Python Debugging in VS Code

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Let’s talk about debugging Python code using the most popular text editor for coding these days Visual Studio Code (VS Code). But first, let me ask you a question. Have you ever tried to run your Python script only to have it crash or produce unexpected results? Well, my friend, that’s where debugging comes in!

Debugging is the process of finding and fixing errors in code. It can be frustrating, but with VS Code, we’ve got some pretty cool tools at our disposal. ).

Step 1: Install the Python extension for VS Code
To start, let me ask you a question. Have you already installed the Python extension for VS Code? If not, go ahead and install it by clicking on “Extensions” in the left-hand menu or pressing Ctrl + Shift + X (Windows/Linux) or Command + Option + E (Mac). Or if you prefer to do everything from the command line, open up your terminal (or integrated terminal) and run:

# This script installs the Python extension for VS Code if it is not already installed.

# Check if the extension is already installed by listing all installed extensions and searching for the Python extension.
# The output of the command is piped to grep to search for the string "ms-python.python".
# The -q flag is used to suppress any output from the command.
if ! code --list-extensions | grep -q "ms-python.python"; then
    # If the extension is not found, install it using the --install-extension flag and the extension name.
    code --install-extension ms-python.python
fi

# The code command is used to interact with VS Code from the command line.
# The --list-extensions flag lists all installed extensions.
# The output of the command is piped to grep to search for the string "ms-python.python".
# The -q flag is used to suppress any output from the command.
# If the extension is found, the script will exit without installing it.
# If the extension is not found, the script will continue to the next command.
if code --list-extensions | grep -q "ms-python.python"; then
    # If the extension is found, print a message to the user.
    echo "Python extension for VS Code is already installed."
else
    # If the extension is not found, print a message to the user.
    echo "Installing Python extension for VS Code..."
    # Install the extension using the --install-extension flag and the extension name.
    code --install-extension ms-python.python
    # Print a message to the user confirming the installation.
    echo "Python extension for VS Code has been installed."
fi

Step 2: Create a launch configuration for debugging
Now that we’ve got our extension installed, let’s create a launch configuration for debugging. To do this, click on “Run and Debug” in the left-hand menu or press Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows/Linux) or Command + Option + D (Mac). This will open up the Run and Debug view.

Next, click on the green plus sign to create a new configuration. Select Python: Create a New Launch Configuration.

In the “Launch Configurations” window that pops up, give your launch configuration a name like “Python Debugger.” Then select “Python File (python)” as the type and click on “Create.”

Step 3: Set up debugging options
Now let’s set up some debugging options. In the “Debug Configuration” window that pops up, you can customize your launch configuration to fit your needs. Here are a few of the most important settings:

– Program: This is where you specify which Python script you want to run. You can use ${file} to automatically select the current file or enter the full path to your script if it’s not in the same directory as your VS Code project.

– Console: This specifies how output from your program will be displayed. The default is “integratedTerminal,” which displays output in a separate terminal window within VS Code. You can also choose “internalConsole” to display output in the debug console or “externalTerminal” if you prefer to use an external terminal.

– Auto Reload: This option automatically reloads your code when it changes, so you don’t have to manually restart the debugger every time you make a change. To enable this feature, set {“enable”: true} in your launch configuration.

Step 4: Set breakpoints and run your script
Now that we’ve got our launch configuration set up, how to use it. First, open the Python file you want to debug by clicking on its name in the Explorer view or pressing Ctrl + P (Windows/Linux) or Command + P (Mac). Then click on the line of code where you want to add a breakpoint. You can do this by clicking on the left-hand side of the editor window, or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + B (Windows/Linux) or Command + Option + Break (Mac).

Once you’ve added your breakpoints, click on the green “Run” button in the Run and Debug view. This will start debugging your script. When it hits a breakpoint, VS Code will pause execution and display the current line of code in the editor window. You can then use the debug console to inspect variables or step through your code using keyboard shortcuts like F5 (Windows/Linux) or Command + Shift + Y (Mac).

That’s it! With these simple steps, you should be able to set up Python debugging in VS Code and start finding those ***** bugs.

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