Debugging and Testing in VSCode
Debugging
The Python extension comes with Debugging for all kinds of applications like multi-threaded, web, and remote applications. We can set breakpoints, inspect data, and run programs step by step.
Select a debug configuration
Launch the debug tab by clicking on the debug icon on the action bar or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift +D. To customize Debug options, click on create a launch.json file and select Python File.
Debug Panel
Run the Debug by clicking on the blue button Run and Debug, and it will run the Python file and show us the Variables, Watch, Call Stack, and breakpoints.
Quick debug
For quick debugging, you can always click on the down arrow beside the Run button and select Debug Python File.
Testing
The Python extension supports unittest and pytest testing frameworks. Instead of reading the test results in a terminal, you can review and resolve the issues within the Testing tab in an active bar.
Configure Python tests
After clicking on the Testing button, we will click on the Configure Python Tests button and select the testing framework. Usually, VSCode automatically detects the framework and displays all the tests in a tree view.
Learn about Python unit testing, implementing Python’s pytest testing framework by following our how to use pytest for unit testing tutorial.
Note: The testing example that we are using is from Visual Studio Code official documentation.
Run the unittest
We can run the Unit test by clicking on the Run Test button in the Testing tab and analyzing the results.
As we can observe, 1 of 2 tests have passed, and it has displayed the reasoning behind the failed result. VSCode testing is highly interactive and user-friendly.
Step 1: Create a new Python project
A project is how Visual Studio manages all the files that come together to produce a single application. Application files include source code, resources, and configurations. A project formalizes and maintains the relationships among all the project’s files. The project also manages external resources that are shared between multiple projects. A project allows your application to effortlessly expand and grow. Using projects is easier than managing relationships by hand in unplanned folders, scripts, text files, and your memory.
This tutorial begins with a simple project containing a single, empty code file.
-
In Visual Studio, select File > New > Project to open the New Project dialog. You can also use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N. In the dialog, you can browse templates across different languages, select a template for your project, and specify where Visual Studio places files.
-
To view Python templates, select Installed > Python on the left menu, or search for “Python.” The search option is a great way to find a template when you can’t remember its location in the languages tree.
Python support in Visual Studio includes several project templates, including web applications using the Bottle, Flask, and Django frameworks. For the purposes of this walkthrough, however, let’s start with an empty project.
-
Select the Python Application template, specify a name for the project, and select OK.
-
In Visual Studio, select File > New > Project or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+N. The Create a new project screen opens, where you can search and browse templates across different languages.
-
To view Python templates, search for python. Search is a great way to find a template when you can’t remember its location in the languages tree.
Python web support in Visual Studio includes several project templates, such as web applications in the Bottle, Flask, and Django frameworks. When you install Python with the Visual Studio Installer, select Python Web Support under Optional to install these templates. For this tutorial, start with an empty project.
-
Select the Python Application template, and select Next.
-
On the Configure your new project screen, specify a name and file location for the project, and then select Create.
After a few moments, your new project opens in Visual Studio:
Here’s what you see:
- (1) The Visual Studio Solution Explorer window shows the project structure.
- (2) The default code file opens in the editor.
- (3) The Properties window shows more information for the item selected in Solution Explorer, including its exact location on disk.
Python Development Tips in VS Code
VS Code allows you to customize Python features and extensions to help meet your needs and scale overall productivity. This section will equip you with essential tips for efficient Python development.
- If you’re new to the VS Code for Python IDE, the “Help” button in your VS Code window is a tool you should capitalize on. It will provide you with easy-to-understand tutorials on VS Code.
- Use keyboard reference sheets to memorize and modify keyboard shortcuts. This will help you access all the available commands faster, and shortcuts are quicker than the Command Pallete.
- Use the command line interface to open the VS Code editor by typing “code.”
- The shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + M” lets you quickly handle project errors and warnings. You can also press “F8” to cycle swiftly through errors.
- You can quickly revise multiple coding lines at once by using the “Alt + Click” shortcut. The shortcut “Ctrl + Shift + L” will also help you amend any occurrences within your current selection. This multi-cursor selection trick is a game changer in the Python development world.
- Employ the Git integration tool to perform all tasks related to it in VS Code. You can always sign into your Git account to quickly and easily sync your settings.
All these VS Code features will help you enjoy the Python development field more and create a smooth working experience.
Installing Essential VSCode Python Extensions
The VSCode’s Python extensions will provide us with the helping functionalities for code editing, docstrings, linting, formatting, debugging, testing, and environment selection.
How to install a VSCode Extension
Click on the box icon on the activity bar or use a keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + X to open the extension panel. Type any keyword in the search bar to explore all kinds of extensions.
Install VSCode Python extension
In our case, we will type Python and install the Python extension by clicking on the install button, as shown above.
List of Essential Python Extensions
Python
The Python extension automatically installs Pylance, Jupyter, and isort extensions. It comes with a complete collection of tools for Data Science, web development, and software engineering.
Key Features:
Python extension comes with IntelliSense, linting, debugging, code navigation, code formatting, refactoring, variable explorer, and test explorer.
- IntelliSense (code autocomplete)
- Linting (Pylint, Flake8)
- Code formatting (black, autopep)
- Debugging
- Testing (unittest, pytest)
- Jupyter Notebooks
- Environments (venv, pipenv, conda)
- Refactoring
Indent-rainbow
Indent-rainbow extensions provide us with a multilevel colorized indentation for improved code readability. We get alternating colors on each step, and it helps us avoid common indentation errors.
Python Indent
Python Indent extension helps us with creating indentations. By pressing the Enter key, the extension will parse the Python file and determine how the next line should be indented. It is a time saver.
Jupyter Notebook Renderers
Jupyter Notebook Renderers is part of the Jupyter extension pack. It helps us render plotly, vega, gif, png, svg, and jpeg output.
autoDocstring
The autoDocstring extension helps us quickly generate docstring for Python functions. By typing triple quotes “”” or ”’ within the function, we can generate and modify docstring. Learn more about doc strings by following our Python Docstrings tutorial.
Note: Most Python development extensions and features come with Python extensions.
Python Interactive Window in VS Code
You can run a Python interactive window using Jupyter Notebooks on VS Code. Follow the steps below to execute this task:
- Go to the explorer pane on your VS Code window.
- Right-click on the Python file.
- Select the “Run Current File in Interactive Window” option under the context menu.
- Enter a name in the new interactive window to confirm whether it’s a palindrome.
- The results will be displayed in the new interactive window.
Understanding the REPL Function in VS Code
REPL is an interactive way of running commands on your Python interpreter. This will help you run multiple lines of code within a Python file. Here’s how you can use this function in Python development:
- Open your Python file.
- Type in a code in the VS Code window.
- Right-click on the code you have written.
- Scroll down the list of options and select the “Run Selection/Line” in Python Terminal.
You will find the output on the integrated terminal appearing in the REPL format. Alternatively, you can also use the Command Pallete to start REPL in VS Code:
- Open the Command Pallete.
- Find “REPL.”
- Click on “Python” to start REPL.
- Enter your commands in the interactive Python shell.
- Press the “Enter” key to execute the command.
All the Python codes you enter on VS Code will automatically have the Autopep8 applied once you enable this setting.
Git Integration
VSCode comes with built-in Git integration. No more writing Git commands on terminals. Git integration provides a user-friendly GUI and helpful functions for diff, views, staging, branching, committing, merge, and more.
Check out our Git Cheat Sheet to learn about the various Git commands and functionalities.
Note: To enable Git integration, you need to install Git from official site.
Initializing Git
We can access it through the action bar or by using the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + G. Before we start committing, we need to initialize the repository.
Git Commit
After that, add and commit the changes with the message. It is that simple.
Create a GitHub repository and push the code
You can even create a GitHub repository and push your code to a remote server by logging into your GitHub account.
Private GitHub repository
We have created a GitHub private repository of Python files and folders.
You can now simply commit and push the changes to the remote server without leaving the VSCode.
Follow our Github and Git tutorial to learn everything about Git and GitHub.
Jupyter notebooks
To enable Python support for Jupyter notebook files (
.ipynb
) in VS Code, you can install the Jupyter extension. The Python and Jupyter extensions work together to give you a great Notebook experience in VS Code, providing you the ability to directly view and modify code cells with IntelliSense support, as well as run and debug them.
You can also convert and open the notebook as a Python code file through the Jupyter: Export to Python Script command. The notebook’s cells are delimited in the Python file with
#%%
comments, and the Jupyter extension shows Run Cell or Run Below CodeLens. Selecting either CodeLens starts the Jupyter server and runs the cell(s) in the Python interactive window:
You can also connect to a remote Jupyter server to run your notebooks. For more information, see Jupyter support.
