Investigate: VS Code crash during Squad execution

[bradygaster]

Summary

User reports VS Code unexpectedly closes (no crash dialog) while Squad is executing a task. Needs investigation to determine if Squad's resource footprint contributes.

Origin: Discussion #174 by @diberry

Context

• VS Code nightly build
• No crash dialog — VS Code just closes
• Happened during Squad task execution

Investigation Plan

1. Audit Squad's memory footprint during multi-agent execution
2. Check file watcher count (VS Code has limits)
3. Review process spawning patterns
4. Test on stable VS Code vs nightly
5. Check if terminal flicker fix (Fix terminal flickering — raw ANSI escape codes bypass Ink render system #254) reduces resource pressure

Related

• Terminal flickering (Fix terminal flickering — raw ANSI escape codes bypass Ink render system #254) — related resource/rendering pressure

[github-actions]

📋 Assigned to Fenster (Core Dev)

Issue: #259 — Investigate: VS Code crash during Squad execution

Fenster will pick this up in the next Copilot session.

For Copilot coding agent: If enabled, this issue will be worked automatically.
Otherwise, start a Copilot session and say:
Fenster, work on issue #259

[github-actions]

🏗️ Squad Triage — Keaton (Lead)

Issue: #259 — Investigate: VS Code crash during Squad execution
Assigned to: Hockney (Tester)
Reason: Issue relates to testing/quality work

@copilot evaluation: 🔴 Not suitable — issue involves work outside the coding agent's capability profile.

Team roster:

• Keaton (Lead) → label: squad:keaton
• Verbal (Prompt Engineer) → label: squad:verbal
• Fenster (Core Dev) → label: squad:fenster
• Hockney (Tester) → label: squad:hockney
• McManus (DevRel) → label: squad:mcmanus
• Kujan (SDK Expert) → label: squad:kujan
• Edie (TypeScript Engineer) → label: squad:edie
• Trejo (Release Manager) → label: squad:trejo
• Drucker (CI/CD Engineer) → label: squad:drucker
• Fortier (Node.js Runtime) → label: squad:fortier
• Rabin (Distribution) → label: squad:rabin
• Baer (Security) → label: squad:baer
• Redfoot (Graphic Designer) → label: squad:redfoot
• Strausz (VS Code Extension) → label: squad:strausz
• Saul (Aspire & Observability) → label: squad:saul
• Kovash (REPL & Interactive Shell) → label: squad:kovash
• Marquez (CLI UX Designer) → label: squad:marquez
• Cheritto (TUI Engineer) → label: squad:cheritto
• Breedan (E2E Test Engineer) → label: squad:breedan
• Nate (Accessibility Reviewer) → label: squad:nate
• Waingro (Product Dogfooder) → label: squad:waingro
• Ralph (Work Monitor) → label: squad:ralph
• @copilot (Coding Agent) → label: squad:copilot

To reassign, remove the current squad:* label and add the correct one.

[github-actions]

📋 Assigned to FIDO (Quality Owner)

Issue: #259 — Investigate: VS Code crash during Squad execution

FIDO will pick this up in the next Copilot session.

For Copilot coding agent: If enabled, this issue will be worked automatically.
Otherwise, start a Copilot session and say:
FIDO, work on issue #259

[github-actions]

📋 Assigned to EECOM (Core Dev)

Issue: #259 — Investigate: VS Code crash during Squad execution

EECOM will pick this up in the next Copilot session.

For Copilot coding agent: If enabled, this issue will be worked automatically.
Otherwise, start a Copilot session and say:
EECOM, work on issue #259