The VEX VS Code Extension depends on helper command-line tools to detect VEX brains and controllers, compile projects, and download them to hardware. Tools like these are built for Macs running an Intel chip. Those using Apple Silicon chips will need to install Rosetta 2 to run on macOS. If macOS attempts to run them without Rosetta 2, you may see a errors such as: Bad CPU type in executable or Fatal Error: Unexpected end of JSON input.
To resolve this issue, install Rosetta 2 on your Mac, then try using the VEX VS Code Extension again.
Install Rosetta 2
Before beginning, start by closing VS Code, this will ensure that the VEX VS Code Extension will restart cleanly after Rosetta 2 is installed.
1. Select the Apps icon.
2. Search for Terminal and select the icon.
3. The Mac's Terminal will open.
4. Run this command:
softwareupdate --install-rosetta
5. You will be prompted to agree to the software license agreement.
Type A and press return to agree and begin installing Rosetta 2.
Type A and press return to agree and begin installing Rosetta 2.
6. The Terminal will say Install of Rosetta 2 finished successfully.
7. You can now open VS Code and use the VEX VS Code Extension to code your projects!