Workspace recommended extensions
A good set of extensions can make working with a particular workspace or programming language more productive and you’d often like to share this list with your team or colleagues. You can create a recommended list of extensions for a workspace with the Extensions: Configure Recommended Extensions (Workspace Folder) command.
In a single folder workspace, the command creates an
extensions.json
file located in the workspace
.vscode
folder where you can add a list of extensions identifiers ({publisherName}.{extensionName}).
In a multi-root workspace, the command will open your
.code-workspace
file where you can list extensions under
extensions.recommendations
. You can still add extension recommendations to individual folders in a multi-root workspace by using the Extensions: Configure Recommended Extensions (Workspace Folder) command.
An example
extensions.json
could be:
{ "recommendations": ["dbaeumer.vscode-eslint", "esbenp.prettier-vscode"] }
which recommends a linter extension and a code formatter extension.
An extension is identified using its publisher name and extension identifier
publisher.extension
. You can see the name on the extension’s detail page. VS Code will provide you with auto-completion for installed extensions inside these files.
VS Code prompts a user to install the recommended extensions when a workspace is opened for the first time. The user can also review the list with the Extensions: Show Recommended Extensions command.
Free Python and Data Science lessons
NASA-inspired lessons
This learning path enables students to use Python to explore doing analyses and projects inspired from real-world problems faced by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists. View full details of the lessons under NASA-inspired Lessons.
Learn Python with Over The Moon
These space-themed lessons were inspired by the Netflix film, Over the Moon, and will introduce students to data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence using Python and Azure. View full details on Learn Python with Over The Moon.
Wonder Woman-inspired lessons
Give an introduction to Python with “Wonder Woman 1984”-inspired lessons that help students learn about the basics like conditionals and variables. Get full lesson details under Learn Python with Wonder Woman.
Python in Notebooks
Learn the basics of Python. View the full lesson at Write basic Python in Notebooks in Visual Studio Code.
Set up your Python beginner development environment
A step-by-step guide to installing and setting up your Python and VS Code environment. View the full lesson at Set up your Python beginner development environment with Visual Studio Code.
Enable Visual Studio Code to seamlessly identify the correct runtime for your project, letting you leverage the security and compliance features inherent in the ActiveState project within your integrated development environment (IDE).
Before using your ActiveState project’s Python interpreter in your VS Code environment, make sure the following conditions are met:
state update. If you have installed the State Tool after opening VS Code you will need to restart VS Code for the changes to take effect.
The following will help you integrate Visual Studio Code with your ActiveState project.
Begin by creating a Python file in your project, or opening an existing Python file. If this is a new file you may be prompted to select an interpreter, or if it is an existing file you can select a new interpreter using the VS Code Command Palette.
To access the “Select Interpreter” drop-down from the Command Palette
This will automatically generate a list of all of the interpreters currently available on your machine (including those provided by ActiveState). Click to select your preferred interpreter and begin working on your file.
After making your selection your new interpreter will be displayed at the bottom of the VS Code window (“andrewd-activestate/PythonWindows3’:ActiveState” shown above).
If your ActiveState Python interpreter is not immediately available in the “Select Interpreter” dropdown:
python.activeStateToolPathunder the “Settings” list.
$PATHor
%PATH%variable. To enter the absolute path to the State Tool’s executable go to File > Preferences> Settings and search for ”State Tool”. Enter the absolute path to the State Tool executable in the field shown.
state projects
Extension Marketplace
Increase the power of Visual Studio Code through Extensions
The features that Visual Studio Code includes out-of-the-box are just the start. VS Code extensions let you add languages, debuggers, and tools to your installation to support your development workflow. VS Code’s rich extensibility model lets extension authors plug directly into the VS Code UI and contribute functionality through the same APIs used by VS Code. This article explains how to find, install, and manage VS Code extensions from the Visual Studio Code Marketplace.
Debugging
No more
For more specific information on debugging in Python, such as configuring your
launch.json
settings and implementing remote debugging, see Debugging. General VS Code debugging information is found in the debugging document.
Additionally, the Django and Flask tutorials provide examples of how to implement debugging in the context of web applications, including debugging Django templates.
FAQs
Is VS Code a reliable tool for Python?
Yes. VS Code helps edit Python source codes and has reliable features that boost development.
Why is VS Code not recognizing your Python imports?
This most likely results from choosing the wrong interpreter when coding. Ensure you select and install packages correctly to avoid compatibility issues.
Is VS Code a better IDE for Python compared to PyCharm?
Yes. VS Code has a wider array of features, making customization easier and more versatile.
Tips and Tricks for Efficient Python Development in VSCode
VSCode comes with awesome Python development features and extensions. We can customize them to our needs and improve the productivity. In this section, we will learn about tips and tricks for efficient Python development.
- Getting started: Help > Get Started. Learn about VSCode’s customization and features by following guided tutorials.
- Command Palette: access entire all available commands by using the Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+P. By writing keywords, we can access specific commands.
- Keyboard shortcuts: better than command palettes. We can modify keyboard shortcuts or memorize them by using keyboard reference sheets. It will help us access the commands directly, instead of searching with the keyword.
- Command line: launch the VSCode editor through the command line interface by typing `code .`. We can also customize how the editor is launched by adding additional arguments.
- Errors and warnings: quick jump to errors and warnings in a project by using the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+M. We can also cycle through the error with F8 or Shift+F8.
- Customization: VSCode allows us to customize themes, keyboard shortcuts, JSON validation, debugging settings, fonts, and many more. It is a fully customizable IDE.
- Extensions: other Python extensions improve our development experience. Look for popular extensions on the Visual Studio Marketplace.
- Multi cursor selection: is a lifesaver. Add cursors at arbitrary positions by using Alt+Click. It will allow us to modify multiple lines of code at once. We can also use Ctrl+Shift+L to modify all occurrences of the current selection.
- Search and modify: this is the best tool for searching and modifying multiple expressions at once. We can also rename the symbol by selecting the symbol and typing F2.
- Git integration: allows us to perform all Git-related tasks within IDE. It provides an easy-to-use GUI for diff, views, staging, branching, committing, merging, and more.
- Code Snippets: is our best friend. Just like Autohotkey, we are creating templates for repeating code patterns. To create a custom code snippet, select File > Preferences > Configure User Snippets and then select the language.
- GitHub Copilot: is a winner extension for all kinds of development. It enhances the coding experience with artificial intelligence (AI) by suggesting lines of code or entire functions.
Bonus: sync your settings by logging into your GitHub account. It will sync your settings across all of the machines.
Python Extension Pack
Unsure which extensions to recommend to your students? You can point your students to the Python Education Extension Pack that contains essential and helpful extensions for the classroom. You can download the extension pack from the VS Code Marketplace:
The extension pack contains:
- Python for basic Python functionality like compiling, debugging support, linting, Jupyter Notebooks, unit tests, and more.
- Live Share to enable real-time collaboration.
- Remote – SSH to work on remote projects (for example, to access lab machines) through SSH with full VS Code functionality.
- Markdown+Math for full LaTeX support in Markdown.
- Python Test Explorer for Visual Studio Code to visualize and run Python tests in the side bar.
- Code Runner to run snippets (selected code) and single files of any code with a single click.
Free Python and Data Science lessons
NASA-inspired lessons
This learning path enables students to use Python to explore doing analyses and projects inspired from real-world problems faced by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists. View full details of the lessons under NASA-inspired Lessons.
Learn Python with Over The Moon
These space-themed lessons were inspired by the Netflix film, Over the Moon, and will introduce students to data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence using Python and Azure. View full details on Learn Python with Over The Moon.
Wonder Woman-inspired lessons
Give an introduction to Python with “Wonder Woman 1984”-inspired lessons that help students learn about the basics like conditionals and variables. Get full lesson details under Learn Python with Wonder Woman.
Python in Notebooks
Learn the basics of Python. View the full lesson at Write basic Python in Notebooks in Visual Studio Code.
Set up your Python beginner development environment
A step-by-step guide to installing and setting up your Python and VS Code environment. View the full lesson at Set up your Python beginner development environment with Visual Studio Code.
How to Install Python on VS Code
You’ll need to install a Python extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace to ensure everything works well. Follow the steps below to execute this task successfully.
- Launch the VS Code application.
- Click on the “Extensions” tab.
- Type “python” on the search input located on the left side of the window.
- Select the Python extension you want to install.
