How to test:

• build Theia from sources

• create plugins folder under Theia repo folder

• Google for an extension (*.vsix file) and download it to the plugins folder:¹

• start Theia browser example

• check that the extension is installed, View main menu -> Plugins

• test functionality of the extension

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Alternatively, if you want to try any of the existing vscode-extension-samples without packaging them into a .vsix with vsce. You can do the following:

• Clone the samples:

git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-extension-samples.git

• Build one of the samples, for instance webview-sample:

cd vscode-extension-samples/webview-sample/ && npm i && npm run compile

• Make sure the out folder exists with the extension.js content.
• Start Theia and open a workspace on the sample. In this case, it is path/to/the/vscode-extension-samples/webview-sample/.
• F1 > Hosted Plugin: Start Instance. Your instance will open in a new window on port 3030.
• Try the extension.
  • For instance, with the webview-sample, F1 > Cat Coding: Start cat coding session > 🐈

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If something does not work:

• file an issue
  • please check first that there is no similar issue already
• mention which extension
• what does not work
  • always check your expectations with what VS Code does
• check browser console and server logs for errors and warnings. If there are some, mention them in the issue as well

¹Alternatively, you can use the command "Deploy plugin by id" from the command palette. When asked for a parameter, enter the following: vscode:extension/<exension id>. "<extension id>" stands for the "Unique Identifier" from the extension homepage in the VS Code Marketplace.