned the removed extension folder from ~/.vscode/extensions.

Expected behavior

The extension should not enter an unbounded cancellation/error/log loop, and it should not contribute to renderer instability or multi-GB plugin-helper disk writes.

Notes

This report is based on local VS Code logs. I can provide additional sanitized excerpts if useful.

Activity

  1. github-actions
    added
    bugSomething isn't working
    extensionIssues related to the VS Code extension
    on Apr 19, 2026

  2. github-actions commented on Apr 19, 2026

    @github-actions
    github-actionsBot
    on Apr 19, 2026 – with GitHub Actions
    Contributor

    Potential duplicates detected. Please review them and close your issue if it is a duplicate.

    Powered by Codex Action

  3. nkawli commented on Apr 27, 2026

    @nkawli
    nkawli
    on Apr 27, 2026

    Facing same issue on opening a parent folder in vscode with codex extension enabled which contains 5 child folders which are related git repos:

    2026-04-27 11:27:20.883 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.891 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.901 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.907 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.911 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.923 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.932 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.951 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.963 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.973 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.976 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.983 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.990 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:20.999 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.008 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.025 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.028 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.035 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.043 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.052 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.062 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.067 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.087 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.090 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.096 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.104 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.111 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git
2026-04-27 11:27:21.119 [warning] worker_rpc_response_error error={} method=stable-metadata workerId=git

    The high cpu usage drains the laptop battery quickly and causes laptop heating. Please help with a fix.

  4. giri786 commented on May 1, 2026

    @giri786
    giri786
    on May 1, 2026

    I’m seeing the same crash pattern on macOS. VS Code crashes even while idle, roughly twice a day.

    Environment:

    • VS Code: 1.118.1
    • OpenAI ChatGPT/Codex extension: openai.chatgpt-26.422.71525-darwin-arm64
    • Platform: macOS, darwin-universal / Apple Silicon extension build

    Recent crash times from main.log:

    • 2026-04-29 08:45:58 CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)
    • 2026-04-29 19:15:09 CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)
    • 2026-04-30 03:24:17 CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)
    • 2026-04-30 19:24:08 CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)

    Right before the crashes, the extension host logs are flooded with ~40k repeated errors from:
    openai.chatgpt-26.422.71525-darwin-arm64

    Stack signature:
    RangeError: Set maximum size exceeded
    at Set.add
    at Uw.handleCancel (.../.vscode/extensions/openai.chatgpt-26.422.71525-darwin-arm64/out/extension.js:175:25422)
    at Object.handleCancel (.../out/extension.js:205:26968)
    at P_.handleMessage (.../out/extension.js:205:27503)

    The renderer crash follows shortly after the error loop.

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