- Click on the blue“Install” button to complete the Python installation.
Python 2.0 was discontinued in 2020. So, ensure that the Python you install is the third version.
Command line extension management
To make it easier to automate and configure VS Code, it is possible to list, install, and uninstall extensions from the command line. When identifying an extension, provide the full name of the form
publisher.extension
, for example
ms-python.python
.
Example:
code --extensions-dir
Set the root path for extensions. code --list-extensions List the installed extensions. code --show-versions Show versions of installed extensions, when using --list-extension. code --install-extension (
|
) Installs an extension. code --uninstall-extension (
|
) Uninstalls an extension. code --enable-proposed-api (
) Enables proposed API features for extensions. Can receive one or more extension IDs to enable individually.
You can see the extension ID on the extension details page under the Marketplace Info.
How to create and open a Python project or file
If you have an existing Python project you wish to work on in VS Code, you can begin by opening your folder or file from the VS Code Welcome page or File Explorer view, or by selecting File > Open Folder (Ctrl+K Ctrl+O) or File > Open File (⌘O (Windows, Linux Ctrl+O)).
You can create a new Python file by selecting New File on the VS Code Welcome page and then selecting Python file, or by navigating to File > New File ().
Tip: If you already have a workspace folder open in VS Code, you can add new files or folders directly into your existing project. You can create new folders and files by using the corresponding New Folder or New File icons on the top level folder in the File Explorer view.
Browse for extensions
You can browse and install extensions from within VS Code. Bring up the Extensions view by clicking on the Extensions icon in the Activity Bar on the side of VS Code or the View: Extensions command (⇧⌘X (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+X)).
This will show you a list of the most popular VS Code extensions on the VS Code Marketplace.
Each extension in the list includes a brief description, the publisher, the download count, and a five star rating. You can select the extension item to display the extension’s details page where you can learn more.
Note: If your computer’s Internet access goes through a proxy server, you will need to configure the proxy server. See Proxy server support for details.
Python and Visual Studio Code Setup
In this part, we will learn to install Python and VSCode and run a simple Python code.
Installing Python
Downloading and installing the latest version of Python is straightforward. Go to Python.org and download the latest version for Windows. The installer is also available for Linux/Unix, macOS, and other platforms. After downloading the installer, install Python with default settings.
Image from Python.org
The most popular way of installing Python is through Anaconda Distribution. It comes with a pre-installed package and software for us to start coding without hiccups. It is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
Image from Anaconda
After installing Python on our operating system, check whether it is properly working by typing the following command in CLI / Terminal.
python --version
Output:
Python 3.9.13
Other Python installation methods
We can also install Python using various CLI tools or through the Windows store.
You can check out our full guide on how to install Python for more details. Similarly, our interactive Introduction to Python course helps you master the basics of Python syntax, lists, functions, packages, and Numpy.
Installing VSCode
Installing VSCode is super simple. Download and install the stable build from the official website. The installer is available for all kinds of operating systems, including web browsers.
Image from Visual Studio Code
Other VSCode installation methods
We can install using Microsoft store, Snap Store, and multiple CLI tools for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Running Python in VSCode
After installing Python and VSCode, it is time to write a simple code and run the Python file within the IDE.
Create a new file
At start, you will see the welcome note. Ignore that and go to File > New Text File or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + N to create a new file. After that, write a simple print expression to display “Hello World.”
Save Python file
Save the file using Ctrl + S. Select the file directory and type the file name. Make sure to add `.py` at the end of the file name.
Select the interpreter
To run the Python file, we need to select the Python interpreter. By default, the Anaconda environment comes with Python version 3.9.13.
Run a Python file
To run the Python file, simply click on the Run button on the top left, as shown in the image. It will initialize the terminal and run the Python file to display the output.
You can also type python test.py in the terminal to run the file present in the current directory.
Install and use packages
Let’s build upon the previous example by using packages.
In Python, packages are how you obtain any number of useful code libraries, typically from PyPI, that provide additional functionality to your program. For this example, you use the
numpy
package to generate a random number.
Return to the Explorer view (the top-most icon on the left side, which shows files), open
hello.py
, and paste in the following source code:
import numpy as np msg = "Roll a dice" print(msg) print(np.random.randint(1,9))
Tip: If you enter the above code by hand, you may find that auto-completions change the names after the
as
keywords when you press Enter at the end of a line. To avoid this, type a space, then Enter.
Next, run the file in the debugger using the “Python: Current file” configuration as described in the last section.
You should see the message, “ModuleNotFoundError: No module named ‘numpy'”. This message indicates that the required package isn’t available in your interpreter. If you’re using an Anaconda distribution or have previously installed the
numpy
package you may not see this message.
To install the
numpy
package, stop the debugger and use the Command Palette to run Terminal: Create New Terminal (⌃⇧` (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+`)). This command opens a command prompt for your selected interpreter.
To install the required packages in your virtual environment, enter the following commands as appropriate for your operating system:
-
Install the packages
# Don't use with Anaconda distributions because they include matplotlib already. # macOS python3 -m pip install numpy # Windows (may require elevation) py -m pip install numpy # Linux (Debian) apt-get install python3-tk python3 -m pip install numpy
-
Now, rerun the program, with or without the debugger, to view the output!
Congrats on completing the Python tutorial! During the course of this tutorial, you learned how to create a Python project, create a virtual environment, run and debug your Python code, and install Python packages. Explore additional resources to learn how to get the most out of Python in Visual Studio Code!
Install Python and the Python extension
The tutorial guides you through installing Python and using the extension. You must install a Python interpreter yourself separately from the extension. For a quick install, use Python from python.org and install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace.
Note: To help get you started with Python development, you can use the Python profile template that includes useful extensions, settings, and Python code snippets.
Once you have a version of Python installed, select it using the Python: Select Interpreter command. If VS Code doesn’t automatically locate the interpreter you’re looking for, refer to Environments – Manually specify an interpreter.
You can configure the Python extension through settings. Learn more in the Python Settings reference.
Windows Subsystem for Linux: If you are on Windows, WSL is a great way to do Python development. You can run Linux distributions on Windows and Python is often already installed. When coupled with the WSL extension, you get full VS Code editing and debugging support while running in the context of WSL. To learn more, go to Developing in WSL or try the Working in WSL tutorial.
Common questions
Where are extensions installed?
Extensions are installed in a per user extensions folder. Depending on your platform, the location is in the following folder:
-
Windows
%USERPROFILE%\.vscode\extensions
-
macOS
~/.vscode/extensions
-
Linux
~/.vscode/extensions
You can change the location by launching VS Code with the
--extensions-dir
command-line option.
Whenever I try to install any extension, I get a connect ETIMEDOUT error
You may see this error if your machine is going through a proxy server to access the Internet. See the Proxy server support section in the setup topic for details.
Can I download an extension directly from the Marketplace?
Some users prefer to download an extension once from the Marketplace and then install it multiple times from a local share. This is useful when there are connectivity concerns or if your development team wants to use a fixed set of extensions.
To download an extension, navigate to the details page for the specific extension within the Marketplace. On that page, there is a Download Extension link in the Resources section, which is located on the right-hand side of the page.
Once downloaded, you can then install the extension via the Install from VSIX command in the Extensions view command dropdown.
Can I stop VS Code from providing extension recommendations?
Yes, if you would prefer to not have VS Code display extension recommendations in the Extensions view or through notifications, you can modify the following settings:
-
extensions.showRecommendationsOnlyOnDemand
– Set to true to remove the RECOMMENDED section. -
extensions.ignoreRecommendations
– Set to true to silence extension recommendation notifications.
The Show Recommended Extensions command is always available if you want to see recommendations.
Can I trust extensions from the Marketplace?
The Marketplace runs a virus scan on each extension package that’s published to ensure its safety. The virus scan is run for each new extension and for each extension update. Until the scan is all clear, the extension won’t be published in the Marketplace for public usage.
The Marketplace also prevents extension authors from name-squatting on official publishers such as Microsoft and RedHat.
If a malicious extension is reported and verified, or a vulnerability is found in an extension dependency:
- The extension is removed from the Marketplace.
- The extension is added to a kill list so that if it has been installed, it will be automatically uninstalled by VS Code.
The Marketplace also provides you with resources to make an informed decision about the extensions you install:
- Ratings & Review – Read what others think about the extension.
- Q & A – Review existing questions and the level of the publisher’s responsiveness. You can also engage with the extension’s publisher(s) if you have concerns.
- Issues, Repository, and License – Check if the publisher has provided these and if they have the support you expect.
