Python in Visual Studio Code August 2020 Release

We are pleased to announce that theAugustrelease of the Python Extension forVisualStudio Code is now available. You candownload the Python extensionfrom theMarketplace, orinstall it directly from the extension gallery in Visual Studio Code. If you already have the Python extension installed, you can also get the latest update by restartingVisualStudio Code. You can learn more about Python support in Visual Studio Codein the documentation.

In this release weaddresseda total of38issues,and itincludes:

• Support for multiple Python interactive windows
• Pylanceas an officially supported language serversetting value
• Smart signature help withPylance

If youre interested, you can check thefull list of improvements inourchangelog.

Support for multiple Python interactive windows

Were excited to announce thatyou can now start multiple Python interactive windowswith thePython extension!This was one ofthemost requested featuresonthe PythoninVS Code GitHub repo.

By default, every time you run the Python: Create Python Interactive Window command in the command palette (View>Command Palette…), it will create anew interactive window in VS Code:

[Multiple interactive windows being created when running the "Python: Create Python Interactive Window" command]

Code cells from Python scripts by default will still be executedinasame interactive window. However, you cannowconfigurethePython extension torunseparatefilesinseparate interactive windows.Just open the settings page (File>Preferences>Settings),search for interactive window modeand change the setting value to perFile.

[Interactive Window Monde settings options (perFile, single and multiple).]

Now when you run cells from different files, they will each run ontheirown separate window:

[Running cells from each file into separate Python interactive windows. ]

If you would like to remain with the single interactive window behavior,you can set the value of the interactive window mode to single.

Pylanceas an officially supportedlanguage server value

This release includes support to officially addPylanceas a supported value in ourpython.languageServersetting. You can now setPylancevia the settings editor UI in Visual Studio Code.If you havent already installedPylance, you candownload it from the marketplaceor simply set this value and we will prompt you to install it!If you missedthe announcementabout our newPylancelanguage server, youcanread more about ithere.

[Configuration options for Language Server setting (Jedi, Pylance, Microsoft, None) ]

Improved signature help for overloaded functionsinPylance

Pylancehas alsoimproved how it displayssignature help when you are invoking a function with multiple overrides. You can nownavigate between signatures easily whilePylancebolds the appropriate activeparameter.

[Smart signature help with pylance.]

Other Changes and Enhancements

We have also added enhancements and fixed issues requested by users that should improve your experience working with Python in Visual Studio Code. Some notable changes include:

• Cell editing shortcuts for python interactive cellsthat helpmakedoingdata science work directly in Pythonfileseven moreproductive (thanks to@earthastronaut!). (#12414)
• Added a command to restartthelanguage server. (#3073)
• Update to the latest version ofjedi(0.17.2). This adds support for Python 3.9 and fixes somebugs, butis expected to be the last release to support Python 2.7 and 3.5. (thanksPeter Law). (#13037)

Were constantlyA/B testingnew features. If you see something different that was not announced by the team, you may be part of the experiment! To see if you are part of an experiment, you can check the first lines in the Python extension output channel. If you wish to opt-outofA/B testing, you can open the usersettings.jsonfile (View>Command Palette…and runPreferences: Open Settings (JSON))and set the “python.experiments.enabled” setting tofalse.

Be sure to download the Python extension forVisualStudio Code now to try out the above improvements. If you run into any problemsor have suggestions,please file an issue on the Python VS Code GitHub page.