microsoft / microsoft/vscode-remote-release

can't start remote SSH when remote Linux server uses fish shell

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Description

Type: Bug

I want to use the Remote-SSH extension to access the file system on a remote Linux server. My user account on the remote server is set up to use the fish shell https://fishshell.com/ This shell uses a different language than the regular bourne shell, typically used on Linux.
When connecting, the SSH session is created successfully, but then simply times out. I assume that VSCode sends some commands to start the remote server which use bourne shell syntax, which then fails with the fish shell.

Extension version: 0.120.0
VS Code version: Code 1.100.2 (Universal) (848b80aeb52026648a8ff9f7c45a9b0a80641e2e, 2025-05-14T21:47:40.416Z)
OS version: Darwin arm64 23.6.0
Modes:
Remote OS version: Linux x64 5.15.0-119-generic

System Info
Item Value
CPUs Apple M2 (8 x 2400)
GPU Status 2d_canvas: enabled
canvas_oop_rasterization: enabled_on
direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok
gpu_compositing: enabled
multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on
opengl: enabled_on
rasterization: enabled
raw_draw: disabled_off_ok
skia_graphite: disabled_off
video_decode: enabled
video_encode: enabled
webgl: enabled
webgl2: enabled
webgpu: enabled
webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg) 2, 2, 2
Memory (System) 16.00GB (0.18GB free)
Process Argv --crash-reporter-id 27792d9b-e32e-4fbf-bbee-4c9d557b4aa1
Screen Reader no
VM 0%
Item Value
Remote SSH: vm
OS Linux x64 5.15.0-119-generic
CPUs Intel(R) Xeon(R) Platinum 8280 CPU @ 2.70GHz (8 x 0)
Memory (System) 31.27GB (28.62GB free)
VM 0%
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Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the Remote-SSH connection with the reported VS Code and extension versions, using a Linux account whose login shell is fish. Investigate the connection startup path and its shell assumptions. Done means the remote server starts successfully and the file system becomes accessible without timing out.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
fish, linux, vscode
Domain
devops, infrastructure
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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