Resolving GLIBC Compatibility Issues with VSCode Server

Many developers rely on Visual Studio Code’s remote development capabilities to connect to and work directly on remote servers via SSH. However, updates and system dependencies can sometimes disrupt this smooth experience. Recently, some users have encountered a GLIBC version compatibility issue when connecting to older Linux systems like Ubuntu 18.04. This post discusses the problem and offers several solutions to mitigate the issue without requiring a system upgrade.

Understanding the GLIBC Issue

The GNU C Library (GLIBC) is a core component of Linux operating systems, providing system-level functions. VSCode Server requires a specific version of GLIBC to run. If your system has an older version than required, you might see an error like:

Warning: Missing GLIBC >= 2.28! from /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libc-2.27.so
Error: Missing required dependencies.

This issue often arises after VSCode updates that include changes to the server’s system requirements.

Solutions to the GLIBC Compatibility Issue

1. Downgrading VSCode

If you encounter this issue after an update, one straightforward solution is to downgrade to an earlier version of VSCode that supports your GLIBC version. For instance, downgrading to VSCode version 1.85 might resolve the issue without further system changes.

# Example command to install a specific version of VSCode via snap
sudo snap install code --classic --channel=version/1.85/stable

2. Bypassing the Requirements Check

For users who face issues due to scripts failing to correctly determine the GLIBC version, a simple workaround involves bypassing the version check.

Create a file in your system to skip the requirements check:

touch /tmp/vscode-skip-server-requirements-check

This file acts as a flag to tell VSCode to ignore the GLIBC version check, which can temporarily resolve the issue, especially if your system actually meets the requirements but fails the check due to script errors.

3. Using the Legacy Server Option

As of VSCode version 1.86.1, an update has been implemented that automatically checks the GLIBC version and, if necessary, runs a legacy version of the server compatible with older GLIBC versions.

To benefit from this solution, ensure your VSCode is updated to at least version 1.86.1. This version should seamlessly handle GLIBC discrepancies by providing backward compatibility.

Monitoring and Preventing Future Issues

To avoid similar issues in the future, consider the following tips:

• Regularly check the VSCode release notes for information on system requirements changes.
• Subscribe to VSCode’s GitHub issues page or community forums for early warnings about potential problems.
• Configure your development environment to notify you before applying updates, allowing you to verify compatibility.

Compatibility issues like the GLIBC version error can disrupt development workflows, but they are typically resolvable with the right information and tools. By understanding your options—whether downgrading, bypassing checks, or updating to use legacy server support—you can maintain an efficient and interruption-free development environment using VSCode’s powerful remote capabilities.