Refs:

• macOS @aiday-mar
• linux @joshspicer
• windows @bhavyaus

Complexity: 5

Create Issue

🧪 Test Plan: Exploratory Scenarios for Python Environments Extension

📌 Objective

Explore key features of the Python Environments extension, including environment selection, creation, activation, and usage. This is getting ready for the MVP of the extension and that everything makes sense.

You do not need to test every item. Try a few scenarios and report anything unexpected or confusing.

🛠 Setup

1. Open a Python project or create a new folder with a .py file
2. Ensure the Python Environments Extension is installed and enabled
3. Open the Python sidebar (🐍 icon in the Activity Bar)

✅ Scenarios to Try

🔹 1. Select and Switch Between Environments

• Use Command Palette → Python: Select Environment
  OR use the Python sidebar to view and set an environment
• Try having two different venvs in the same folder or workspace
• Confirm:
  • You can switch between them using the sidebar or command palette
  • The selected interpreter updates in the status bar
  • Sidebar shows accurate package info for the selected environment

🔹 2. Auto-Create Environment

• Use the Python sidebar and select “Quick Create” under environments
• Choose a virtual environment (e.g., venv)
• Confirm:
  • The environment is created and selected automatically
  • You can see it listed in the sidebar

🔹 3. Install a Package via Sidebar

• With an environment selected, use the Python sidebar to install a package (e.g., requests)
• Confirm:
  • Package appears in the sidebar under "Installed Packages"
  • You can import and use the package in a script
  • No UI glitches or misleading errors

🔹 4. Terminal Activation

• Open a new terminal in VS Code
• Confirm:
  • The correct environment is activated automatically
  • which python points to the selected environment’s interpreter

🔹 5. Code Execution

• Create or open a Python script
• Run the file using:
  • The run button (▶️)
  • Right-click → "Run Python File in Terminal"
• Confirm:
  • The code runs using the active environment
  • Installed packages are importable and work as expected

🔹 6. Sidebar Usability and Reload Behavior

• Explore the Python sidebar
  • Try creating, selecting, and inspecting environments
  • Check that buttons and labels are clear and actions do what you expect
• Reload the window (Developer: Reload Window)
  • Confirm the sidebar reloads correctly
  • Environment selection and package info persist and reappear as expected