VS Code Marketplace Scraper: VS Code extensions search and installs

This VS Code Marketplace scraper gathers extensions data and writes clean, structured rows for each extension. Search by keyword or specify exact extension IDs using the publisher.extension format, then export your dataset in JSON, CSV, or Excel format.

Use cases

• Extension search: Look up keywords like python, sort by install counts, and track popular extensions alongside their average ratings.
• Specific extension tracking: Pass specific IDs like ms-python.python to gather detailed metadata, including display names, version history, and usage statistics.
• Market research: Compare adoption rates and ratings across various developer tool categories or competitor extensions.
• Capped data collection: Set item limits before exporting to spreadsheets so large queries stay structured and manageable.

What data does this actor extract?

The scraper extracts key details for both keyword searches and targeted extension lookups:

• Publisher details: Name, display name, domain, and verification status.
• Extension metadata: Display name, description, release date, and last updated timestamp.
• Usage statistics: Total install counts, average ratings, and performance metrics.
• Version history: Recorded version numbers, target platforms, and release flags.

Duplicate items in the same run are automatically filtered out. If a query returns no results or encounters an issue, the tool logs the status cleanly without stopping your run.

Input

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
searchQueries	array	python	Keywords to search for. Enter one keyword per line.
extensionIds	array	empty	Specific extension IDs (e.g., ms-python.python).
sortBy	integer	0	Sort order: 0 (Relevance), 4 (Installs), 6 (Rating), 10 (Updated).
maxItems	integer	100	Maximum number of rows to save (up to 1,000).
requestDelaySecs	number	0.5	Pause time between data requests.
timeoutSecs	integer	300	Maximum runtime in seconds (up to 3,600).
requestTimeoutSecs	integer	30	Response timeout before retrying.
proxyConfiguration	object	{"useApifyProxy": false}	Proxy configuration if needed.

Example input

{
  "searchQueries": ["python"],
  "extensionIds": ["ms-python.python"],
  "sortBy": 4,
  "maxItems": 100,
  "requestDelaySecs": 0.5,
  "timeoutSecs": 300,
  "requestTimeoutSecs": 30,
  "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false }
}

Output

Each row includes the pulled extension details along with metadata such as mode, item page link, and extraction timestamp:

{
  "publisher": {
    "publisherId": "998b010b-e2af-44a5-a6cd-0b5fd3b9b6f8",
    "publisherName": "ms-python",
    "displayName": "Microsoft",
    "flags": "verified",
    "domain": "[https://microsoft.com](https://microsoft.com)",
    "isDomainVerified": true
  },
  "extensionId": "f1f59ae4-9318-4f3c-a9b5-81b2eaa5f8a5",
  "extensionName": "python",
  "displayName": "Python",
  "flags": "validated, public",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-10-08T14:09:20.39+00:00",
  "publishedDate": "2016-01-19T15:03:11.337+00:00",
  "releaseDate": "2016-01-19T15:03:11.337+00:00",
  "shortDescription": "Python language support with extension access points for IntelliSense (Pylance), Debugging (Python Debugger), linting, formatting, refactoring, unit tests, and more.",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "2026.9.2026100801",
      "targetPlatform": "win32-arm64",
      "flags": "validated"
    }
  ],
  "statistics": [
    { "statisticName": "install", "value": 240567329 },
    { "statisticName": "averagerating", "value": 4.2 }
  ],
  "deploymentType": 0,
  "mode": "search",
  "scraped_at": "2026-10-12T00:00:00+00:00"
}

Field	Type	Description
publisher	object	Publisher metadata.
extensionId	string	Unique extension ID.
extensionName	string	Internal extension name.
displayName	string	Title shown on the marketplace.
flags	string	Extension verification status flags.
lastUpdated	string	Last update timestamp.
publishedDate	string	Initial publication date.
releaseDate	string	Release timestamp.
shortDescription	string	Brief description of the extension.
versions	array	List of version records and target platforms.
statistics	array	Install counts, ratings, and feedback metrics.
deploymentType	integer	Deployment classifier.
mode	string	Extraction mode (search or detail).
scraped_at	string	Timestamp when the data was extracted.

How it works

1. Reads your list of search keywords or target extension IDs (defaults to searching python if left empty).
2. Sends query requests with appropriate headers to fetch structured data pages.
3. Automatically pages through search results until reaching your chosen maxItems limit or the end of the listing.
4. Cleans up duplicate entries and pushes structured data rows directly to your dataset.

FAQ

Can I export data directly to CSV or Excel? Yes. You can export the dataset in JSON, CSV, Excel, or XML directly from the dataset view.

How fresh is the extracted data? The scraper fetches fresh details live at run time. The scraped_at field records the exact timestamp when each row was built.

What happens if an extension ID doesn't exist? If an extension ID is not found, the actor logs a clean error row with the input ID and a 404 status so your entire run keeps moving without failing.

How many rows can I pull in a single run? maxItems defaults to 100 rows, but you can set it anywhere up to 1,000 rows per execution.

Trademark Notice

VS Code Marketplace and related product names, logos, and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Their inclusion here is solely for identifying the source of data and does not imply endorsement, affiliation, or sponsorship.

Disclaimer

This scraper is an independent automation tool and is not officially associated with or endorsed by VS Code Marketplace or its parent companies. Users are responsible for complying with relevant site terms, usage guidelines, and applicable data handling standards.

Is web scraping legal?

This actor only collects publicly available data without bypassing access controls. Extracting public data is generally legal, but how you handle and use it matters:

• Personal data: If your extracted data contains personal information (such as creator contact details), regional data privacy regulations like GDPR or CCPA may apply.
• Copyright: Always respect copyrighted text, media, and artwork. Avoid republishing full original text or media assets without appropriate permission.
• Terms of use: Always follow fair usage practices, keep request rates reasonable, and observe guidelines provided by source platforms.
• Legal advice: This guide provides general information, not formal legal advice. Consult a legal professional for specific guidance regarding your use case.

Read more on Apify's legal overview: Is web scraping legal?