If you do see an extension that looks suspicious, you can report the extension to the Marketplace with the Report Abuse link at the bottom of the extension More Info section.
How to Install Python in VS Code
If you’ve been looking for a way to elevate your Python development experience, VS Code, or Virtual Studio Code, is your best solution. It’s a fun and creative platform to help you embrace and grow your Python skills. VS Code has powerful features that’ll help simplify your processes and enhance productivity.
In this article, you will learn how to install Python on VS Code and other basic skills like setting up workspace settings and running Python on VS Code.
Create a virtual environment
A best practice among Python developers is to use a project-specific
virtual environment
. Once you activate that environment, any packages you then install are isolated from other environments, including the global interpreter environment, reducing many complications that can arise from conflicting package versions. You can create non-global environments in VS Code using Venv or Anaconda with Python: Create Environment.
Open the Command Palette (⇧⌘P (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+P)), start typing the Python: Create Environment command to search, and then select the command.
The command presents a list of environment types, Venv or Conda. For this example, select Venv.
The command then presents a list of interpreters that can be used for your project. Select the interpreter you installed at the beginning of the tutorial.
After selecting the interpreter, a notification will show the progress of the environment creation and the environment folder (
/.venv
) will appear in your workspace.
Ensure your new environment is selected by using the Python: Select Interpreter command from the Command Palette.
Note: For additional information about virtual environments, or if you run into an error in the environment creation process, see Environments.
Start VS Code in a workspace folder
By starting VS Code in a folder, that folder becomes your “workspace”.
Using a command prompt or terminal, create an empty folder called “hello”, navigate into it, and open VS Code (
code
) in that folder () by entering the following commands:
mkdir hello cd hello code .
Note: If you’re using an Anaconda distribution, be sure to use an Anaconda command prompt.
Alternately, you can create a folder through the operating system UI, then use VS Code’s File > Open Folder to open the project folder.
Intro to CS at Harvey Mudd College
Professor Zachary Dodds is a Computer Science professor at Harvey Mudd College who teaches several introductory classes both for students new to Computer Science and students from a non-Computer Science background. He co-created the popular introduction to Computer Science class CS5, which attracts students from all backgrounds to develop programming and problem-solving skills and to build “a coherent, intellectually compelling picture of Computer Science”. The class is taught with Python and uses VS Code as the recommended editor.
Why Visual Studio Code?
Professor Dodds has been recommending and using Visual Studio Code in his classes since it debuted in 2015.
“Visual Studio Code is the best balance of authenticity and accessibility… Visual Studio Code doesn’t feel ‘fake’, it’s what real software developers use. Plus, Visual Studio Code works on every OS!”
VS Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Chromebooks.
Classroom settings
Since VS Code is easy to customize, Professor Dodds is able to tailor the editor for his students, preferring to hide IntelliSense, or code completion suggestions, so they can learn from what they type and reinforce the conceptual models being built.
Here are the settings his students use:
"editor.quickSuggestions": false, "editor.acceptSuggestionOnCommitCharacter": false, "editor.suggest.filterGraceful": true, "editor.suggestOnTriggerCharacters": false, "editor.acceptSuggestionOnEnter": "on", "editor.suggest.showIcons": false, "editor.suggest.maxVisibleSuggestions": 7, "editor.hover.enabled": false, "editor.hover.sticky": false, "editor.suggest.snippetsPreventQuickSuggestions": false, "editor.parameterHints.enabled": false, "editor.wordBasedSuggestions": "matchingDocuments", "editor.tabCompletion": "on", "extensions.ignoreRecommendations": true, "files.autoSave": "afterDelay",
You can find the most up-to-date settings on his course website: CS5 – Python Tips.
Integrated Terminal
Professor Dodds also utilizes the built-in terminal heavily in his class as an introduction to running programs from the command line and navigating around their machine all within Visual Studio Code. He appreciates how “the built-in terminal panel does not try to automate too much (which, if it did, would deprive newcomers of the experience of the information-flow that’s going on).”
In the video below, the student does all of their command line and coding work in one place, such as installing Python libraries, while working on Lab 3 from the CS5 class:
Thank you, Professor Dodds, for sharing your story! If you’re interested in using VS Code to teach Python in your classes, you can get started with the Python Education Extension Pack below!
Environments
The Python extension automatically detects Python interpreters that are installed in standard locations. It also detects conda environments as well as virtual environments in the workspace folder. See Configuring Python environments.
The current environment is shown on the right side of the VS Code Status Bar:
The Status Bar also indicates if no interpreter is selected:
The selected environment is used for IntelliSense, auto-completions, linting, formatting, and any other language-related feature. It is also activated when you run or debug Python in a terminal, or when you create a new terminal with the Terminal: Create New Terminal command.
To change the current interpreter, which includes switching to conda or virtual environments, select the interpreter name on the Status Bar or use the Python: Select Interpreter command.
VS Code prompts you with a list of detected environments as well as any you’ve added manually to your user settings (see Configuring Python environments).
Conclusion
VSCode is not just a code editor. It is a complete ecosystem for efficient Python development. It provides us with shortcuts, Commands Palette, IntelliSense, linting, formatting, debugging, formatting, Git integrations, Jupyter notebook, third-party extensions, and a fully customizable development experience.
VSCode is highly recommended to beginners who are learning the basics of Python and data science. Complete Data Scientist with a Python career track to become a master in Python and data science. The career track consists of 25 courses and six projects to prepare you to become a professional data scientist.
A Deep Dive into the Phi-2 Model
Python List Size: 8 Different Methods for Finding the Length of a List in Python
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15 min
Install an extension
To install an extension, select the Install button. Once the installation is complete, the Install button will change to the Manage gear button.
Find and install an extension
For example, let’s install the popular TODO Highlight extension. This extension highlights text like ‘TODO:’ and ‘FIXME:’ in your source code so you can quickly find undone sections.
In the Extensions view (⇧⌘X (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+X)), type ‘todo’ in the search box to filter the Marketplace offerings to extensions with ‘todo’ in the title or metadata. You should see the TODO Highlight extension in the list.
An extension is uniquely identified by its publisher and extension IDs. If you select the TODO Highlight extension, you will see the Extension details page, where you can find the extension ID, in this case,
wayou.vscode-todo-highlight
. Knowing the extension ID can be helpful if there are several similarly named extensions.
Select the Install button, and VS Code will download and install the extension from the Marketplace. When the installation is complete, the Install button will be replaced with a Manage gear button.
To see the TODO Highlight extension in action, open any source code file and add the text ‘TODO:’ and you will see the text highlighted.
The TODO Highlight extension contributes the commands, TODO-Highlight: List highlighted annotations and TODO-Highlight: Toggle highlight, that you can find in the Command Palette (⇧⌘P (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+P)). The TODO-Highlight: Toggle highlight command lets you quickly disable or enable highlighting.
The extension also provides settings for tuning its behavior, which you can find in the Settings editor (⌘, (Windows, Linux Ctrl+,)). For example, you might want the text search to be case insensitive and you can uncheck the Todohighlight: Is Case Sensitive setting.
If an extension doesn’t provide the functionality you want, you can always Uninstall the extension from the Manage button context menu.
This has been just one example of how to install and use an extension. The VS Code Marketplace has thousands of extensions supporting hundreds of programming languages and tasks. Everything from full featured language support for Java, Python, Go, and C++ to simple extensions that create GUIDs, change the color theme, or add virtual pets to the editor.
Extension details
On the extension details page, you can read the extension’s README and review the extension’s:
- Feature Contributions – The extension’s additions to VS Code such as settings, commands and keyboard shortcuts, language grammars, debugger, etc.
- Changelog – The extension repository CHANGELOG if available.
- Dependencies – Lists if the extension depends on any other extensions.
If an extension is an Extension Pack, the Extension Pack section will display which extensions will be installed when you install the pack. Extension Packs bundle separate extensions together so they can be easily installed at one time.
Extensions view filter and commands
You can filter the Extensions view with the Filter Extensions context menu.
There are filters to show:
- The list of outdated extensions that can be updated
- The list of currently enabled/disabled extensions
- The list of recommended extensions based on your workspace
- The list of globally popular extensions
You can sort the extension list by Install Count, Rating, Name, Published Date, or Updated Date in either ascending or descending order. You can learn more about extension search filters below.
You can run additional Extensions view commands via the
...
View and More Actions button.
Through this context menu you can control extension updates, enable or disable all extensions, and use the Extension Bisect utility to isolate problematic extension behavior.
Search for an extension
You can clear the Search box at the top of the Extensions view and type in the name of the extension, tool, or programming language you’re looking for.
