[Bug]: Laravel VS Code extension fails to start with __VSCODE_LARAVEL_STARTUP_ERROR__

[MaeTor]

Extension Version

1.2.3

PHP Binary

Local PHP

Operating System

Windows

What happened?

@N1ebieski here is my following problem to[Bug]: Falling back to system PHP installation issue:

When opening a Laravel project, the VS Code Laravel extension fails to activate and repeatedly throws a startup error.

The error message is:

VSCODE_LARAVEL_STARTUP_ERROR: syntax error, unexpected end of file

It points to an auto-generated file under vendor/_laravel_ide/discover-*.php and prevents the extension from starting properly.

Debug Info

{ "os": "win32", "arch": "x64", "php_version": "8.5.0", "laravel_version": "10.50.0", "php_command": "php" }

Laravel.log

Given below (in the "Minimal Code Sample" section)

[Laravel2.log](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/24264910/Laravel2.log)

Please let me know if more information or logs are needed. Thank you in advance everyone.

Mimimal Code Sample

2025-12-19 20:25:57.754 [info] Activating Laravel Extension...
2025-12-19 20:25:57.755 [info] Started
2025-12-19 20:26:03.242 [error] 
2025-12-19 20:28:48.242 [error] 
2025-12-19 20:28:48.560 [error] 
2025-12-19 20:28:48.641 [error] Error:     
   Error 

  __VSCODE_LARAVEL_STARTUP_ERROR__: syntax error, unexpected end of file

  at vendor\_laravel_ide\discover-1e7ea3cf42a2f9b84f3de09530e2c135.php:33
     29▕     }
     30▕ 
     31▕     public static function startupError(\Throwable $e)
     32▕     {
  ➜  33▕         throw new Error(self::outputMarker('STARTUP_ERROR') . ': ' . $e->getMessage());
     34▕     }
     35▕ }
     36▕ 
     37▕ try {

  1   vendor\_laravel_ide\discover-1e7ea3cf42a2f9b84f3de09530e2c135.php:62
      LaravelVsCode::startupError(Object(ParseError))


    at c:\Users\mael-\.vscode\extensions\laravel.vscode-laravel-1.2.3\dist\extension.js:1597:442
    at processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:105:5)
2025-12-19 20:28:48.677 [error] Error:     
   Error 

  __VSCODE_LARAVEL_STARTUP_ERROR__: syntax error, unexpected end of file

  at vendor\_laravel_ide\discover-1e7ea3cf42a2f9b84f3de09530e2c135.php:33
     29▕     }
     30▕ 
     31▕     public static function startupError(\Throwable $e)
     32▕     {
  ➜  33▕         throw new Error(self::outputMarker('STARTUP_ERROR') . ': ' . $e->getMessage());
     34▕     }
     35▕ }
     36▕ 
     37▕ try {

  1   vendor\_laravel_ide\discover-1e7ea3cf42a2f9b84f3de09530e2c135.php:62
      LaravelVsCode::startupError(Object(ParseError))


    at c:\Users\mael-\.vscode\extensions\laravel.vscode-laravel-1.2.3\dist\extension.js:1597:442
    at processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:105:5)
2025-12-19 20:28:49.202 [error] Error:     
   Error 

  __VSCODE_LARAVEL_STARTUP_ERROR__: syntax error, unexpected end of file

  at vendor\_laravel_ide\discover-1e7ea3cf42a2f9b84f3de09530e2c135.php:33
     29▕     }
     30▕ 
     31▕     public static function startupError(\Throwable $e)
     32▕     {
  ➜  33▕         throw new Error(self::outputMarker('STARTUP_ERROR') . ': ' . $e->getMessage());
     34▕     }
     35▕ }
     36▕ 
     37▕ try {

  1   vendor\_laravel_ide\discover-1e7ea3cf42a2f9b84f3de09530e2c135.php:62
      LaravelVsCode::startupError(Object(ParseError))


    at c:\Users\mael-\.vscode\extensions\laravel.vscode-laravel-1.2.3\dist\extension.js:1597:442
    at processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:105:5)
2025-12-19 20:28:50.337 [error] 
2025-12-19 20:28:51.095 [error] Error:     
   Error 

  __VSCODE_LARAVEL_STARTUP_ERROR__: syntax error, unexpected end of file

  at vendor\_laravel_ide\discover-1e7ea3cf42a2f9b84f3de09530e2c135.php:33
     29▕     }
     30▕ 
     31▕     public static function startupError(\Throwable $e)
     32▕     {
  ➜  33▕         throw new Error(self::outputMarker('STARTUP_ERROR') . ': ' . $e->getMessage());
     34▕     }
     35▕ }
     36▕ 
     37▕ try {

  1   vendor\_laravel_ide\discover-1e7ea3cf42a2f9b84f3de09530e2c135.php:62
      LaravelVsCode::startupError(Object(ParseError))


    at c:\Users\mael-\.vscode\extensions\laravel.vscode-laravel-1.2.3\dist\extension.js:1597:442
    at processTicksAndRejections (node:internal/process/task_queues:105:5)
2025-12-19 20:28:51.766 [error] 
2025-12-19 20:28:53.060 [error]

[N1ebieski]

@meator I'm not 100% sure, but the startupError method is only in 2 places:

https://github.com/laravel/vs-code-extension/blob/main/php-templates/bootstrap-laravel.php#L36-L41
https://github.com/laravel/vs-code-extension/blob/main/php-templates/bootstrap-laravel.php#L57-L63

So it looks like the issue is related to your bootstrap/app.php or the Laravel Kernel.

[MaeTor]

@N1ebieski Thanks for your time.

The problem is still not fixed for me. I have looked after the files that you are talking but I am not able to see a particular mistake atm. On which Laravel version are you ?
I am currently using the version 10. Maybe the next versions will change the Kernel or app.php . I let you know if I find something interesting ! Have fun

[N1ebieski]

Hi @MaeTor, I have many Laravel projects, ranging from version 9 to 12. For debugging while working on the extension, I’m using the official Laravel starter kits.

Could you check the extension with a fresh Laravel project? I still think these issues may be related to the specific project you’re working on.

[TitasGailius]

@MaeTor this is most likely an issue within your project setup.

A quick way to confirm is to run a basic Artisan command and see whether the application can boot:

php artisan about

"Unexpected end of file" almost always means you opened a code block but forgot to close it.

Lastly, try clearing caches:

composer dump-autoload
php artisan optimize:clear