PyCharm freezes: High CPU usage when working with .parquet files

October 22, 2026 07:34 Updated

Problem

PyCharm becomes unresponsive and freezes when reading or writing .parquet files in a Python app, leading to high CPU usage (300%+). Force quitting via Activity Monitor is required to terminate the frozen application.

Cause

The issue is linked to the GitHub Copilot plugin. Thread dump analysis reveals that the plugin's background processes (e.g., copilot-agent-sessions-nitrite.db) contribute to the unresponsiveness.

Resolution

Disable the GitHub Copilot plugin:
- Navigate to File | Settings | Plugins.
- Search for "GitHub Copilot".
- Click Disable and restart the IDE.

As the issue is related to GitHub Copilot, you may also report it to their team at GitHub Copilot Feedback.