"Open VSX is operated by the Eclipse Foundation, and provides extensions unencumbered by the restriction Microsoft places on the VS Code marketplace that "alternative products including those built on a fork of the Code-OSS Repository, are not permitted to access the Visual Studio Marketplace." Microsoft cites security and compatibility as reasons, and there is no business case to "run a full-scale global service for everyone to use.""
"The Open VSX project was started by GitPod (now Ona) in early 2020 as a vendor-neutral registry for use by Code-OSS forks, including VSCodium and Theia. The number of such forks has increased as AI usage has grown, and now includes Google Antigravity, Cursor, Windsurf, and AWS Kiro."
"In early 2023, Eclipse community manager John Kellerman appealed for funding, stating that "we will be forced to decommission the Open VSX registry by the end of May." Funding was forthcoming in the shape of a new working group formed from interested companies, and today the registry appears to be on a firm footing, with over 300 million monthly downloads and new sponsorship from AWS and Cursor."
Open VSX is a vendor-neutral extension registry for Visual Studio Code-compatible editors, created to circumvent Microsoft's restrictions on accessing the VS Code marketplace for alternative products and forks. Started by GitPod in 2020, the registry serves Code-OSS forks including VSCodium, Theia, and newer AI-focused editors like Cursor and Windsurf. While offering fewer extensions than Microsoft's marketplace, Open VSX provides access to popular extensions excluding Microsoft-specific ones. Facing financial challenges in early 2023, the project secured funding through a working group of interested companies. Currently achieving over 300 million monthly downloads, Open VSX is transitioning to hybrid infrastructure with primary deployment on AWS in Europe and secondary on-premises environment in Canada, supported by new sponsorships from AWS and Cursor.
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