[BUG] VS Code extension hangs on get_claude_state — regression since v2.1.78

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

The VS Code extension hangs indefinitely during initialization. The webview sends
get_claude_state but the extension never responds.

Tested v2.1.78 and v2.1.85. Rolling back to v2.1.77 resolves the issue
immediately — same machine, same workspace, no other changes.

v2.1.78
<img width="604" height="976" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5df86af3-400a-4e78-bfa4-d784da22df37" />

v2.1.85

<img width="599" height="935" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/b7f06cf3-8827-4e67-bd37-cab6f8c01890" />

<img width="597" height="946" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/0d6af0f1-2d7b-45c0-a143-e349fb11987f" />

What Should Happen?

The extension should respond to get_claude_state and continue initialization
(get_current_selection, get_asset_uris, list_sessions_request, launch_claude) as it
does in v2.1.77.

Error Messages/Logs

v2.1.85 (hangs):

[info] AuthManager initialized
[info] Claude code extension is now active?
[info] MCP Server running on port <port> (localhost only)
[info] Getting authentication status
[info] OAuth tokens found in secure storage
[info] AuthManager initialized
[info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"<id>","request":{"type":"init"}}
[info] Getting authentication status
[info] OAuth tokens found in secure storage
[info] Getting authentication status
[info] OAuth tokens found in secure storage
[info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"<id>","request":{"type":"get_claude_state"}}
-- Nothing after this. Extension hangs indefinitely. --

v2.1.77 (works):

[info] Claude code extension is now active?
[info] MCP Server running on port <port> (localhost only)
[info] AuthManager initialized
[info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"<id>","request":{"type":"init"}}
[info] Getting authentication status
[info] OAuth tokens found in secure storage
[info] Getting authentication status
[info] OAuth tokens found in secure storage
[info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"<id>","request":{"type":"get_claude_state"}}
[info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"<id>","request":{"type":"get_current_selection"}}
[info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"<id>","request":{"type":"get_asset_uris"}}
[info] Received message from webview: {"type":"request","requestId":"<id>","request":{"type":"list_sessions_request"}}
[info] Received message from webview: {"type":"launch_claude","channelId":"<id>","cwd":"<workspace>","model":"opus[1m]","permissionMode":"default","thinkingLevel":"default_on"}
[info] Loading config cache by launching Claude...
[info] Launching Claude on channel: <id>
-- Session starts normally and is fully functional. --

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude Code VS Code extension v2.1.78 or later (tested through v2.1.85)
2. Open a workspace via VS Code Remote-WSL
3. Open the Claude Code panel
4. UI renders but shows "Loading sessions..." spinner indefinitely
5. Sending a message results in "Not responding - try stopping"
6. Downgrade to v2.1.77 — same workspace loads and works immediately

Claude Model

Opus

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

2.1.77 (Claude Code for VS Code Extension)

Claude Code Version

2.1.85 (Claude Code for VS Code Extension)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Additional Information

Clean bisection: only the extension version changed between working and broken states.
Tested v2.1.77 (works), v2.1.78 (broken), v2.1.85 (broken).

Related issues:

• #25976 — similar hang with dual process spawn
• #23641 — webview sends messages but never receives responses
• #37710 — v2.1.78 SSH session unresponsive