Virtual environment from an unrelated directory gets selected

[brettcannon]

Filed on behalf of @gvanrossum ...

Behaviour

Expected vs. Actual

When I open a repo directory (I use the command line: code ~/<dirname>/), a seemingly random venv gets activated. What I want is: either a venv with a standard name (e.g. 'venv' or '.venv') in that repo (whether or not it's managed by git) is activated, or possibly a venv with a standard name from my home directory (e.g. ~/venv or ~/.venv). But what I get is a venv in some other repo that I might have last opened days or weeks ago gets activated. And sometimes no venv gets activated. I don't know how to control what happens, which is probably the most frustrating part.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Open VS Code on a repo, say ~/cpython.
2. In the shell, type 'code ~/peps/'.
3. In the new VS Code window that appears, create a shell window.
4. Observe that in that shell window, another repo's venv is opened, say ~/devguide/venv/.

Diagnostic data

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.8.5
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Venv
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Pylance

Output for Python in the Output panel (View→Output, change the drop-down the upper-right of the Output panel to Python)

2023-08-15 15:29:54.747 [info] Experiment 'pythonPromptNewFormatterExt' is active
2023-08-15 15:29:54.747 [info] Experiment 'pythonPromptNewToolsExt' is active
2023-08-15 15:29:54.747 [error] Dir "/Users/guido/peps" is not watchable (too many files)
2023-08-15 15:29:54.747 [info] Test server listening.
2023-08-15 15:29:54.747 [info] Python interpreter path: ~/devguide/venv/bin/python
2023-08-15 15:29:56.776 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2023-08-15 15:30:06.160 [info] Send text to terminal: source /Users/guido/devguide/venv/bin/activate

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

[karrtikr]

Can I please get a screenshot of the interpreter list right after step 2 when ~/peps was opened? Use Python: Select Interpreter command:

Btw here's how we automatically choose environments: official documentation. If a local venv is present, we ideally should be choosing that.

[gvanrossum]

Here are screenshots of the top and bottom of that menu. FWIW today the outcome is different— it chooses ~/.venv, which is more reasonable. python.org/~guido

…

________________________________ From: Kartik Raj ***@***.***> Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2023 11:42:02 AM To: microsoft/vscode-python ***@***.***> Cc: Manual ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [microsoft/vscode-python] Virtual environment from an unrelated directory gets selected (Issue #21825) Can I please get a screenshot of the interpreter list right after step 2 when ~/peps was opened? Use Python: Select Interpreter command: [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/13199757/261404590-3b8a2aa1-6358-43f3-9b8f-4ddc065354d1.png> Btw here's how we automatically choose environments: official documentation<https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/environments#_how-the-extension-chooses-an-environment-automatically>. If a local venv is present, we ideally should be choosing that. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#21825 (comment)> or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-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ou are receiving this email because you are subscribed to this thread. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS<https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>.

[karrtikr]

Sorry but I don't see any screenshots 😅 maybe because the comment was sent through an email?

[gvanrossum]

Using a phone. I will try again when I have my work laptop, Monday. python.org/~guido

…

________________________________ From: Kartik Raj ***@***.***> Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2023 4:52:35 PM To: microsoft/vscode-python ***@***.***> Cc: Comment ***@***.***>; Manual ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [microsoft/vscode-python] Virtual environment from an unrelated directory gets selected (Issue #21825) Sorry but I don't see any screenshots 😅 maybe because the comment was sent through an email? [image]<https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/13199757/261464960-94aadc3c-7ff1-44f0-8c7a-0693daff0323.png> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#21825 (comment)> or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAWCWMW23RO2T6KNIYFQ44LXV2VEHBFKMF2HI4TJMJ2XIZLTSWBKK5TBNR2WLJDUOJ2WLJDOMFWWLO3UNBZGKYLEL5YGC4TUNFRWS4DBNZ2F6YLDORUXM2LUPGBKK5TBNR2WLJDUOJ2WLJDOMFWWLLTXMF2GG2C7MFRXI2LWNF2HTAVFOZQWY5LFUVUXG43VMWSG4YLNMWVXI2DSMVQWIX3UPFYGLAVFOZQWY5LFVE3TCNZRGM4DCMJZURXGC3LFVFUGC427NRQWEZLMQKSXMYLMOVS2UMJRGM4DCNZUGUZDHJDOMFWWLKLIMFZV63DBMJSWZLDTOVRGUZLDORPXI6LQMWWES43TOVSUG33NNVSW45FGORXXA2LDOOKIFJDUPFYGLKTSMVYG643JORXXE6NFOZQWY5LFVEYTANRUGYZDONRVQKSHI6LQMWSWS43TOVS2K5TBNR2WLKRRHA2TGOBXHA4DCNUCUR2HS4DFUVWGCYTFNSSXMYLMOVS2SNZRG4YTGOBRGE4YFJDUPFYGLJLMMFRGK3FFOZQWY5LFVIYTCMZYGE3TINJSGOTXI4TJM5TWK4VGMNZGKYLUMU>. You are receiving this email because you commented on the thread. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS<https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>.

[gvanrossum]

Try these.

[karrtikr]

What I want is: either a venv with a standard name (e.g. 'venv' or '.venv') in that repo

I can confirm that "⭐" appears next to the interpreter which is expected to be selected (./venv/bin/python), so at least our guess is right. But our recommended interpreter was overridden by one of two things:

• "python.defaultInterpreterPath": Did you set this setting? If not, please remove it from "User settings" or settings.json in your repository.
• Previously configured interpreter using the menu. This can be cleared using Python: Clear cache and reload window command for all repos, or Python: Clear Workspace setting command for current repo.

[karrtikr]

My guess is, "python.defaultInterpreterPath" was previously inadvertently set in User settings, this can happen when working on an isolated Python file without opening a repo/project in VS Code.

We can look into improving this experience if that's the case.

[github-actions]

Because we have not heard back with the information we requested, we are closing this issue for now. If you are able to provide the info later on, then we will be happy to re-open this issue to pick up where we left off.

Happy Coding!