[BUG] VS Code: Claude Code tab flickers/minimizes briefly when switching to it

What's Wrong?

When switching between VS Code tabs, switching to a Claude Code tab causes a brief visual glitch: the tab content renders normally, then appears to minimize or collapse for 1-2 seconds, then re-renders and becomes usable. This happens every time a Claude Code tab is focused from another tab.

What Should Happen?

Tab content should display immediately when switching to it, without any flicker or re-render cycle.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open VS Code (1.126.0, Windows) with the Claude Code extension
2. Have at least one Claude Code tab and one other tab (e.g. a source file) open
3. Click on the non-Claude tab
4. Click back on the Claude Code tab
5. Observe: tab content briefly disappears/collapses for 1-2 seconds before rendering again

Claude Code Version

2.1.195 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows (Windows 10 Pro 10.0.19045, x64)

Terminal/Shell

VS Code integrated terminal

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Additional Information

• VS Code: 1.126.0 (x64)
• Tried disabling hardware acceleration via argv.json -- no effect
• Full VS Code process restart (kill via Task Manager) -- no effect
• Issue is purely visual -- the tab is fully functional after the flicker resolves
• Claude Code preferred location is set to sidebar