# Why do companies keep forking VSCode to build AI IDEs?

**Date:** 2025-12-11  
**Author:** Kees C. Bakker  
**Original:** https://keestalkstech.com/notes/why-do-companies-keep-forking-vscode-to-build-ai-ides/

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Well, they *had* to do it, to break out of the plugin sandbox to get a real agentic system:

[
        
                            
                    ![](https://static0.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/google-antigravity-logo-on-a-gradiant-background.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop)
                
            
            
                Why Google built its own VS Code fork in the first place
                Google Antigravity may be one of the smartest decisions from the company.
                                    www.howtogeek.com
                            
        
    ](https://www.howtogeek.com/why-google-built-its-own-vs-code-fork-in-the-first-place/)

But having a *sandbox* also keeps the AI from doing really bad stuff -- like deleting a hard drive:

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                    ![](https://static0.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/google-antigravity-screenshots-on-an-orange-background.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop)
                
            
            
                Google Antigravity IDE deleted someone’s entire drive
                “I am deeply, deeply sorry” is the new blue screen of death.
                                    www.howtogeek.com
                            
        
    ](https://www.howtogeek.com/google-antigravity-ide-deleted-someones-entire-drive/)