default Interpreter path is not respected when i open a project

[ManiMozaffar]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

VSCode doesn't respect the value i set in my user setting json. Idh similiar setting in workspace, so that's not what causing issue. it always show up as suggestion, but not as acitvated.
"python.defaultInterpreterPath": "${workspaceFolder}/.venv",
i have it like this

XXX

Steps to reproduce:

1. Not sure how, it just happens randomly alot. set a default interpreter path, and open serval different project, you'd see it doesn't always respect that.
   "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "${workspaceFolder}/.venv",

Diagnostic data

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

XXX

Extension version: 2024.10.0
VS Code version: Code 1.91.1 (f1e16e1e6214d7c44d078b1f0607b2388f29d729, 2024-07-09T22:07:46.768Z)
OS version: Darwin arm64 23.2.0
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.11.4
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Poetry
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

testing
• pytestArgs: "<placeholder>"
• pytestEnabled: true

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
autoDocstring - Python Docstring Generator	njpwerner.autodocstring	0.6.1
Babel JavaScript	mgmcdermott.vscode-language-babel	0.0.40
Biome	biomejs.biome	2.3.0
Dev Containers	ms-vscode-remote.remote-containers	0.375.1
Django	batisteo.vscode-django	1.15.0
Docker	ms-azuretools.vscode-docker	1.29.1
Draw.io Integration	hediet.vscode-drawio	1.6.6
ES7+ React/Redux/React-Native snippets	dsznajder.es7-react-js-snippets	4.4.3
Even Better TOML	tamasfe.even-better-toml	0.19.2
Fig	withfig.fig	0.0.7
File Utils	sleistner.vscode-fileutils	3.10.3
Git Graph	mhutchie.git-graph	1.30.0
Git History	donjayamanne.githistory	0.6.20
GitHub Copilot	GitHub.copilot	1.219.0
GitHub Copilot Chat	GitHub.copilot-chat	0.17.1
gitignore	codezombiech.gitignore	0.9.0
GitLens — Git supercharged	eamodio.gitlens	15.2.3
Gitmoji	seatonjiang.gitmoji-vscode	1.2.5
HTMLHint	HTMLHint.vscode-htmlhint	1.0.5
JavaScript and TypeScript Nightly	ms-vscode.vscode-typescript-next	5.6.20240727
JavaScript Debugger	ms-vscode.js-debug	1.91.0
JavaScript Debugger Companion Extension	ms-vscode.js-debug-companion	1.1.2
Jupyter	ms-toolsai.jupyter	2024.6.0
Jupyter Cell Tags	ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-cell-tags	0.1.9
Jupyter Keymap	ms-toolsai.jupyter-keymap	1.1.2
Jupyter Notebook Renderers	ms-toolsai.jupyter-renderers	1.0.18
Jupyter Slide Show	ms-toolsai.vscode-jupyter-slideshow	0.1.6
NPM	idered.npm	1.7.4
npm Intellisense	christian-kohler.npm-intellisense	1.4.5
Prettier - Code formatter	esbenp.prettier-vscode	10.4.0
Prettier ESLint	rvest.vs-code-prettier-eslint	6.0.0
Prettier SQL VSCode	inferrinizzard.prettier-sql-vscode	1.6.0
Pulumi YAML	pulumi.pulumi-lsp-client	0.2.3
Pylance	ms-python.vscode-pylance	2024.7.1
Python	ms-python.python	2024.10.0
Python Debugger	ms-python.debugpy	2024.8.0
Python Development Extensions Pack	demystifying-javascript.python-extensions-pack	1.0.3
Python Extension Pack	donjayamanne.python-extension-pack	1.7.0
Python Resource Monitor	kaih2o.python-resource-monitor	0.2.3
Python Test Explorer for Visual Studio Code	littlefoxteam.vscode-python-test-adapter	0.8.2
Python Type Hint	njqdev.vscode-python-typehint	1.5.1
Remote - SSH	ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh	0.112.0
Remote - SSH: Editing Configuration Files	ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh-edit	0.86.0
Remote Explorer	ms-vscode.remote-explorer	0.4.3
Ruff	charliermarsh.ruff	2024.36.0
rust	1YiB.rust-bundle	1.0.0
Rust Syntax	dustypomerleau.rust-syntax	0.6.1
rust-analyzer	rust-lang.rust-analyzer	0.3.2053
Simple React Snippets	burkeholland.simple-react-snippets	1.2.8
Table Visualizer for JavaScript Profiles	ms-vscode.vscode-js-profile-table	1.0.9
Test Adapter Converter	ms-vscode.test-adapter-converter	0.1.9
Test Explorer UI	hbenl.vscode-test-explorer	2.21.1
vscode-icons	vscode-icons-team.vscode-icons	12.8.0
vscode-rustfmt	statiolake.vscode-rustfmt	0.2.0
YAML	redhat.vscode-yaml	1.15.0
ytt lint	phil9909.ytt-lint	0.3.1

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Apple M2 Pro (10 x 2400)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled canvas_oop_rasterization: enabled_on direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled
Load (avg)	3, 7, 7
Memory (System)	16.00GB (0.73GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 7f3e3d6a-a02d-4b47-a7bb-7855a1921520
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

A/B Experiments

vsliv368:30146709
vspor879:30202332
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pythonnoceb:30805159
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pythonregdiag2:30936856
pythonmypyd1:30879173
h48ei257:31000450
pythontbext0:30879054
accentitlementsc:30995553
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cppperfnew:31000557
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pythoncenvpt:31062603
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dwnewjupytercf:31046870
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impr_priority:31102340
nativerepl1:31104043
refactort:31101459
ccplt:31103426
pythonrstrctxt:31103193

[karthiknadig]

@ManiMozaffar The python.defaultInterpreterPath should point to a binary, not just the .venv folder. it should be something like .venv/bin/python. Also, if you have a .venv in a workspace it should be auto selected. you don't need to add the python.defaultInterpreterPath to make it select it.

[karthiknadig]

Actually, could you share the logs from Output > Python

[ManiMozaffar]

@ManiMozaffar The python.defaultInterpreterPath should point to a binary, not just the .venv folder. it should be something like .venv/bin/python. Also, if you have a .venv in a workspace it should be auto selected. you don't need to add the python.defaultInterpreterPath to make it select it.

It actually does work. bcs when I'm trying to select interepeter, I see that first option is the correct python path, but mentioned "from default path". so I guess vscode is smartly trying to find python binary

Actually, could you share the logs from Output > Python

I can't reproduce it right now, it works now. but sometimes it happen. next time if it happened, i'd share the logs with you here.
I think it would be useful to have a setting called 'Interpreter Path' where users can specify a custom path instead of using the 'default' interpreter. VSCode could then use this specified path to activate the appropriate virtual environment if available. This would clarify the difference between the 'Interpreter Path' and the 'default Interpreter Path', especially given the presence of the suggestion bar, which seems to imply the existence of a specific interpreter path selection

[ManiMozaffar]

I think i know what's going on @karthiknadig

So I'm setting the default like this: "${workspaceFolder}/.venv" which is using "dynamic" path per project.

then it appear on my suggestion bar as recommended per setting, so when I pick it, it overwrite that path with absolute path that point to a certain project venv.
having a stupid "Interpreter Path" which just get respected everytime on all project is also ideally very good as my last comment.