If you examine the Local variables window at this point, you will see now defined msg variable appears in the Local pane.

By using the Python extension, you make VS Code into a great lightweight Python IDE (which you may find a productive alternative to PyCharm).

Once you are familiar with the basics of VS Code, you can then follow any of the programming tutorials on python.org within the context of VS Code for an introduction to the language.

The Python extension is named Python and its published by Microsoft.

Which interpreter you use is dependent on your specific needs, but some guidance is provided below.

The Microsoft Store provides installs of Python 3.7, Python 3.8, and Python 3.9.

Be aware that you might have compatibility issues with some packages using this method.

To install Python using Homebrew on macOS use brew install python3 at the Terminal prompt.

Anaconda provides not just a Python interpreter, but many useful libraries and tools for data science.

If you choose this option, youll also want to install the Remote - WSL extension.

For more information about using WSL with VS Code, see VS Code Remote Development or try the Working in WSL tutorial, which will walk you through setting up WSL, installing Python, and creating a Hello World application running in WSL.

VS Code stores settings that are specific to that workspace in.vscodesettings.json, which are separate from user settings that are stored globally.

You can also use the Select Python Environment option on the Status Bar if available (it may already show a selected interpreter, too).

If you dont see the desired interpreter, see Configuring Python environments.

To see the setting, select File Preferences Settings ( Code Preferences Settings on macOS), then select the Workspace Settings tab.

The user setting makes sure you always have a default interpreter for Python projects.

You can use the New folder button to quickly create a folder.

It also provides completions for methods available on object types.

For example, because the msg variable contains a string, IntelliSense provides string methods when you type msg.

This command is convenient for testing just a part of a file.

In the REPL, you can then enter and run lines of code one at a time.

Alternately, just click in the editors left gutter, next to the line numbers.

When you set a breakpoint, a red circle appears in the gutter.

The current line is indicated with a yellow arrow in the left margin.

Visual Code