For example, typing ‘python’ will bring up a list of Python language extensions:
If you know the exact identifier for an extension you’re looking for, you can use the
@id:
prefix, for example
@id:vue.volar
. Additionally, to filter or sort results, you can use the filter and sort commands, detailed below.
Code Actions
Code Actions (also known as Quick Fixes) are provided to help fix issues when there are warnings in your code. These helpful hints are displayed in the editor left margin as a lightbulb (💡). Select the light bulb to display Code Action options. These Code Action can come from extensions such as Python, Pylance, or VS Code itself. For more information about Code Actions, see Python Quick Fixes.
Manage extensions
VS Code makes it easy to manage your extensions. You can install, disable, update, and uninstall extensions through the Extensions view, the Command Palette (commands have the Extensions: prefix) or command-line switches.
List installed extensions
By default, the Extensions view will show the extensions you currently have installed, and all extensions that are recommended for you. You can use the Extensions: Focus on Installed View command, available in the Command Palette (⇧⌘P (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+P)) or in the More Actions (
...
) dropdown menu > Views > Installed, to clear any text in the search box and show the list of all installed extensions, which includes those that have been disabled.
Uninstall an extension
To uninstall an extension, select the Manage gear button at the right of an extension entry and then choose Uninstall from the dropdown menu. This will uninstall the extension and prompt you to reload VS Code.
Disable an extension
If you don’t want to permanently remove an extension, you can instead temporarily disable the extension by clicking the gear button at the right of an extension entry. You can disable an extension globally or just for your current Workspace. You will be prompted to reload VS Code after you disable an extension.
If you want to quickly disable all installed extensions, there is a Disable All Installed Extensions command in the Command Palette and More Actions (
...
) dropdown menu.
Extensions remain disabled for all VS Code sessions until you re-enable them.
Enable an extension
Similarly if you have disabled an extension (it will be in the Disabled section of the list and marked Disabled), you can re-enable it with the Enable or Enable (Workspace) commands in the dropdown menu.
There is also an Enable All Extensions command in the More Actions (
...
) dropdown menu.
Extension auto-update
VS Code checks for extension updates and installs them automatically. After an update, you will be prompted to reload VS Code. If you’d rather update your extensions manually, you can disable auto-update with the Disable Auto Updating Extensions command that sets the
extensions.autoUpdate
setting to
false
.
If you don’t want VS Code to even check for updates, you can set the
extensions.autoCheckUpdates
setting to false.
Update an extension manually
If you have extensions auto-update disabled, you can quickly look for extension updates by using the Show Outdated Extensions command that uses the
@updates
filter. This will display any available updates for your currently installed extensions.
Select the Update button for the outdated extension. The update will be installed, and you’ll be prompted to reload VS Code. You can also update all your outdated extensions at one time with the Update All Extensions command.
If you also have automatic checking for updates disabled, you can use the Check for Extension Updates command to check which of your extensions can be updated.
Install a Python interpreter
Along with the Python extension, you need to install a Python interpreter. Which interpreter you use is dependent on your specific needs, but some guidance is provided below.
Windows
Install Python from python.org. Use the Download Python button that appears first on the page to download the latest version.
Note: If you don’t have admin access, an additional option for installing Python on Windows is to use the Microsoft Store. The Microsoft Store provides installs of supported Python versions.
For additional information about using Python on Windows, see Using Python on Windows at Python.org
macOS
The system install of Python on macOS is not supported. Instead, a package management system like Homebrew is recommended. To install Python using Homebrew on macOS use
brew install python3
at the Terminal prompt.
Note: On macOS, make sure the location of your VS Code installation is included in your PATH environment variable. See these setup instructions for more information.
Linux
The built-in Python 3 installation on Linux works well, but to install other Python packages you must install
pip
with get-pip.py.
Other options
-
Data Science: If your primary purpose for using Python is Data Science, then you might consider a download from Anaconda. Anaconda provides not just a Python interpreter, but many useful libraries and tools for data science.
-
Windows Subsystem for Linux: If you are working on Windows and want a Linux environment for working with Python, the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is an option for you. If you choose this option, you’ll also want to install the WSL extension. For more information about using WSL with VS Code, see VS Code Remote Development or try the Working in WSL tutorial, which will walk you through setting up WSL, installing Python, and creating a Hello World application running in WSL.
Note: To verify that you’ve installed Python successfully on your machine, run one of the following commands (depending on your operating system):
Linux/macOS: open a Terminal Window and type the following command:
python3 --version
Windows: open a command prompt and run the following command:
py -3 --version
If the installation was successful, the output window should show the version of Python that you installed. Alternatively, you can use the
py -0
command in the VS Code integrated terminal to view the versions of python installed on your machine. The default interpreter is identified by an asterisk (*).
Install from a VSIX
You can manually install a VS Code extension packaged in a
.vsix
file. Using the Install from VSIX command in the Extensions view command dropdown, or the Extensions: Install from VSIX command in the Command Palette, point to the
.vsix
file.
You can also install using the VS Code
--install-extension
command-line switch providing the path to the
.vsix
file.
code --install-extension myextension.vsix
You may provide the
--install-extension
multiple times on the command line to install multiple extensions at once.
If you’d like to learn more about packaging and publishing extensions, see our Publishing Extensions article in the Extension API.
Next steps
- Python Hello World tutorial – Get started with Python in VS Code.
- Editing Python – Learn about auto-completion, formatting, and refactoring for Python.
- Basic Editing – Learn about the powerful VS Code editor.
- Code Navigation – Move quickly through your source code.
- Django tutorial
- Flask tutorial
Python in Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is a free source code editor that fully supports Python and useful features such as real-time collaboration. It’s highly customizable to support your classroom the way you like to teach.
“Visual Studio Code is the best balance of authenticity and accessibility… Visual Studio Code doesn’t feel ‘fake’, it’s what real software developers use. Plus, Visual Studio Code works on every OS!” – Professor Zachary Dodds from Harvey Mudd College
Read below for recommendations for extensions, settings, and links to free lessons that you can use in your classes.
Advance Your Python Coding Skills With VS Code
It’s important that you have the right resources geared toward your Python development journey. VS Code is one such tool. It provides a great place to start and grow your Python development knowledge. It hosts noteworthy features that are key in helping you master Python and data science in general. You can set up your VS Code to match your preferred workflow to enhance productivity.
So, what are your thoughts on integrating Python with VS Code? Are there any upgrades you would like to see on VS Code to help enhance your Python development environment? Let us know in the comments section below.
Disclaimer: Some pages on this site may include an affiliate link. This does not effect our editorial in any way.
Quick Start Guide for Python in VS Code
The Python extension makes Visual Studio Code an excellent Python editor, works on any operating system, and is usable with a variety of Python interpreters.
Get started by installing:
- VS Code
- A Python Interpreter (any actively supported Python version)
- Python extension from the VS Code Marketplace
To further customize VS Code for Python, you can leverage the Python profile template, automatically installing recommended extensions and settings. For Data Science projects, consider using the Data Science profile template.
Recommended extensions
You can see a list of recommended extensions using Show Recommended Extensions, which sets the
@recommended
filter. Extension recommendations can either be:
- Workspace Recommendations – Recommended by other users of your current workspace.
- Other Recommendations – Recommended based on recently opened files.
See the section below to learn how to contribute recommendations for other users in your project.
Ignoring recommendations
To dismiss a recommendation, select on the extension item to open the Details page and then select the Manage gear button to display the context menu. Select the Ignore Recommendation menu item. Ignored recommendations will no longer be recommended to you.
Configuring Linting and Formatting in VSCode
Linting
Linting highlights the problems in the Python source code and provides us with suggestions. It generally highlights syntactical and stylistic issues. Linting helps you identify and correct coding issues that can lead to errors.
You can select the linting method by selecting Python: Select Linter command in the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P). You can also manually enable the linting method in settings.
Select linting method
In our case, we have selected the flake8 method. You can also review the list of available linting methods.
- Enable/ Disable Linting: select Python: Enable/Disable Linting in command palette.
- Run Linting: command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) > Python: Run Linting.
Fixing the error
After running the Python linter, you will see the issues with the suggestions.
Note: Enabling a different linter will prompt you to install the required Python package.
Formatting
Formatting makes code readable. It follows specific rules for line spacing, indents, spacing around operators, and closing brackets. The Python extension supports three Python formatting methods: autopep8, black, or yapf.
By reading about PEP-8: Python Naming Conventions & Code Standards, you can learn Python’s style guide and formatting rules.
