1. The basics of Python development in VS Code

1.1. Some facts & figures

• Stack Overflow Annual Developer Surveys: VS Code is the most popular integrated development environment (IDE) since 2018.

  Year	VS Code*	Rank
  2015	Release	-
  2016	7%	13
  2017	23%	5
  2018	35%	1
  2019	51%	1
  2020	-	-
  2021	71%	1
  2022	74%	1
  2023	74%	1

  *Percentage of respondents using VS Code as a developer environment (multiple answers possible).

• 2022 State of the Octoverse: github.com/microsoft/vscode is #1 repository on GitHub by number of contributors

• The VS Code Marketplace has 49k extensions as of July 2023

What brought us to VS Code?

1.2. Getting started

A brief overview of VS Code.

• Launching VS Code

  • Local (Desktop icon / code .)

  • Browser: Primary option for workshop (https://vscode.dev/, . on any GitHub page)

Prep Exercise

Follow the setup instructions in the README. For quick set-up we recommend using Codespaces directly from GitHub!

1.3. An anatomy of the VS Code UI

How to navigate VS Code’s user interface.

• Command Palette / Command center

• Activity bar

  • Open folder

  • Search

  • Help: ?

• Status bar

• Panel

• Accessibility (color themes, screen readers, screencast mode, etc.)

• VS Code terminal (xtermjs)

• Navigating without a mouse

Exercise: Explore VS Code accessibility

1. Browse to the tutorial repo on GitHub and try opening it either in your browser (press . when on repo page) or cloning it locally and opening with code ..

2. Use the Command Palette to Zoom in and Zoom out (editor and/or view).

3. Search for Color Themes using the Extensions tab. You can find extensions or color themes that are accessible for color vision deficiencies, for example, take a look at the color blind-friendly extensions. If you are using a screen reader such as NVDA, JAWS and VoiceOver, try using it with VS Code!

4. Use the Command Palette or “gear” icon to change your Color Theme to a non-default one.

1.4. Customize your UI

More fun and helpful UI features and settings.

• Some key settings to check:

  • Customizing Telemetry

  • Color themes: Dark, Colorblind

  • Auto save

  • Files default language

• Settings sync

• Profiles

  • Python Dev profile template

  • Data Science profile template

  • Sarah’s profile collection

• Extensions marketplace

  • Don’t see what you need? Make your own!

Exercise: Share your profile

1. Create a new profile or use one of the templates.

2. Either in your local or browser-based VS Code, try customizing some settings, themes, font sizes, etc.

3. Export your current profile as a gist (or locally if you prefer).

4. Copy-paste the URL for your profile gist, and add it to the discussion page.

5. Try making a profile for presenting/screencasting or maybe a distraction-free writing space and take turns sharing all your cool new profiles with your team 😄

6. Try importing a profile created by someone else via the Profiles > Import Profile... option in the Gear menu! You can find @crazy4pi314’s profiles here.

1.5. Setting up for Python development

We will set up a Python project and install the necessary extensions. This piece is fairy quick and self-guided.

• Python Environments in VS Code

  • Default intrepreter settings

  • Python environment manager

• Common Python extensions

  • Python extension pack by Don Jayamanne

  • Jupyter

  • formatters / linters: pylint, flake8, black, autopep8, …

Exercise: New Python project from scratch

1. In the Codespace for this workshop or locally (in a Dev Container) on your machine, create a new virtual environment by running:

cd scipy-vscode-tutorial
conda install -n base -c conda-forge mamba
mamba env create -f environment.yml
conda activate tutorial

2. Install the tutorial package by running:

pip install -e .

3. Use the Command Palette to run the Python: Select Interpreter command and set it to the tutorial environment you just created.

4. Use the Command Palette to create a new Interactive Window using the Jupyter: Create Interactive Window command.

5. Run the following lines to test your environment:

from tutorial import welcome
welcome()