In a recent update to Microsoft's Visual Studio Code editor, a voice command feature was introduced, allowing users to launch GitHub Copilot Chat with a simple "Hey Code." However, an unforeseen consequence of this update has come to light, causing frustration among developers using Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

The issue arose with the release of VS Code version 1.86, also known as the 'January 2024' update. Microsoft increased the minimum build requirements for the popular remote development tools, specifically requiring glibc 2.28 or higher. Unfortunately, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS utilizes glibc 2.27, rendering the remote dev tools incompatible with the operating system.

While Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, provides support for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS until 2028 through ESM (Extended Security Maintenance), a major glibc upgrade is unlikely to be implemented. This unexpected "breaking change" has disrupted workflows for numerous developers who were not warned of the incompatibility prior to or during the VS Code update.

The issue came to light when developers attempted to connect to a remote server after the update had automatically installed. They were met with an error message indicating deprecation and providing links to workarounds, such as downgrading the software. However, many developers expressed frustration, suggesting that the update should have checked the libc versions and prevented the update to avoid workflow disruptions.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this predicament. Upgrading to Ubuntu 20.04 LTS will resolve the compatibility issue, as this version supports glibc 2.28. Alternatively, Microsoft has provided recommendations to use their web client if upgrading the Linux distribution is not feasible. Users can also download VS Code release 1.85 and disable updates to stay on that version.

The situation has sparked heated discussions on GitHub, prompting Microsoft to lock threads and limit conversations to collaborators due to the intensity of the exchanges. One suggestion that gained attention was to install VS Code's Flatpak, which still maintained version 1.85. However, even this thread was eventually locked due to escalating tensions.

As affected developers seek alternatives and workarounds, Microsoft and Canonical may need to address the issue promptly to alleviate the frustration caused by this unexpected compatibility problem.