Start Python interactive mode to run Python code one line at a time. Install Visual Studio Code, Python, and the Python extension for Visual Studio Code on your computer. Create a Python script file and write Python code in Visual Studio Code. Run your Python script file. Visual Studio Python documentation. Tutorials and conceptual articles about developing Python apps with Visual Studio.
Summary: in this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use set up Visual Studio Code for Python.
Visual Studio Code is a lightweight source code editor. The Visual Studio Code is often called VS Code.
The VS Code runs on your desktop. It’s available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
VS Code comes with many features such as IntelliSense, code editing, and extensions that allow you to edit Python source code effectively. The best part is that the VS Code is open-source and free.
This tutorial teaches you how to set up Visual Studio Code for Python environment so that you can edit, run, and debug Python code.
Select Programming Languages Python Tools for Visual Studio and then Next: Once Visual Studio setup is complete, install a Python interpreter of your choice. Visual Studio 2015 supports only Python 3.5 and earlier; later versions generate a message like Unsupported Python version 3.6). IronPython and Python Tools for Visual Studio (PTVS) are different things. PTVS is a free & open source plug-in for Visual Studio 2010 from Microsoft's Developer Division. It allows you to code python using Visual Studio, gaining the benefits to use all the major productivity features of Visual Studio. Visual Studio searches the registry to detect global installed python environments by following PEP 514 as described in Install Python interpreters. To Question 2: Open the Visual Studio Installer again and change the current installation by selecting only the python interpreters you need (you will find they in the Components tab).
Setting up Visual Studio Code
To setup the VS Code, you follows these steps:
First, navigate to the VS Code official website and download the VS code based on your platform (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
Second, launch the setup wizad and follow the steps.
Once the installation completes, you can launch the VS code application:
Ms Visual Studio Python Ide
Install Python Extension
Python Ide Visual Studio Code
To make the VS Code works with Python, you need to install the Python extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace.
The following picture illustrates the steps:
- First, click the Extensions tab.
- Second, type the
python
keyword on the search input. - Third, click the
Python
extension. It’ll show detailed information on the right pane. - Finally, click the Install button to install the Python extension.
Now, you’re ready to develop the first program in Python.
-->To install Python support for Visual Studio (also known as Python Tools for Visual Studio or PTVS), follow the instructions in the section that matches your version of Visual Studio:
To quickly test Python support after following the installation steps, open the Python Interactive window by pressing Alt+I and entering 2+2
. If you don't see the output of 4
, recheck your steps.
Tip
The Python workload includes the helpful Cookiecutter extension that provides a graphical user interface to discover templates, input template options, and create projects and files. For details, see Use Cookiecutter.
Note
Python support is not presently available in Visual Studio for Mac, but is available on Mac and Linux through Visual Studio Code. See questions and answers.
Visual Studio 2019 and Visual Studio 2017
Download and run the latest Visual Studio installer. If you have Visual Studio installed already, run the Visual Studio Installer, select the Modify option (see Modify Visual Studio) and go to step 2.
Tip
The Community edition is for individual developers, classroom learning, academic research, and open source development. For other uses, install Visual Studio 2019 Professional or Visual Studio 2019 Enterprise.
The installer presents you with a list of workloads, which are groups of related options for specific development areas. For Python, select the Python development workload.
Optional: if you're working with data science, also consider the Data science and analytical applications workload. This workload includes support for the Python, R, and F# languages. For more information, see Data science and analytical applications workload.
Note
The Python and Data Science workloads are available only with Visual Studio 2017 version 15.2 and later.
Optional: if you're working with data science, also consider the Data science and analytical applications workload. This workload includes support for the Python and F# languages. For more information, see Data science and analytical applications workload.
On the right side of the installer, chose additional options if desired. Skip this step to accept the default options.
