claude-code - 💡(How to fix) Fix [BUG] claude plugins --json fails with "unknown option '--json'" in Manage Plugins panel (v2.1.145)

Preflight Checklist

• I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

The Manage Plugins panel in the VS Code extension shows the following error: Failed to load plugins: Claude CLI exited with code 1: error: unknown option '--json'

What Should Happen?

The Manage Plugins panel loads and displays installed plugins. It needs to show all the plugins we have, and the on/off buttons.

Error Messages/Logs

Failed to load plugins: Claude CLI exited with code 1: error: unknown option '--json'

Steps to Reproduce

Reproducing the issue by running the command the extension calls internally in powershell: claude plugins --json Returns error: unknown option '--json'

1. Install Claude Code VS Code extension v2.1.145
2. Install Claude CLI v2.1.145 via npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code
3. Open VS Code → Claude Code → Manage Plugins
4. Panel shows error: Failed to load plugins: Claude CLI exited with code 1: error: unknown option '--json'

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

before v2.1.129 release

Claude Code Version

2.1.145

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

Environment:

1. OS: Windows 11 Home (10.0.26200)
2. VS Code extension version: 2.1.145
3. Claude CLI version: 2.1.145 (installed via npm)
4. Shell: PowerShell 5.1

summary: The --json flag appears to have been added to the extension but not yet implemented in the CLI for the plugins subcommand. Both packages are at the same version (2.1.145)