Select the Python formatter
To access the formatting option, we have to open the settings panel by going to Preferences -> Settings or using the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl +,. After that, type “python formatting provider” in the search bar and select “black” from the dropdown menu.
Configure Python formatter
For formatting the Python file on save, we have to search for format on save in the Settings and enable the Editor: Format on Save option.
Extensions view filters
The Extensions view search box supports filters to help you find and manage extensions. You may have seen filters such as
@installed
and
@recommended
if you used the commands Show Installed Extensions and Show Recommended Extensions. Also, there are filters available to let you sort by popularity or ratings and search by category (for example ‘Linters’) and tags (for example ‘node’). You can see a complete listing of all filters and sort commands by typing in the extensions search box and navigating through the suggestions:
Here are the Extensions view filters:
-
@builtin
– Show extensions that come with VS Code. Grouped by type (Programming Languages, Themes, etc.). -
@disabled
– Show disabled installed extensions. -
@installed
– Show installed extensions. -
@outdated
– Show outdated installed extensions. A newer version is available on the Marketplace. -
@enabled
– Show enabled installed extensions. Extensions can be individually enabled/disabled. -
@recommended
– Show recommended extensions. Grouped as Workspace specific or general use. -
@category
– Show extensions belonging to specified category. Below are a few of supported categories. For a complete list, type
@category
and follow the options in the suggestion list:-
@category:themes
-
@category:formatters
-
@category:linters
-
@category:snippets
-
These filters can be combined as well. For example: Use
@installed @category:themes
to view all installed themes.
If no filter is provided, the Extensions view displays the currently installed and recommended extensions.
Sorting
You can sort extensions with the
@sort
filter, which can take the following values:
-
installs
– Sort by Marketplace installation count, in descending order. -
name
– Sort alphabetically by extension name. -
publishedDate
– Sort by extension published date. -
rating
– Sort by Marketplace rating (1-5 stars), in descending order. -
updateDate
– Sort by extension last update name.
Categories and tags
Extensions can set Categories and Tags describing their features.
You can filter on category and tag by using
category:
and
tag:
.
Supported categories are:
[Azure, Data Science, Debuggers, Education, Extension Packs, Formatters, Keymaps, Language Packs, Linters, Machine Learning, Notebooks, Others, Programming Languages, SCM Providers, Snippets, Testing, Themes, Visualization]
. They can be accessed through IntelliSense in the extensions search box:
Note that you must surround the category name in quotes if it is more than one word (for example,
category:"SCM Providers"
).
Tags may contain any string and are not provided by IntelliSense, so review the Marketplace to find helpful tags.
Getting Started with Python in VS Code
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use Python 3 in Visual Studio Code to create, run, and debug a Python “Roll a dice” application, work with virtual environments, use packages, and more! By using the Python extension, you turn VS Code into a great, lightweight Python editor.
If you are new to programming, check out the Visual Studio Code for Education – Introduction to Python course. This course offers a comprehensive introduction to Python, featuring structured modules in a ready-to-code browser-based development environment.
To gain a deeper understanding of the Python language, you can explore any of the programming tutorials listed on python.org within the context of VS Code.
For a Data Science focused tutorial with Python, check out our Data Science section.
Why use VSCode for Python?
Virtual Studio Code (VSCode) is a perfect Integrated Development Environment for Python. It is simple and comes with built-in features that enhance the development experience. VSCode Python extensions come with powerful features like syntax autocomplete, linting, debugging, unit testing, GitOps, virtual environments, notebooks, editing tools, and the ability to customize the editor.
Key Features:
- Command Palette to access all commands by typing keywords.
- Fully customizable keyboard shortcuts.
- Jupyter extension for data science. Run Jupyter notebook within the IDE.
- Auto linting and formatting.
- Debugging and Testing.
- Git integration.
- Custom code snippets.
- Enhanced editing tools. Multi cursor selection, column selection, outline view, side-by-side preview, and search and modify.
In this tutorial, we will start by installing Python and VSCode, then run a Python script in VSCode. After that, we will customize the editor to enhance the Python development experience by installing essential extensions and learning about built-in features. In the end, we will learn about Python productivity hacks.
Python Extension Pack
Unsure which extensions to recommend to your students? You can point your students to the Python Education Extension Pack that contains essential and helpful extensions for the classroom. You can download the extension pack from the VS Code Marketplace:
The extension pack contains:
- Python for basic Python functionality like compiling, debugging support, linting, Jupyter Notebooks, unit tests, and more.
- Live Share to enable real-time collaboration.
- Remote – SSH to work on remote projects (for example, to access lab machines) through SSH with full VS Code functionality.
- Markdown+Math for full LaTeX support in Markdown.
- Python Test Explorer for Visual Studio Code to visualize and run Python tests in the side bar.
- Code Runner to run snippets (selected code) and single files of any code with a single click.
Enhance completions with AI
GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered code completion tool that helps you write code faster and smarter. You can use the GitHub Copilot extension in VS Code to generate code, or to learn from the code it generates.
GitHub Copilot provides suggestions for languages beyond Python and a wide variety of frameworks, including JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Go, C# and C++.
You can learn more about how to get started with Copilot in the Copilot documentation.
Run Python code
Click the Run Python File in Terminal play button in the top-right side of the editor.
The button opens a terminal panel in which your Python interpreter is automatically activated, then runs
python3 hello.py
(macOS/Linux) or
python hello.py
(Windows):
There are three other ways you can run Python code within VS Code:
-
Right-click anywhere in the editor window and select Run > Python File in Terminal (which saves the file automatically):
-
Select one or more lines, then press Shift+Enter or right-click and select Run Selection/Line in Python Terminal. This command is convenient for testing just a part of a file.
-
From the Command Palette (⇧⌘P (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+P)), select the Python: Start REPL command to open a REPL terminal for the currently selected Python interpreter. In the REPL, you can then enter and run lines of code one at a time.
Congrats, you just ran your first Python code in Visual Studio Code!
Run/Debug chương trình python
Nhấn F5 để chạy chương trình Python.
Nhấn Ctrl + F5 để debug chương trình Python.
Kết quả:
Python in Visual Studio Code
Visual Studio Code is a free source code editor that fully supports Python and useful features such as real-time collaboration. It’s highly customizable to support your classroom the way you like to teach.
“Visual Studio Code is the best balance of authenticity and accessibility… Visual Studio Code doesn’t feel ‘fake’, it’s what real software developers use. Plus, Visual Studio Code works on every OS!” – Professor Zachary Dodds from Harvey Mudd College
Read below for recommendations for extensions, settings, and links to free lessons that you can use in your classes.
Configure and run the debugger
Let’s now try debugging our Python program. Debugging support is provided by the Python Debugger extension, which is automatically installed with the Python extension. To ensure it has been installed correctly, open the Extensions view (⇧⌘X (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+X)) and search for
@installed python debugger
. You should see the Python Debugger extension listed in the results.
Next, set a breakpoint on line 2 of
hello.py
by placing the cursor on the
Next, to initialize the debugger, press F5. Since this is your first time debugging this file, a configuration menu will open from the Command Palette allowing you to select the type of debug configuration you would like for the opened file.
Note: VS Code uses JSON files for all of its various configurations;
launch.json
is the standard name for a file containing debugging configurations.
Select Python File, which is the configuration that runs the current file shown in the editor using the currently selected Python interpreter.
The debugger will start, and then stop at the first line of the file breakpoint. The current line is indicated with a yellow arrow in the left margin. If you examine the Local variables window at this point, you can see that the
msg
variable appears in the Local pane.
A debug toolbar appears along the top with the following commands from left to right: continue (F5), step over (F10), step into (F11), step out (⇧F11 (Windows, Linux Shift+F11)), restart (⇧⌘F5 (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+F5)), and stop (⇧F5 (Windows, Linux Shift+F5)).
The Status Bar also changes color (orange in many themes) to indicate that you’re in debug mode. The Python Debug Console also appears automatically in the lower right panel to show the commands being run, along with the program output.
To continue running the program, select the continue command on the debug toolbar (F5). The debugger runs the program to the end.
Tip Debugging information can also be seen by hovering over code, such as variables. In the case of
msg
, hovering over the variable will display the string
Roll a dice!
in a box above the variable.
You can also work with variables in the Debug Console (If you don’t see it, select Debug Console in the lower right area of VS Code, or select it from the … menu.) Then try entering the following lines, one by one, at the > prompt at the bottom of the console:
msg msg.capitalize() msg.split()
Select the blue Continue button on the toolbar again (or press F5) to run the program to completion. “Roll a dice!” appears in the Python Debug Console if you switch back to it, and VS Code exits debugging mode once the program is complete.
