Visual Studio Code Terminal keeps running Python script in Powershell

Question

I recently installed both Python and Visual Studio Code. After taking an intro class I wrote a basic script and ran it in Visual Studio Code. That's when I noticed a problem with the way Python is setup in my Visual Studio code. Problem: When I start Visual Studio Code and open a python file, the Terminal defaults to "C:\Users\my_name\Documents Python" (this is the folder my python files are stored in). From what I understand, when you're in Python, the prompt should be ">>>". I am able to run my script but i cannot run any other Python code (ie something as simple as z = 5) in the terminal. If I type in "Python", I am prompted with ">>>" but can no longer run my script.

I thought this was an installation issue so i uninstalled and reinstalled both Python and Visual but the problem persists.

I tried adding the Python file path to where the program is installed to the windows environment under system settings and also clicked "Add to Path" when reinstalling Python but none of these solutions seemed to work.

when basic python code (ie z=5) doesn't seem to work but the script runs fine I get the error message below:

PS C:\Users\my_name\Documents\Python 2> z=5
z=5 : The term 'z=5' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ z=5
+ ~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (z=5:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

Below is the error message I get after I switch to python and try running my script

PS C:\Users\my_name\Documents\Python 2> python
Python 3.7.4 (tags/v3.7.4:e09359112e, Jul  8 2019, 19:29:22) [MSC v.1916 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> & C:/Users/my_name/AppData/Local/Programs/Python/Python37-32/python.exe "c:/Users/my_name/Documents/Python 2/new2.py"
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    & C:/Users/my_name/AppData/Local/Programs/Python/Python37-32/python.exe "c:/Users/my_name/Documents/Python 2/new2.py"
    ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>>

Answer 1

There is nothing wrong with your setup. It looks you miss basic understanding of different ways to execute python code.

VS Code has integrated terminal. From there You can run your python script ie file with py extension same as you are on terminal/cmd/powershell. That is common way to write and execute code.

When you type python and hit enter you start python interactive shell. That is when you get >>> prompt. Your python interpreter evaluate and execute each line as you type in and hit enter. Same will happen if you type in python in cmd/powershell outside VS Code. Interactive mode is used more or less to experiment, test simple ideas, simple code examples, etc. but the code you type in is lost once you exit the interactive mode by >>>exit() .

for further reference you may check

• VSCode from start
• How to execute python code

Answer 2

After reading the documentation above, I also had a similar problem after running scripts. I think that VSC is exiting out of python after running a script and requires starting up the python terminal again. I wonder if VSC can default to python after running a script instead of exiting out to powershell.

Answer 3

I figured out what the issue was here. Visual code thought Python was installed in the directory that my .py files are saved in as opposed to the actual location under program files. The path had to be edited under settings.

Answer 4

When you are in debug mode and stopped, you can type interactive Python in the 'Debug Window'. Useful for inspecting objects, variables, etc.

Otherwise as suggested, I just type "Python" in the terminal to get the interactive Python prompt ('>>>').