Option Description Python distributions Choose any combination of the available options, such as 32-bit and 64-bit variants of the Python 2, Python 3, Miniconda, Anaconda2, and Anaconda3 distributions that you plan to work with. Each includes the distribution's interpreter, runtime, and libraries. Anaconda, specifically, is an open data science platform that includes a wide range of pre-installed packages. (You can return to the Visual Studio installer at any time to add or remove distributions.) Note: If you've installed a distribution outside of the Visual Studio installer, there's no need to check the equivalent option here. Visual Studio automatically detects existing Python installations. See The Python Environments window. Also, if a newer version of Python is available than what's shown in the installer, you can install that version separately and Visual Studio will detect it. Cookiecutter template support Installs the Cookiecutter graphical UI to discover templates, input template options, and create projects and files. See Use the Cookiecutter extension. Python web support Installs tools for web development including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript editing support, along with templates for projects using the Bottle, Flask, and Django frameworks. See Python web project templates. Python IoT support Supports Windows IoT Core development using Python. Python native development tools Installs the C++ compiler and other necessary components to develop native extensions for Python. See Create a C++ extension for Python. Also install the Desktop development with C++ workload for full C++ support. Azure Cloud Services core tools Provides additional support for developer Azure Cloud Services in Python. See Azure cloud service projects. Option Description Python distributions Choose any combination of the available options, such as 32-bit and 64-bit variants of the Python 2, Python 3, Miniconda, Anaconda2, and Anaconda3 distributions that you plan to work with. Each includes the distribution's interpreter, runtime, and libraries. Anaconda, specifically, is an open data science platform that includes a wide range of pre-installed packages. (You can return to the Visual Studio installer at any time to add or remove distributions.) Note: If you've installed a distribution outside of the Visual Studio installer, there's no need to check the equivalent option here. Visual Studio automatically detects existing Python installations. See The Python Environments window. Also, if a newer version of Python is available than what's shown in the installer, you can install that version separately and Visual Studio will detect it. Cookiecutter template support Installs the Cookiecutter graphical UI to discover templates, input template options, and create projects and files. See Use the Cookiecutter extension. Python web support Installs tools for web development including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript editing support, along with templates for projects using the Bottle, Flask, and Django frameworks. See Python web project templates. Python native development tools Installs the C++ compiler and other necessary components to develop native extensions for Python. See Create a C++ extension for Python. Also install the Desktop development with C++ workload for full C++ support. Azure Cloud Services core tools Provides additional support for developer Azure Cloud Services in Python. See Azure cloud service projects. After installation, the installer provides options to modify, launch, repair, or uninstall Visual Studio. The Modify button changes to Update when updates to Visual Studio are available for any installed components. (The Modify option is then available on the drop-down menu.) You can also launch Visual Studio and the installer from the Windows Start menu by searching on 'Visual Studio'.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter problems installing or running Python in Visual Studio, try the following:
- Determine whether the same error occurs using the Python CLI, that is, running python.exe from a command prompt.
- Use the Repair option in the Visual Studio installer.
- Repair or reinstall Python through Settings > Apps & features in Windows.
Example error: Failed to start interactive process: System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception (0x80004005): Unknown error (0xc0000135) at Microsoft.PythonTools.Repl.PythonInteractiveEvaluator.d__43.MoveNext().
Microsoft Visual Studio Python Ide
Visual Studio 2015
Run the Visual Studio installer through Control Panel > Programs and Features, selecting Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 and then Change.
In the installer, select Modify.
Select Programming Languages > Python Tools for Visual Studio and then Next:
Once Visual Studio setup is complete, install a Python interpreter of your choice. Visual Studio 2015 supports only Python 3.5 and earlier; later versions generate a message like Unsupported Python version 3.6). If you already have an interpreter installed and Visual Studio doesn't detect it automatically, see Manually identify an existing environment.
Visual Studio 2013 and earlier
Install the appropriate version of Python Tools for Visual Studio for your version of Visual Studio:
- Visual Studio 2013: PTVS 2.2.2 for Visual Studio 2013. The File > New Project dialog in Visual Studio 2013 gives you a shortcut for this process.
- Visual Studio 2010 and 2012: PTVS 2.1.1 for Visual Studio 2010 and 2012
Install a Python interpreter of your choice. If you already have an interpreter installed and Visual Studio doesn't detect it automatically, see Manually identify an existing environment.
Install locations
By default, Python support is installed for all users on a computer.
For Visual Studio 2019 and Visual Studio 2017, the Python workload is installed in %ProgramFiles(x86)%Microsoft Visual Studio<VS_version><VS_edition>Common7IDEExtensionsMicrosoftPython where <VS_version> is 2019 or 2017 and <VS_edition> is Community, Professional, or Enterprise.
For Visual Studio 2015 and earlier, installation paths are as follows:
- 32-bit:
- Path: %Program Files(x86)%Microsoft Visual Studio <VS_ver>Common7IDEExtensionsMicrosoftPython Tools for Visual Studio<PTVS_ver>
- Registry location of path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftPythonTools<VS_ver>InstallDir
- 64-bit:
- Path: %Program Files%Microsoft Visual Studio <VS_ver>Common7IDEExtensionsMicrosoftPython Tools for Visual Studio<PTVS_ver>
- Registry location of path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftPythonTools<VS_ver>InstallDir
where:
- <VS_ver> is:
- 14.0 for Visual Studio 2015
- 12.0 for Visual Studio 2013
- 11.0 for Visual Studio 2012
- 10.0 for Visual Studio 2010
- <PTVS_ver> is a version number, such as 2.2.2, 2.1.1, 2.0, 1.5, 1.1, or 1.0.
User-specific installations (1.5 and earlier)
Python Tools for Visual Studio 1.5 and earlier allowed installation for the current user only, in which case the installation path is %LocalAppData%MicrosoftVisualStudio<VS_ver>ExtensionsMicrosoftPython Tools for Visual Studio<PTVS_ver> where <VS_ver> and <PTVS_ver> are the same as described above.