Bug: Missing `ripgrep` Binary in Positron 2026.08.1 Breaks Roo Code Extension When a Workspace Folder Is Open

[ele3fatty]

Bug: Missing ripgrep Binary in Positron 2026.08.1 Breaks Roo Code Extension When a Workspace Folder Is Open

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Summary

After updating to Positron 2026.08.1, the Roo Code extension (v3.54.0) fails to connect to the AI API when any workspace folder is opened. The extension works correctly when no folder is opened (empty window). The root cause is that the ripgrep binary (rg.exe) is not bundled with this Positron release, and the Roo Code extension depends on it for file-system operations. This issue did not occur in prior Positron versions.

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Environment

Item	Value
Positron version	2026.08.1
VS Code base version	1.124.0
Node.js version	v24.15.0
OS	Windows 11
Installation path	D:\Program Files\Positron\
Roo Code extension	rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline v3.54.0 (installed via Open VSX)
Ripgrep bundled	❌ No — @vscode/ripgrep not found under Positron installation or extension directories

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Steps to Reproduce

1. Update Positron to version 2026.08.1.
2. Install the Roo Code extension (v3.54.0) from Open VSX.
3. Open any workspace folder (e.g., D:\test).
4. Open the Roo Code sidebar panel.
5. Attempt to send a message to the AI.

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Expected Behavior

The Roo Code extension should connect to the configured AI API and respond normally, regardless of whether a workspace folder is open.

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Actual Behavior

• The Roo Code panel shows "Connecting to API..." indefinitely and never establishes a connection.

• The extension's internal file-listing operation throws the following error:

  Error: Could not find ripgrep binary
      at ... rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline-3.54.0-universal\dist\extension.js:853:12306
      at async xO (...extension.js:853:10986)
      at async JHt.execute (...extension.js:4768:808)
  

• Closing the workspace folder (switching to an empty window) restores normal functionality — the AI connects and responds as expected.

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Root Cause Analysis

The Roo Code extension relies on the ripgrep binary for workspace file indexing and search operations. When a folder is opened, the extension invokes ripgrep during initialization. If ripgrep is not found, the initialization fails and blocks the API connection pipeline.

Investigation confirms that:

1. rg.exe is not present in the Positron installation directory:

   • D:\Program Files\Positron\resources\app\node_modules\@vscode\ripgrep\ — does not exist

2. rg.exe is not present in the Roo Code extension directory:

   • C:\Users\<user>\.positron\extensions\rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline-3.54.0-universal\ — no ripgrep binary found

3. rg.exe is not in the system PATH.

4. The issue is specific to Positron 2026.08.1 — previous versions worked without requiring a separate ripgrep installation, suggesting that earlier releases either bundled ripgrep or the extension did not require it at the initialization stage.

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Workaround

Manually install ripgrep and make it available:

Option A — Install ripgrep system-wide:

1. Download from ripgrep releases.
2. Add the directory containing rg.exe to the system PATH.
3. Restart Positron.

Option B — Copy an existing rg.exe to where the extension expects it:

mkdir "%USERPROFILE%\.positron\extensions\rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline-3.54.0-universal\node_modules\@vscode\ripgrep\bin"
copy <path-to-existing-rg.exe> "%USERPROFILE%\.positron\extensions\rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline-3.54.0-universal\node_modules\@vscode\ripgrep\bin\rg.exe"

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Suggested Fix

Please consider one of the following:

1. Bundle @vscode/ripgrep with the Positron distribution (as VS Code does), ensuring that rg.exe is available at resources\app\node_modules\@vscode\ripgrep\bin\.
2. Document the ripgrep requirement for extensions that depend on it, so users are aware of the prerequisite.
3. Coordinate with the Roo Code extension maintainers to provide a graceful fallback when ripgrep is not found, rather than blocking the entire API connection.

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Additional Context

• This is likely a regression introduced in the 2026.08.1 release.
• The issue affects all workspace folders, not just specific projects.
• Extensions that rely on ripgrep for code search (e.g., any VS Code extension using @vscode/ripgrep) may be similarly affected.
• This issue is reproducible on a clean workspace (empty folder with no configuration files).

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Thank you for your work on Positron — it's a fantastic tool for R and Python development!

[samclark2015]

Hi @ele3fatty, I'm really sorry to say that it looks like Roo Code shut down as of May 15th, 2026!

Positron does in fact still bundle ripgrep, just under a different directory. Given that the extension is unmaintained, I'd encourage you to check out alternatives. A quick look shows that Zoo Code, a Roo Code fork, has fixed this issue.

I'll close this issue out, as it's not a problem Positron can resolve, but please feel free to open a new issue if you run into anything else in the future!