When building a vscode extension using sqlite3, database creation fails

Issue Summary

This vscode extension is meant to create or read from an sqlite database on activation using the node-sqlite3 module. However, when debugging, the following error appears:
Activating extension failed: Could not find module root given file: "node:internal/modules/cjs/loader". Do you have a package.json file? .
This is despite installing sqlite3 and @types/sqlite3 prior to debugging. The way to database is created is as follows:

import * as vscode from 'vscode';
import Database from 'sqlite3';
import * as fs from 'fs';
import * as path from 'path';
import { registerCommands } from './commandRegistration';
import { TreeDataProvider } from './treeDataProvider';
import { YourViewProvider } from './yourViewProvider';

// This method is called when your extension is activated
// Your extension is activated the very first time the command is executed
export const db = new Database('localcsr.db');
export const treeDataProvider = new TreeDataProvider();
export function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
    ....
}
export function deactivate() {}

Steps to Reproduce

I expected a database to be created within folder the extension was activated in. The steps to reproduce are highlighted above.

Version

^5.1.7

Node.js Version

20.18.0

How did you install the library?

npm install sqlite3 then perform .\node_modules.bin\electron-rebuild.cmd -v 32.2.1

I have also encountered this problem

Just to double check:

import Database from 'sqlite3';

I don't think that is a default export from sqlite3, should be:

import { Database } from 'sqlite3';

I created a little extension setup and didn't seem to have an issue:

import * as vscode from "vscode";
import { Database } from "sqlite3";
import * as path from "path";

let db: Database | undefined;

export function activate(context: vscode.ExtensionContext) {
  console.log("SQLite3 Extension is now active!");

  try {
    const workspaceFolder = vscode.workspace.workspaceFolders?.[0];
    const dbPath = workspaceFolder
      ? path.join(workspaceFolder.uri.fsPath, "extension.db")
      : path.join(context.extensionUri.fsPath, "extension.db");

    console.log("Database path:", dbPath);

    db = new Database(dbPath, (err) => {
      if (err) {
        console.error("Database initialization failed:", err.message);
        vscode.window.showErrorMessage(`SQLite3 Error: ${err.message}`);
      } else {
        console.log("Database initialized successfully");
        vscode.window.showInformationMessage("SQLite3 database ready!");
      }
    });
  } catch (error: any) {
    console.error("Fatal database error:", error.message);
    vscode.window.showErrorMessage(`Fatal SQLite3 Error: ${error.message}`);
  }

  const testCommand = vscode.commands.registerCommand(
    "sqlite3-extension.test",
    () => {
      if (!db) {
        vscode.window.showErrorMessage("Database not initialized");
        return;
      }

      const testDb = new Database(":memory:", (err) => {
        if (err) {
          vscode.window.showErrorMessage(`Test failed: ${err.message}`);
        } else {
          vscode.window.showInformationMessage("SQLite3 test passed!");
          testDb.close();
        }
      });
    }
  );

  context.subscriptions.push(testCommand);
}

export function deactivate() {
  if (db) {
    db.close();
  }
}

Environment Details:
OS:

macOS 15.6.1 (Build 24G90)
Architecture: x86_64 (Intel)

VS Code:

Version: 1.104.2
Architecture: x64

Node.js & Runtime:

Node.js: v20.18.0
npm: 11.0.0
Electron Modules Version: 115
V8: 11.3.244.8-node.23

SQLite3 Package:

sqlite3: 5.1.7
electron-rebuild: 3.2.9
Electron target version: 32.2.1 (as configured in package.json)

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When building a vscode extension using sqlite3, database creation fails #1806

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When building a vscode extension using sqlite3, database creation fails #1806

Description

Issue Summary

Steps to Reproduce

Version

Node.js Version

How did you install the library?

Activity

jack484 commented on Nov 29, 2024

smith-xyz commented on Oct 9, 2025

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