# VS Code Marketplace Extensions & Publishers Scraper (`scrapers_lat/vscode-marketplace-scraper`) Actor
Scrape Visual Studio Code Marketplace extensions with installs, downloads, ratings, publisher, version, categories, tags and repository link. Search by keyword or category and sort by installs, rating or updated. Export to JSON, CSV or Excel.
- **URL**: https://apify.com/scrapers\_lat/vscode-marketplace-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Scrapers Lat](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars
## Pricing
from $6.80 / 1,000 results
This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.
Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event
## What's an Apify Actor?
Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".
## How to integrate an Actor?
If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.
- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).
For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.
For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).
# README
## VS Code Marketplace Extensions & Publishers Scraper
> Track every Visual Studio Code Marketplace extension with installs, downloads, ratings, publisher details, version, categories, repository link, pricing (free or paid) and pre-release status. Search by keyword or category, sort by installs or trending, and export clean structured data for ecosystem research, competitive intelligence and publisher lead lists.
Installs & ratings per extension
Publisher & repo plus pricing, categories and tags
JSON / CSV / Excel output formats
### Who is it for
| Use case | Who benefits |
|---|---|
| Ecosystem research | Analysts mapping the extension landscape and category leaders |
| Competitive intelligence | Teams tracking rival extensions' installs, ratings and release cadence |
| Lead generation | Devtool vendors building lists of active publishers to reach out to |
| Trend spotting | Investors and PMs watching trending and fast growing extensions |
### How to use it
1. Enter a **search keyword** (for example `python`, `docker`, `ai`) or leave it empty to browse broadly.
2. Optionally set a **category** and choose a **sort** (installs, rating, updated, trending or relevance).
3. Set **Max Extensions To Scrape** and run. Export as JSON, CSV or Excel, or pull it through the Apify API.
### Frequently Asked Questions
**What does the installs number mean?**
It is the total install count reported for the extension, the standard measure of how widely adopted it is.
**Can I focus on one category or topic?**
Yes. Use a search keyword, a category such as `Linters` or `Machine Learning`, or both together to narrow the results.
**Can I find the publisher and their repository?**
Yes. Each record includes the publisher name, display name and domain, plus the source repository link when the publisher provides one.
**How fresh is the data?**
Installs, ratings and version details are read live at run time, so each record reflects the listing at the moment of the run (see observedAt).
### Export, API and AI agents (x402 + MCP)
Export the scraped data to **JSON, CSV or Excel**, pull it as a **dataset** through the Apify **API**, or wire it into your app with **no code**. This web scraper and data extractor also works for bulk data extraction and scheduled runs.
For AI agents: this Actor is available on **x402**, Apify's agentic payment standard built with Coinbase. An AI agent can discover, pay for and run it on its own with a funded wallet and a single HTTP request: no account, no subscription, no API key and no human in the loop. It also runs as an **MCP** tool inside Claude, Cursor and other AI clients out of the box. Learn more about [x402 agentic payments on Apify](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/x402).
### Related scrapers
- [Polymarket Prediction Markets & Odds Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/polymarket-markets-scraper)
- [Yahoo Finance Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/yahoo-finance-scraper)
- [Google News Scraper](https://apify.com/scrapers_lat/google-news-scraper)
### More scrapers at scrapers.lat
This actor is built and maintained by [scrapers.lat](https://scrapers.lat), where we publish scrapers for public platforms: finance, news, real estate, jobs, e-commerce and government data. Browse the full catalog or ask us for a custom scraper at [scrapers.lat](https://scrapers.lat).
***
> This actor is an independent tool and has no affiliation with Microsoft or Visual Studio Code. It only accesses publicly available marketplace data. Use the results in accordance with the source's terms.
# Actor input Schema
## `searchQuery` (type: `string`):
Keyword to search extensions by name, description or tag (for example 'python', 'docker', 'ai', 'linter'). Leave empty to browse the whole marketplace.
## `category` (type: `string`):
Optional. Restrict to one marketplace category (for example 'Programming Languages', 'Linters', 'Machine Learning', 'Snippets', 'Themes', 'Debuggers').
## `sortBy` (type: `string`):
Order the extensions returned.
## `maxExtensions` (type: `integer`):
Maximum number of extensions to collect. Optional.
## Actor input object example
```json
{
"searchQuery": "python",
"sortBy": "installs",
"maxExtensions": 30
}
```
# Actor output Schema
## `results` (type: `string`):
No description
# API
You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.
## JavaScript example
```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';
// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
token: '',
});
// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
"searchQuery": "python",
"maxExtensions": 30
};
// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("scrapers_lat/vscode-marketplace-scraper").call(input);
// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
console.dir(item);
});
// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs
```
## Python example
```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient
# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("")
# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
"searchQuery": "python",
"maxExtensions": 30,
}
# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("scrapers_lat/vscode-marketplace-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)
# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"])
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
print(item)
# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start
```
## CLI example
```bash
echo '{
"searchQuery": "python",
"maxExtensions": 30
}' |
apify call scrapers_lat/vscode-marketplace-scraper --silent --output-dataset
```
## MCP server setup
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"apify": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"mcp-remote",
"https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=scrapers_lat/vscode-marketplace-scraper",
"--header",
"Authorization: Bearer "
]
}
}
}
```
## OpenAPI specification
Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/zMiKRZMGK8A7DMqFs/builds/QCWwZVuIhe0MBNG3N/openapi.json