Positron Server: update cadence, update instructions and uninstall instructions

[SuhasSrinivasan]

Dear Positron Team and Community,

Thank you for developing this new Data Science focused IDE!

It will be helpful to learn about the following:

1. What is the update cadence for Positron Server
2. What are the update instructions for the Positron Server
3. How should the Positron Server be uninstalled
4. Should issues related to Positron Server be reported in the Poistron GitHub repo i.e., Microsoft maintains a separate repo for VSCode Remote Development

[juliasilge]

Thanks for these questions, @SuhasSrinivasan! We talk about options for Positron in server environments at https://positron.posit.co/faqs.html#how-can-i-use-positron-with-a-server; let us know if you have follow up questions.

[SuhasSrinivasan]

Hi @juliasilge

Thank you for reviewing.
Indeed, I saw the Remote SSH documentation.
But there is no information regarding the questions I raised above.
It will be very helpful if answers to these questions can be documented in the Remote SSH page.
Please let me know if any additional information is needed.

[SuhasSrinivasan]

Hi @juliasilge

Thank you.
I am referring to "Positron Server" as mentioned in the Remote SSH documentation.
Which is also depicted in the illustration at the top of the Remote SSH page as "Positron Backend".
Specifically referring to the closed-source binary that will run on a supported linux host e.g., positron-reh-linux-x64-2025.01.0-39.tar.gz.

https://positron.posit.co/remote-ssh.html#how-it-works-troubleshooting

[juliasilge]

Got it!

• We make these REH (remote extension host) builds every day, same as our dailies
• You don't need to manually update this; the REH Positron build will get automatically installed when you connect as described here
• You can uninstall by removing the binary from ~/.positron-server (again, check out the description here)
• Questions on using remote SSH and REH builds belong here in this repo

[SuhasSrinivasan]

Hi @juliasilge

Thank you for these details!
I understand that it is automatically installed on first connection to a new remote host, but how does one update it?
Here are additional related questions:

1. Since the stable Positron Client/UI is on a monthly release schedule, is the REH also on the same schedule and does it automatically update or is it updated manually (if so how)?
2. If there is an REH update available, is this notified from REH to Positron UI?
3. After attempting an REH update, and on the next remote SSH connection, is there a notification from REH to Positron UI about the successful/failed update?

[juliasilge]

The version of the REH build for the remote has to match exactly the version of Positron you are using locally.

• If you connect to the remote and a matching REH build is already there (i.e. you have used this exact version of Positron for a remote SSH session with this server before), then you are good to go
• If you connect to the remote and there is no matching REH build (either it's your first time to do this, or your local Positron has updated), then the new version is downloaded and installed

I don't believe those REH builds do any checking for updates or anything like that; the important thing is that it exactly matches your local build. We have folks who use remote SSH with both daily builds and regular monthly releases, and we believe things are working as intended. Definitely let us know if you run into problems!

[SuhasSrinivasan]

Hi @juliasilge
Thank you!
To summarize, the Positron Client/UI controls what happens to REH, i.e., new installation or an update so that both versions are in sync!

[SuhasSrinivasan]

P.S. When is the August release of Positron scheduled for?

[juliasilge]

We are planning to do our August release the beginning of next week.

[SuhasSrinivasan]

Thank you, amazing!