[BUG] **Title:** VS Code extension 2.1.291 fails to register commands on WSL - "command 'claude-vscode.sidebar.open' not found"

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?

Title: VS Code extension 2.1.291 fails to register commands on WSL - "command 'claude-vscode.sidebar.open' not found"

Environment

• Claude Code for VS Code: 2.1.291 (broken), 2.1.290 (works)
• VS Code: 1.108.1 (Help > About)
• OS: Windows 11 with WSL2 (Ubuntu)
• Extension running in remote extension host: WSL: Ubuntu
• Also installed: "Chat for Claude Code" 2.3.1 (third-party)

Description

After the extension updated to 2.1.291, the Claude Code icon disappeared from the UI and none of the extension commands work. "Developer: Show Running Extensions" lists the extension as activated (~21ms), but invoking any command fails.

Steps to reproduce

1. Open a folder in VS Code via WSL (Ubuntu).
2. Have Claude Code for VS Code 2.1.291 installed in WSL.
3. Run "Claude Code: Open in Side Bar" or "Claude Code: Open in New Tab" from the Command Palette (or from the "Get started with Claude Code" walkthrough).

Actual result

Error dialog:

Command 'Claude Code: Open in Side Bar' resulted in an error command 'claude-vscode.sidebar.open' not found

The Claude Code view/icon is not shown anywhere.

Expected result

Claude Code panel opens.

What was tried

• Enable/disable, uninstall/reinstall, Reload Window, full VS Code restart - no effect.
• Downgrading to <PREVIOUS_VERSION> via "Install Specific Version..." fixes the issue immediately.

Notes

Commands appear in the Command Palette (declared in the manifest) but are not registered at runtime, which suggests activation fails partway through on WSL.

What Should Happen?

After updating to 2.1.291, the extension should register its commands normally on WSL. Running "Claude Code: Open in Side Bar" or "Claude Code: Open in New Tab" should open the Claude Code panel, and the Claude Code icon should be visible in the editor toolbar, same as in 2.1.290

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Steps to reproduce

1. Open a folder in VS Code via WSL (Ubuntu).
2. Have Claude Code for VS Code 2.1.291 installed in WSL.
3. Run "Claude Code: Open in Side Bar" or "Claude Code: Open in New Tab" from the Command Palette (or from the "Get started with Claude Code" walkthrough).

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

2.1.290

Claude Code Version

2.1.291

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Additional Information

_No response_