If you restart the debugger, the debugger again stops on the first breakpoint.
To stop running a program before it’s complete, use the red square stop button on the debug toolbar (⇧F5 (Windows, Linux Shift+F5)), or use the Run > Stop debugging menu command.
For full details, see Debugging configurations, which includes notes on how to use a specific Python interpreter for debugging.
Tip: Use Logpoints instead of print statements: Developers often litter source code with
Configuring extensions
VS Code extensions may have very different configurations and requirements. Some extensions contribute settings to VS Code, which can be modified in the Settings editor. Other extensions may have their own configuration files. Extensions may also require installation and setup of additional components like compilers, debuggers, and command-line tools. Consult the extension’s README (visible in the Extensions view details page) or go to the extension page on the VS Code Marketplace (click on the extension name in the details page). Many extensions are open source and have a link to their repository on their Marketplace page.
Visual Studio Code Python for Data Science
Visual Studio Code allows users to simply run the data science code in Jupyter Notebook. We can run the cell and visualize the result within VSCode. It supports all kinds of programming languages and comes with built-in features to mimic the browser-based Jupyter notebook that we all love.
Learn more about Jupyter Notebooks by reading our How to use Jupyter Notebook tutorial.
To use the Jupyter notebook extension, we need to first install a Jupyter notebook.
pip install jupyterlab
Or
pip install notebook
Note: Jupyter Notebook and Jupyter Lab come with Anaconda Distribution, so we don’t have to install anything.
Install Jupyter Extension
After that, install the Jupyter extension from the Visual Studio marketplace.
To create a Jupyter notebook file, we can either create a new file with .ipynb extension or access the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and select Jupyter: Create New Jupyter Notebook.
Pick the Ipython Kernel
To initialize the Jupyter server, we need to select the kernel by clicking on the kernel picker in the top right of the notebook, as shown in the image.
Note: By default, Anaconda comes with Python version 3.9.13. You can download the latest version of Python 3.11, but it won’t support all packages.
Run the Jupyter cell
Write a print expression to display “Hello World” and press the run button.
Add another cell
You can use the B key or click on + Code to add a new cell and run the cell with Ctrl + ⤶ Enter. You can learn about Jupyter keyboard shortcuts on defkey.
For R language users, we have got a Notebooks for R tutorial. You will learn to use R in a Jupyter Notebook and useful features.
Note: if you are looking for a hassle-free way of using Jupyter Notebook, then try DataCamp Workspace. It comes with essential Python libraries, a pre-build environment, and it supports various database integration.
Intro to CS at Harvey Mudd College
Professor Zachary Dodds is a Computer Science professor at Harvey Mudd College who teaches several introductory classes both for students new to Computer Science and students from a non-Computer Science background. He co-created the popular introduction to Computer Science class CS5, which attracts students from all backgrounds to develop programming and problem-solving skills and to build “a coherent, intellectually compelling picture of Computer Science”. The class is taught with Python and uses VS Code as the recommended editor.
Why Visual Studio Code?
Professor Dodds has been recommending and using Visual Studio Code in his classes since it debuted in 2015.
“Visual Studio Code is the best balance of authenticity and accessibility… Visual Studio Code doesn’t feel ‘fake’, it’s what real software developers use. Plus, Visual Studio Code works on every OS!”
VS Code runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and even Chromebooks.
Classroom settings
Since VS Code is easy to customize, Professor Dodds is able to tailor the editor for his students, preferring to hide IntelliSense, or code completion suggestions, so they can learn from what they type and reinforce the conceptual models being built.
Here are the settings his students use:
"editor.quickSuggestions": false, "editor.acceptSuggestionOnCommitCharacter": false, "editor.suggest.filterGraceful": true, "editor.suggestOnTriggerCharacters": false, "editor.acceptSuggestionOnEnter": "on", "editor.suggest.showIcons": false, "editor.suggest.maxVisibleSuggestions": 7, "editor.hover.enabled": false, "editor.hover.sticky": false, "editor.suggest.snippetsPreventQuickSuggestions": false, "editor.parameterHints.enabled": false, "editor.wordBasedSuggestions": "matchingDocuments", "editor.tabCompletion": "on", "extensions.ignoreRecommendations": true, "files.autoSave": "afterDelay",
You can find the most up-to-date settings on his course website: CS5 – Python Tips.
Integrated Terminal
Professor Dodds also utilizes the built-in terminal heavily in his class as an introduction to running programs from the command line and navigating around their machine all within Visual Studio Code. He appreciates how “the built-in terminal panel does not try to automate too much (which, if it did, would deprive newcomers of the experience of the information-flow that’s going on).”
In the video below, the student does all of their command line and coding work in one place, such as installing Python libraries, while working on Lab 3 from the CS5 class:
Thank you, Professor Dodds, for sharing your story! If you’re interested in using VS Code to teach Python in your classes, you can get started with the Python Education Extension Pack below!
How to Run Python on VS Code
Once you have installed Python and VS Code on your device, you’ll have to write a code. This will help you run the Python extension in an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Here’s how to do it:
- Launch VS Code.
- Click “File,” located at the top left side of your VS Code window.
- Select “New Text File.”
- Type in “print (‘Hello World’)” on the right side of the pane.
- Press “Ctrl + S” to save the Python file.
- Click on “Run,” located at the top left of the window.
Ensure you always type in ‘.py’ at the end of the file name when saving.
Review elements in Solution Explorer
Take some time to familiarize yourself with Solution Explorer, where you can browse files and folders in your project.
-
(1) At the top level is the solution, which by default has the same name as your project. A solution, which is shown as an .sln file on disk, is a container for one or more related projects. For example, if you write a C++ extension for your Python application, that C++ project can be in the same solution. The solution might also contain a project for a web service, and projects for dedicated test programs.
-
(2) Your project is highlighted in bold and uses the name you entered in the Create a new project dialog. On disk, this project is represented by a .pyproj file in your project folder.
-
(3) Under your project you see source files. In this example, you have only a single .py file. Selecting a file displays its properties in the Properties window. If you don’t see the Properties window, select the wrench icon in the Solution Explorer banner. Double-clicking a file opens it in whatever way is appropriate for that file.
-
(4) Also under the project is the Python Environments node. Expand the node to show the available Python interpreters.
-
(5) Expand an interpreter node to see the libraries installed in that environment.
Right-click any node or item in Solution Explorer to show a context menu of applicable commands. For example, Rename lets you change the name of a node or item, including the project and the solution.
Run Python code
To experience Python, create a file (using the File Explorer) named
hello.py
and paste in the following code:
print("Hello World")
The Python extension then provides shortcuts to run Python code using the currently selected interpreter (Python: Select Interpreter in the Command Palette). To run the active Python file, click the Run Python File in Terminal play button in the top-right side of the editor.
You can also run individual lines or a selection of code with the Python: Run Selection/Line in Python Terminal command (Shift+Enter). If there isn’t a selection, the line with your cursor will be run in the Python Terminal. An identical Run Selection/Line in Python Terminal command is available on the context menu for a selection in the editor. The same terminal will be used every time you run a selection or a line in the terminal/REPL, until that terminal is closed. The same terminal is also used for Run Python File in Terminal. If that terminal is still running the REPL, you should exit the REPL (
exit()
) or switch to a different terminal before running a Python file.
The Python extension automatically removes indents based on the first non-empty line of the selection, shifting all other lines left as needed.
The command opens the Python Terminal if necessary; you can also open the interactive REPL environment directly using the Python: Start REPL command that activates a terminal with the currently selected interpreter and then runs the Python REPL.
For a more specific walkthrough and other ways of running code, see the run code tutorial.
Testing
The Python extension supports testing with Python’s built-in unittest framework and pytest.
In order to run tests, you must enable one of the supported testing frameworks in the settings of your project. Each framework has its own specific settings, such as arguments for identifying the paths and patterns for test discovery.
Once the tests have been discovered, VS Code provides a variety of commands (on the Status Bar, the Command Palette, and elsewhere) to run and debug tests. These commands also allow you to run individual test files and methods
Next steps
To learn how to build web apps with popular Python web frameworks, see the following tutorials:
There is then much more to explore with Python in Visual Studio Code:
- Python profile template – Create a new profile with a curated set of extensions, settings, and snippets
- Editing code – Learn about autocomplete, IntelliSense, formatting, and refactoring for Python.
- Linting – Enable, configure, and apply a variety of Python linters.
- Debugging – Learn to debug Python both locally and remotely.
