Python with Visual Studio Code - Run specific file

Question

I am writing a small application with Visual Studio Code and Python. My application have these files:

Main.py
MyCustomClass.py

Basically, the Main.py is the entry point to the application. The other class is just logic to solve some problems.

While I developing the code, I test it, by running it, step by step. I run the application with F5 which is running the current file I'm editing. It can be the file MyCustomClass.py which doesn't have an entry point at all and I'm losing time to swap between files.

Is it possible to configure Visual Studio Code to run a specific file ( Main.py ) while running ( F5 )? No matter which file I am currently viewing.

Answer 1

You need to edit your launch.json file. A quick way to do it is to click the wrench icon on the run toolbar :

---

Then add the following to the launch.json file:

    {
        "name": "Python: main.py (Integrated Terminal)",
        "type": "python",
        "request": "launch",
        "program": "${workspaceFolder}/main.py",
        "console": "integratedTerminal"
    },

Above is my configuration, and the "program" line is what does the magic.

Answer 2

The program setting in your launch configuration settings refers to the Python script that will be executed. By default, it is set to ${file} which refers to the file you are actively editing. Just set the value to the file you want to run.

{
   "name": "Python",
   "type": "python",
   "request": "launch",
   "stopOnEntry": true,
   "pythonPath": "${config:python.pythonPath}",
   "program": "main.py",  // Specify the full path to your file
   "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
   "env": {},
   "envFile": "${workspaceFolder}/.env",
   "debugOptions": [
       "RedirectOutput"
   ]
},

I should mention that if you are using Windows you can use either forward slashes / or double back slashes \\ in the program path. Single back slashes won't work.

Answer 3

it's a good practice to test your application through Python unit test. VSCode as most IDEs has features for Python unit tests. https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/unit-testing