Extension 2.1.185 crash-loops VS Code renderer (code 5) on macOS arm64 — regression from 2.1.183

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report
• [x] I am using the latest version of the Claude Code VS Code extension (2.1.185)

What's Wrong?

After the Claude Code VS Code extension auto-updated 2.1.183 → 2.1.185, VS Code's renderer process crash-loops every ~75 seconds on macOS arm64:

CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)

The window dies, relaunches, and dies again indefinitely, making the editor unusable. Downgrading/pinning the extension back to 2.1.183 fully resolves it — no other change.

Key detail: the extension host exits cleanly (code: 0) each cycle — it's the renderer that is killed, not the extension host. ~10s before each crash, the renderer logs a VERY LONG TASK and VS Code's auto-profiler fires (renderer hangs, then is terminated).

This is on a machine where Claude Code is the only third-party extension installed, which rules out extension conflicts.

What Should Happen?

The window should remain stable, as it did on 2.1.183.

Error Messages/Logs

From ~/Library/Application Support/Code/logs/.../main.log (repeating ~every 75s):

[error] CodeWindow: renderer process gone (reason: crashed, code: 5)
[info]  Extension host with pid <NNNNN> exited with code: 0, signal: unknown.
[warning] [perf] Renderer reported VERY LONG TASK (146ms), starting profiling session

• ~10 Crashpad dumps generated back-to-back during the loop (process --type=renderer).
• Tight timeline on first occurrence: extension updated 20:35:11 → first renderer crash 20:36:52; zero crash dumps earlier that day.

Steps to Reproduce

1. macOS (Darwin 25.5.0), Apple Silicon (arm64), VS Code 1.125.1.
2. Have Claude Code extension 2.1.185 installed.
3. Launch VS Code normally.
4. Window renders, then crashes within ~75s with renderer code: 5; repeats indefinitely.
5. Pin/downgrade the extension to 2.1.183 → crashing stops.

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version.

Last Working Version

2.1.183 (VS Code extension)

Claude Code Version

VS Code extension 2.1.185 (darwin-arm64). CLI claude --version: 2.1.183.

Platform

Anthropic API (claude.ai Pro / first-party auth)

Additional Environment

• VS Code: 1.125.1, commit fcf604774b9f2674b473065736ee75077e256353, arm64
• macOS: Darwin 25.5.0, Apple Silicon
• Workaround in place: extension pinned to 2.1.183.