Subagents: Parallel Execution and Context Isolation [Updated]

VS Code’s Connor breaks down the shift from local, window-bound agents to a more flexible Agent Host Protocol that can keep sessions alive, sync state across machines, and support remote, long-running workflows. He explains how the protocol opens the door to richer orchestration, multi-client experiences, and custom tools built on top of VS Code’s agent ecosystem—while hinting at where agent-powered development is headed next. Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guest: Connor Peet.

Explore VS Code’s new Agents window — a familiar, focused UI that puts agent-first workflows front and center across repos, harnesses, and machines. It centralizes session management with worktrees, integrated previews, diffs, run tasks and PR flows so agents can iterate across projects while you review, customize extensions, and switch to the editor to edit. Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guest: Brigit Murtaugh.

Dive into the heart of VS Code’s agent loop as James and Pierce unravel how agents, sub-agents, tools, and harnesses work together to power your coding experience. Learn how the agent loop has evolved, why different models are used for specific tasks, and how you can customize or optimize your own workflows. Perfect for anyone curious about the magic behind AI-driven code assistance! Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode

Justin and James deep-dive into Autopilot and the evolving VS Code chat UX—why shimmers and collapsed containers declutter conversations, and why the input bar split and new permissions picker matter. Learn how Autopilot (Insiders preview) can auto-approve tools, answer prompts, iterate until a task_complete signal or max retries, and when to use default vs bypass approvals; practical tips for safe, hands-off workflows and feedback. Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guest: Justin Chen.

Discover how VS Code's subagents revolutionize parallel execution and context management. Learn the fundamentals of agent loops and context windows, then dive into how subagents isolate tasks, run simultaneously, and keep your main agent focused. Plus, explore custom agents and model optimization strategies to supercharge your development workflow. Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guest: Harald Kirschner.

In this episode James sits down with Ben and Peng from the VS Code team to unpack a year of AI evolution inside the editor — from Copilot Free to the new agent sessions UI. They explain the three agent flavors (interactive local, background, cloud), why agent orchestration matters, and how VS Code is reshaping UX so you can run parallel sessions, delegate work, and treat agent outputs like inbox items to triage. Key takeaways: build context in local chats then delegate to background/cloud, harden projects with linting/tests to improve agent reliability, and expect session results to include artifacts beyond code (tests, screenshots, videos). If you want practical tips for embedding agents into your workflow and a peek at where VS Code is headed, this conversation is a must-listen. Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guests: Benjamin Pasero and Peng Lyu.

Burke and Pierce sit down to review a full year of releases, surprises, partnerships, and AI goodies in VS Code from 2025! Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guest: Burke Holland.

In this episode of the VS Code Insiders podcast, James sits down with Julia to explore the fast-changing world of AI models inside VS Code. They dive into how developers can evaluate models, the role of fine-tuning, and why speed versus complexity matters. From Raptor Mini to Sonnet, this conversation reveals the behind-the-scenes work shaping your coding experience today. Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guest: Julia Kasper.

Pamela and Eleanor dig into the real art of AI‑assisted coding—delegating work to background agents, writing specs that models actually follow, and steering different LLM personalities without superstition. Expect hands‑on tactics with Copilot, GitHub Actions, CLI‑first workflows, and the agents.md standard, plus a peek at Eleanor’s open‑source Ruler project for centralized rules. Come for the model face‑offs, stay for the practical tips: richer prompts, sandboxed evals, and even talking to your computer. Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guest: Eleanor Berger.

Megan Rogge, Software Engineer on VS Code, joins James to explore how accessibility is woven into the culture and engineering practices of Visual Studio Code. From screen reader support to sound signals and contrast themes, this episode reveals the thoughtful design behind features that empower every developer. Follow VS Code: X: https://x.com/code Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vscode.dev YouTube: https://youtube.com/code LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/104107263 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode Special Guest: Megan Rogge.