VS Code 1.111 Adds Autopilot, Shifts to Weekly Releases
Microsoft, which previously released stable versions of Visual Studio Code largely on a monthly schedule, has switched to weekly updates, shortening the time needed to move AI agent features from testing to formal release. As agents gain the ability to edit files, run terminal commands and use external tools, their improved efficiency is drawing greater scrutiny of permissions and the risk of destructive actions.
Microsoft released VS Code 1.111 on March 9, 2026, marking its first weekly stable release. It adds Autopilot in preview, which can automatically approve tool calls, retry errors and respond to questions, continuing until a task is complete. The release also introduces three levels of agent permissions, agent-specific hooks and debugging event snapshots.
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The history behind this eventVS Code 1.110 Deepens AI Agent Integration and Adds Session Memory
Visual Studio Code is a Microsoft-led code editor and a key gateway to AI development tools such as GitHub Copilot. As agents take on longer-running tasks involving changes across multiple files, testing and debugging, their ability to retain context, add tools and track execution status has become critical to the practical adoption of AI-assisted development.
Microsoft released the February edition of VS Code 1.110 on March 4, 2026. It introduces experimental agent plugins that can package skills, commands, MCP servers and hooks. Plans created by the Plan agent can be retained in session memory, while context is automatically compacted as it approaches capacity; users can also trigger compaction manually with /compact. The release also adds a preview Agent Debug panel and agent browser tools, allowing AI agents to operate applications and verify the results of their changes.
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