# VS Code Marketplace API

> VS Code Marketplace returns extension details, popularity, ratings, and update dates as a workflow and API.

VS Code Marketplace returns a matching extension’s publisher, name, categories, popularity, ratings, version, and update date. Get extension takes an extension name or marketplace link; name searches select the most-installed close match.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/vs-code-marketplace
- Handle: `@vs-code-marketplace`
- Category: [Developer tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/developer-tools)
- Source website: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Get extension

Operation `get_extension`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Find a VS Code Marketplace extension by name or marketplace link and return its publisher, popularity, rating, version, categories, and update date. For a name search, selects the most-installed close match.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `extension` | string | yes | `"https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python"` | Extension name or marketplace link, for example Prettier or https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=esbenp.prettier-vscode. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "extension"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "extension": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Extension name or marketplace link, for example Prettier or https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=esbenp.prettier-vscode.",
      "examples": [
        "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python",
        "Prettier",
        "Python"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "extension": "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python"
    },
    {
      "extension": "Prettier"
    },
    {
      "extension": "Python"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `installs` | integer or null | `238742397` | Number of installs. |
| `publisher` | string | `"Microsoft"` | Publisher display name. |
| `categories` | array |  | Marketplace categories. |
| `display_name` | string | `"Python"` | Name of the extension. |
| `rating_count` | integer or null | `630` | Number of ratings. |
| `average_rating` | number or null | `4.204761981964111` | Average rating out of 5. |
| `latest_version` | string or null | `"2026.7.2026092501"` | Latest listed version. |
| `marketplace_link` | string | `"https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python"` | Extension listing link. |
| `last_updated_date` | string or null | `"2026-09-25"` | Last updated date (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| `short_description` | string or null | `"Python language support with extension access points for IntelliSense (Pylance), Debugging (Python Debugger), linting, ` | Short description from the listing. |
| `verified_publisher` | boolean | `true` | Whether the publisher has a verified domain. |
| `extension_identifier` | string | `"ms-python.python"` | Publisher and extension name (publisher.name). |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "extension": "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "installs": 238742397,
  "publisher": "Microsoft",
  "categories": [
    "Programming Languages",
    "Debuggers",
    "Data Science"
  ],
  "display_name": "Python",
  "rating_count": 630,
  "average_rating": 4.204761981964111,
  "latest_version": "2026.7.2026092501",
  "marketplace_link": "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python",
  "last_updated_date": "2026-09-25",
  "short_description": "Python language support with extension access points for IntelliSense (Pylance), Debugging (Python Debugger), linting, formatting, refactoring, unit tests, and more.",
  "verified_publisher": true,
  "extension_identifier": "ms-python.python"
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@vs-code-marketplace",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_extension",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "extension": "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@vs-code-marketplace\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_extension\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"extension\": \"https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@vs-code-marketplace",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_extension",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "extension": "https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.python"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/vs-code-marketplace`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `get_extension`: Get extension. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-vs-code-marketplace https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/vs-code-marketplace --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Compare extension installs and ratings
- Find an extension’s latest listed version
- Review extension categories and publisher details
- Check when an extension was last updated
- Identify extensions with verified publishers

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this VS Code Marketplace tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a VS Code Marketplace account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from marketplace.visualstudio.com when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### How many installs does an extension have?

Get extension returns the extension’s install count.

### What is an extension’s average rating?

Get extension returns its average rating out of 5 and rating count.

### When was an extension last updated?

Get extension returns the last updated date.

## Related

- [Chrome Web Store API](https://fous.com/tools/chrome-web-store.md): Chrome Web Store finds extensions by keywords or name and returns public listing details, with some listings omitting developer, user, or rating information.
- [Microsoft Store API](https://fous.com/tools/microsoft-store.md): Microsoft Store returns app and game listings, country-specific searches, and ranked charts; update notes, purchase prices, and exact rating counts may be unavailable.
- [npm API](https://fous.com/tools/npm.md): npm provides package details, search results and latest versions, plus weekly download and publish data; daily and historical download counts may lag by a day or more.
- [NuGet API](https://fous.com/tools/nuget.md): The .NET package gallery for discovering and sharing packages.
- [WordPress.org API](https://fous.com/tools/wordpress-org.md): WordPress.org’s public plugin directory returns up to 100 ranked search matches with ratings, installations, compatibility and links, plus best-match details and the latest-version changelog when available.
- [Xbox API](https://fous.com/tools/xbox.md): Xbox provides game details, country-specific prices and Game Pass availability, catalog-ordered listings, and current country sales; prices may be unavailable and some dates unpublished.
- [Google Play API](https://fous.com/tools/google-play.md): Google Play helps people discover Android apps and games, view public listings and search results, read reviews when available by app and region, and see country-specific top charts.
- [GitHub API](https://fous.com/tools/github.md): GitHub returns public repository matches and details, up to 25 trending projects, issues, pull requests, and newest-first published releases; release or commit dates may be unavailable.
- [All Developer tools tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/developer-tools)