PSEditorServices doesn't work when machine is DeviceGuard enabled

[SteveL-MSFT]

Enterprises that leverage DeviceGuard has PowerShell running in constrained language mode which prevents VSCode+PS from working. Need to investigate what is happening and find appropriate solution.

[rjmholt]

See also:

• Extension should support running in constrained language mode vscode-powershell#606
• Extension should notify user when Constrained or Restricted language mode is enabled vscode-powershell#291
• Starting Code results in "PowerShell language features are disabled due to an unsupported LanguageMode: ConstrainedLanguage" message vscode-powershell#1011

[rjmholt]

PowerShell/vscode-powershell#291 (comment)

[SeeminglyScience]

We could just convert the whole start up script to a cmdlet. That would probably help with start up performance anyway.

[rjmholt]

I have been thinking about exactly that as well

[rjmholt]

As long as we can make it work properly across .NET platfroms, I'm onboard

[SeeminglyScience]

Side note so it doesn't get forgotten: Part of start up is creating a second runspace so we can use our custom host from powershell.exe/pwsh. We'll need to make sure we propagate the language mode there. We should also test that none of our internal commands (like the ones to get the call stack, computer name, etc) break in constrained language.

[TylerLeonhardt]

I've always wondered why Start-EditorServices.ps1 existed when we have PowerShellEditorServices.psm1 that gets imported by Start-EditorServices.ps1.

[TylerLeonhardt]

@SeeminglyScience did you mean a binary module?

[SeeminglyScience]

@tylerl0706 Yeah. The term "cmdlet" is sometimes used interchangeably with "command" but it does specifically refer to a command from a binary module.

[AndrewCi]

Any update on this? Is there a current workaround? Currently running into this issue with constrained language mode.

[rjmholt]

Any update on this? Is there a current workaround? Currently running into this issue with constrained language mode.

No, we currently don't support Constrained Language Mode.

We haven't prioritised the work, but may be able to get it as part of other work we're doing this year.

[jasonadsit]

I look forward to this getting fixed as well. VSCode not supporting constrained language mode has been a stumbling block for me for awhile now as well.

[Jared-Harrington-Gibbs]

I've also encountered this issue and I'm definitely looking forward to this getting fixed.

[TylerLeonhardt]

@Jared-Harrington-Gibbs can you try the PowerShell Preview extension? That should have support for Constrained Language Mode.

We can close this issue since this is in the PowerShell Preview extension.