Extensions: Install Extension is slow

[warpdesign]

When listing available extensions (typing ctrl+shift+pand then ìnst and hit enter) it takes at least 5 seconds to display anything.

Meanwhile, there's no user feedback other than an indeterminate loader.

What about having a faster feedback with for example cached results of plugins list while newest plugins list is being retrieved ?

It seems that the more extension are available, the longer it will take to display anything, so it will likely get worse.

[egamma]

The query has been improved and it will be significantly faster in the December update.

[warpdesign]

@egamma Cool!

[dbaeumer]

@joaomoreno I tested this several times and it takes around 8 seconds to show the list. Progress is shown as well.

Since the issue doesn't state what the expected timing is I will leave it up to you to decide whether there is a regression here or not.

[joaomoreno]

👍

[alphashuro]

What happened to the cache issue? I'm still spending much time waiting for the extension list to show...

[joaomoreno]

What version are you on? We've had an extension since March: #2621.

[alphashuro]

0.10.11

[joaomoreno]

How fast can you GET this request? http://vscode.blob.core.windows.net/gallery/index

[alphashuro]

I get it quite fast now because my internet speed is back to normal, but I was asking about the cache because sometimes sometimes its slow and it becomes a pain when I want to quickly look for a package and/or install it. When I used sublime package manager it always downloaded a list of packages the first time I do a search. On subsequent searches it opened instantly and I could continue with my work regardless of internet speed.

[dbaeumer]

@joaomoreno giving back to you to follow up on the conversation.

[joaomoreno]

I see. We don't cache this locally in your machine, though. We rely on a working Internet connection, since most likely you'd like to install an extension any way, which needs it.

We just implemented a better search experience that no longer relies on downloading the entire list of extensions but runs queries, resulting in a much lighter experience. #4849

[alphashuro]

Why not cache the results initially though? I don't mean to access them without an internet connection, but when on a slow internet connection it would be great if you could quickly find an extension and mark it for installation then immediately continue with your work...

[joaomoreno]

Because caching introduces other problems such as: I just published my extension, why is it not available for installation? or I see this extension in the list but I can't install it (when a user deletes an extension).

#4839 is a good solution for a slow internet connection as well, since we won't download the information of all extensions but rather query for them.