diff --git a/users/richie/home/vscode/default.nix b/users/richie/home/vscode/default.nix
index 16aec61..443e658 100644
--- a/users/richie/home/vscode/default.nix
+++ b/users/richie/home/vscode/default.nix
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ let
   vscode_dir = "/home/richie/projects/nix-dotfiles/users/richie/home/vscode";
 in
 {
-  # mutable symlinks to keybinds and settings
+  # mutable symlinks to key binds and settings
   xdg.configFile."Code/User/settings.json".source = config.lib.file.mkOutOfStoreSymlink "${vscode_dir}/settings.json";
   xdg.configFile."Code/User/keybindings.json".source = config.lib.file.mkOutOfStoreSymlink "${vscode_dir}/keybindings.json";
 
@@ -12,39 +12,6 @@ in
   programs.vscode = {
     enable = true;
     package = pkgs.vscode;
-    extensions = with pkgs.vscode-extensions; [
-      # vscode
-      ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh
-      ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers
-      ms-azuretools.vscode-docker
-      ms-vsliveshare.vsliveshare
-      ms-vscode.hexeditor
-      oderwat.indent-rainbow
-      usernamehw.errorlens
-      streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker
-      github.copilot
-      # git
-      eamodio.gitlens
-      codezombiech.gitignore
-      # python
-      charliermarsh.ruff
-      ms-python.python
-      ms-python.vscode-pylance
-      # rust
-      rust-lang.rust-analyzer
-      # MD
-      yzhang.markdown-all-in-one
-      # congigs
-      tamasfe.even-better-toml
-      redhat.vscode-yaml
-      # shell
-      timonwong.shellcheck
-      foxundermoon.shell-format
-      # nix
-      jnoortheen.nix-ide
-      # other
-      esbenp.prettier-vscode
-      mechatroner.rainbow-csv
-    ];
+    mutableExtensionsDir = true;
   };
 }
diff --git a/users/richie/home/vscode/extension_installer.py b/users/richie/home/vscode/extension_installer.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5ffd29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/users/richie/home/vscode/extension_installer.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+from subprocess import run
+
+
+def main():
+    extensions = (
+        # vscode
+        "ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh",
+        "ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers",
+        "ms-azuretools.vscode-docker",
+        "ms-vsliveshare.vsliveshare",
+        "ms-vscode.hexeditor",
+        "oderwat.indent-rainbow",
+        "usernamehw.errorlens",
+        "streetsidesoftware.code-spell-checker",
+        "github.copilot",
+        # git
+        "eamodio.gitlens",
+        "codezombiech.gitignore",
+        # python
+        "charliermarsh.ruff",
+        "ms-python.python",
+        "ms-python.vscode-pylance",
+        # rust
+        "rust-lang.rust-analyzer",
+        # MD
+        "yzhang.markdown-all-in-one",
+        # configs
+        "tamasfe.even-better-toml",
+        "redhat.vscode-yaml",
+        # shell
+        "timonwong.shellcheck",
+        "foxundermoon.shell-format",
+        # nix
+        "jnoortheen.nix-ide",
+        # other
+        "esbenp.prettier-vscode",
+        "mechatroner.rainbow-csv",
+    )
+
+    for extension in extensions:
+        run(f"code --install-extension {extension} --force".split(), check=True)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()