- Testing – Configure test environments and discover, run, and debug tests.
- Settings reference – Explore the full range of Python-related settings in VS Code.
- Deploy Python to Azure App Service
- Deploy Python to Container Apps
Python in Visual Studio Code
Working with Python in Visual Studio Code, using the Microsoft Python extension, is simple, fun, and productive. The extension makes VS Code an excellent Python editor, and works on any operating system with a variety of Python interpreters. It leverages all of VS Code’s power to provide auto complete and IntelliSense, linting, debugging, and unit testing, along with the ability to easily switch between Python environments, including virtual and conda environments.
This article provides only an overview of the different capabilities of the Python extension for VS Code. For a walkthrough of editing, running, and debugging code, use the button below.
Create a Python source code file
From the File Explorer toolbar, select the New File button on the
hello
folder:
Name the file
hello.py
, and VS Code will automatically open it in the editor:
By using the
.py
file extension, you tell VS Code to interpret this file as a Python program, so that it evaluates the contents with the Python extension and the selected interpreter.
Note: The File Explorer toolbar also allows you to create folders within your workspace to better organize your code. You can use the New folder button to quickly create a folder.
Now that you have a code file in your Workspace, enter the following source code in
hello.py
:
msg = "Roll a dice" print(msg)
When you start typing
IntelliSense and auto-completions work for standard Python modules as well as other packages you’ve installed into the environment of the selected Python interpreter. It also provides completions for methods available on object types. For example, because the
msg
variable contains a string, IntelliSense provides string methods when you type
msg.
:
Finally, save the file (⌘S (Windows, Linux Ctrl+S)). At this point, you’re ready to run your first Python file in VS Code.
For full details on editing, formatting, and refactoring, see Editing code. The Python extension also has full support for Linting.
Run, debug, and test
Now that you are more familiar with Python in VS Code, let’s learn how to run, debug, and test your code.
Run
There are a few ways to run Python code in VS Code.
To run the Python script you have open on the editor, select the Run Python File in Terminal play button in the top-right of the editor.
There are also additional ways you can iteratively run snippets of your Python code within VS Code:
- Select one or more lines, then press Shift+Enter or right-click and select Run Selection/Line in Python Terminal. This command is convenient for testing just a part of a file.
- From the Command Palette (⇧⌘P (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+P)), select the Python: Start REPL command to open a REPL terminal for the currently selected Python interpreter. In the REPL, you can then enter and run lines of code one at a time.
Debug
The debugger is a helpful tool that allows you to inspect the flow of your code execution and more easily identify errors, as well as explore how your variables and data change as your program is run. You can start debugging by setting a breakpoint in your Python project by clicking in the gutter next to the line you wish to inspect.
To start debugging, initialize the debugger by pressing F5. Since this is your first time debugging this file, a configuration menu will open allowing you to select the type of application you want to debug. If it’s a Python script, you can select Python File.
Once your program reaches the breakpoint, it will stop and allow you to track data in the Python Debug console, and progress through your program using the debug toolbar.
For a deeper dive into Python debugging functionality, see Python debugging in VS Code.
Test
The Python extension provides robust testing support for Unittest and pytest.
You can configure Python tests through the Testing view on the Activity Bar by selecting Configure Python Tests and selecting your test framework of choice.
You can also create tests for your Python project, which the Python extension will attempt to discover once your framework of choice is configured. The Python extension also allows you to run and debug your tests in the Testing view and inspect the test run output in the Test Results panel.
For a comprehensive look at testing functionality, see Python testing in VS Code.
Next steps
To learn how to build web apps with popular Python web frameworks, see the following tutorials:
There is much more to explore with Python in Visual Studio Code:
- Python profile template – Create a new profile with a curated set of extensions, settings, and snippets
- Editing code – Learn about autocomplete, IntelliSense, formatting, and refactoring for Python.
- Linting – Enable, configure, and apply a variety of Python linters.
- Debugging – Learn to debug Python both locally and remotely.
- Testing – Configure test environments and discover, run, and debug tests.
- Settings reference – Explore the full range of Python-related settings in VS Code.
Sử dụng Visual Studio Code Python
Python đã trở thành một trong những ngôn ngữ lập trình phổ biến năm 2022.
Bài viết này sẽ hướng dẫn các bạn sử dụng Visual Studio Code – Một Editor đa năng phát triển bởi MicroSoft.
Để cài đặt
Các bạn download từ link bên dưới (Link chính thức của Microsoft) DOWNLOAD VISUAL STUDIO CODE
Việc cài đặt rất dễ dàng, bạn chọn file cài đặt tương ứng với hệ điều hành sử dụng, click đúp cài đặt phần mềm.
Các extension hỗ trợ lập trình
Visual Studio Code được Microsoft phát triển cho nhiều ngôn ngữ lập trình, nên để lập trình Python trên đó các bạn cài một số extension cần thiết.
Để cài extension bằng lệnh, trên VS code bấm tổ hợp phím [ Ctrl + P ], nhập lệnh cài đặt và gõ phím [ Enter ]
Để cài đặt thông thường các bạn bấm tổ hợp phím [ Ctrl + Shift + X ] hoặc bấm vào biểu tượng Extension trên VS code, tìm kiếm extension cần thiết bấm [ Install ] để cài đặt.
Hướng dẫn sử dụng VS
Tạo Workspace
Từ cửa sổ VS Code, bấm tổ hợp phím [ Ctrl + N ]
Tạo file hello-world.py
Lần sau bạn muốn mở lại Project chỉ cần chọn [ Ctrl + O ] browser tới file này.
Chạy python script
Sau khi tạo file hello-world.py, để chạy file này chúng ta kích chuột phải vào file chọn “Run python file in terminal”
Kết quả:
Một số mẹo hay khi lập trình Python bằng VS
a. Nhảy tới 1 function
Giữ phím [ Ctrl ] và bấm vào function, method để nhảy tới function mà bạn đã định nghĩa.
b. Format source code theo chuẩn PEP 8
python -m pip install -U autopep8 --user
Bấm tổ hợp phím [ Ctrl + Shift + I ] để format file source code cho chúng.
All rights reserved
Tutorial: Work with Python in Visual Studio
In this tutorial, you learn how to work with Python in Visual Studio. Python is a popular programming language that’s reliable, flexible, easy to learn, and free to use on all operating systems. Python is supported by a strong developer community and many free libraries. The language supports all kinds of development, including web applications, web services, desktop apps, scripting, and scientific computing. Many universities, scientists, casual developers, and professional developers use Python. Visual Studio provides first-class language support for Python.
This tutorial guides you through a six-step process:
- Step 1: Create a Python project (this article)
- Step 2: Write and run code to see Visual Studio IntelliSense at work
- Step 3: Create more code in the Interactive REPL window
- Step 4: Run the completed program in the Visual Studio debugger
- Step 5: Install packages and manage Python environments
- Step 6: Work with Git
This article covers the tasks in Step 1. You create a new project and review the UI elements visible in Solution Explorer.
Configuring Terminal Settings
Using VS Code will help you customize your terminals on VS Code. Follow these steps to complete this process:
- Open the “Terminal” menu.
- Find the arrow down button at the top right corner of your terminal window. Click on the arrow down button.
- Choose the “Configure Terminal Settings.”
Autocomplete and IntelliSense
The Python extension supports code completion and IntelliSense using the currently selected interpreter. IntelliSense is a general term for a number of features, including intelligent code completion (in-context method and variable suggestions) across all your files and for built-in and third-party modules.
IntelliSense quickly shows methods, class members, and documentation as you type. You can also trigger completions at any time with ⌃Space (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Space). Hovering over identifiers will show more information about them.
Python profile template
Profiles let you quickly switch your extensions, settings, and UI layout depending on your current project or task. To help you get started with Python development, you can use the Python profile template, which is a curated profile with useful extensions, settings, and snippets. You can use the profile template as is or use it as a starting point to customize further for you own workflows.
You select a profile template through the Profiles > Create Profile… dropdown:
Once you select a profile template, you can review the settings and extensions, and remove individual items if you don’t want to include them in your new Profile. After creating the new profile based on the template, changes made to settings, extensions, or UI are persisted in your profile.
Other popular Python extensions
The Microsoft Python extension provides all of the features described previously in this article. Additional Python language support can be added to VS Code by installing other popular Python extensions.
- Open the Extensions view (⇧⌘X (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+X)).
- Filter the extension list by typing ‘python’.
The extensions shown above are dynamically queried. Click on an extension tile above to read the description and reviews to decide which extension is best for you. See more in the Marketplace.
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