Positron Pro Extensions

Preview

Positron Pro is highly customizable and has a rich ecosystem of extensions that can extend Positron Pro’s functionality. This page explains the different methods of installing extensions while using Positron Pro in Posit Workbench. For recommended extensions please refer to Recommended Settings and Extensions.

Extensions can be installed either locally for the user or globally for the server. Therefore, if an administrator sets up a global extensions directory, users can no longer install extensions manually.

Local extensions are installed by each user via the marketplace, or manual installation, and are not shared with any other users.
Global extensions are installed by an administrator on each server and are automatically shared across all users.

Extensions view

Open the Extensions view by clicking on the icon in the sidebar.

The Extensions view has three sections:

<SERVER_ADDRESS> - Installed
BROWSER - INSTALLED
RECOMMENDED

<SERVER_ADDRESS> is your Posit Workbench server address.

The <SERVER_ADDRESS> - Installed section lists every extension currently installed, whether globally on the server or by you. The other two sections are not used in the session running on Posit Workbench.

Installing extensions

There are two methods you can utilize to install extensions in Positron Pro: from the marketplace or manually.

Installing from the marketplace

Note

In Positron Pro running on Posit Workbench, extensions listed and installed from the marketplace are from the Open VSX Registry (unless otherwise configured by your administrator). It is against VS Code’s Terms of Service to use the official Marketplace extensions with third-party tools.

Reference Positron Pro’s Install an extension documentation for the steps to install extensions from the marketplace.

Installing manually

A user can manually install local extensions only if their administrator has not set up a global extensions directory.

Extensions can be found and downloaded in VSIX format from online marketplaces.

Once you’ve downloaded the extension in VSIX format, you can install extensions manually by using the UI or via the command line:

UI:

Upload the VSIX file from the menu bar with the Install from VSIX… button.

Command line:

If you are installing the extension from the command line, use the --install-extension argument, passing the VSIX file path as the extension name, similar to:
```
--install-extension <extension publisher>.<extension>
```

Reference VS Code’s List installed extensions documentation for the steps to view to a list of installed extensions.

Installed extension details

In the Extension View, click an extension icon for more information, including a description, usage details, and version number.

Python Extension Details example — Extension details