Python Locator identifying wrong version

[cnf]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

Python locator is insisting the python version in the .venv is in fact the previous version.
The .venv was removed, the environment was rebuilt with nix-shell, in a terminal outside of vscode everything works fine, even bin/pet resolve .venv/bin/python does the right thing, but inside vscode is not,

Steps to reproduce:

Uhm, good question, start a shell with nix-shell with the following shell.nix, and in vscode try and select the resulting .venv as your python interpreter. I'm not sure what else is involded, afaik it shouldn't see anything else....

# cSpell:words pkgs venv numpy
{ pkgs ? import <nixpkgs> {} }:
let
  pythonPackages = pkgs.python312Packages;
in pkgs.mkShell {
  name = "PyEnv-312";
  venvDir = "./.venv";
  buildInputs = with pkgs; [
    pythonPackages.python
    pythonPackages.venvShellHook
    pythonPackages.setuptools
    git
  ];
  packages = [
    (pkgs.python3.withPackages (python-pkgs: with python-pkgs; [
      setuptools
      # let octoprint setuptools manage these, they want specific versions
      # json-rpc
      # tornado
    ]))
  ];

  sphinxHook = ''
    sphinx-build -b html ./docs ./docs/_build
  '';

  # Run this command, only after creating the virtual environment
  postVenvCreation = ''
    unset SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH
    pip install octoprint
    pip install -r requirements.txt
  '';


  # Now we can execute any commands within the virtual environment.
  # This is optional and can be left out to run pip manually.
  postShellHook = ''
    # allow pip to install wheels
    unset SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH
  '';

}

Diagnostic data

Output for Python in the Output panel (View→Output, change the drop-down the upper-right of the Output panel to Python)

2025-02-19 13:49:15.748 [info] Starting Python Locator /nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/python-env-tools/bin/pet server
2025-02-19 13:49:19.675 [info] Env ("/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python") in Path resolved as ResolvedPythonEnv { executable: "/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12", prefix: "/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env", version: "3.12.8.final.0", is64_bit: true, symlinks: Some(["/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python", "/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12"]) } and reported as Some(GlobalPaths)
2025-02-19 13:49:19.675 [info] Env ("/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python") in Path resolved as ResolvedPythonEnv { executable: "/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python", prefix: "/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8", version: "3.12.8.final.0", is64_bit: true, symlinks: Some(["/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python"]) } and reported as Some(GlobalPaths)
2025-02-19 13:49:19.675 [info] Discovered env: /nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12
2025-02-19 13:49:19.687 [info] Discovered env: /nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python
2025-02-19 13:49:19.702 [info] Discovered env: /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
2025-02-19 13:49:19.715 [info] Env ("/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3") in Path resolved as ResolvedPythonEnv { executable: "/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12", prefix: "/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env", version: "3.12.8.final.0", is64_bit: true, symlinks: Some(["/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3", "/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12"]) } and reported as Some(GlobalPaths)
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Env ("/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python3") in Path resolved as ResolvedPythonEnv { executable: "/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python3", prefix: "/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8", version: "3.12.8.final.0", is64_bit: true, symlinks: Some(["/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python3"]) } and reported as Some(GlobalPaths)
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Env ("/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12") in Path resolved as ResolvedPythonEnv { executable: "/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12", prefix: "/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env", version: "3.12.8.final.0", is64_bit: true, symlinks: Some(["/nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12"]) } and reported as Some(GlobalPaths)
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Env ("/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python3.12") in Path resolved as ResolvedPythonEnv { executable: "/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python3.12", prefix: "/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8", version: "3.12.8.final.0", is64_bit: true, symlinks: Some(["/nix/store/kjgslpdqchx1sm7a5h9xibi5rrqcqfnl-python3-3.12.8/bin/python3.12"]) } and reported as Some(GlobalPaths)
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator Conda took 19.266342ms
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator Homebrew took 84.579µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator LinuxGlobal took 432.403µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator PipEnv took 93.495µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator Pixi took 100.96µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator Poetry took 834.93µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator PyEnv took 614.535µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator Venv took 15.569µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator VirtualEnv took 129.574µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator VirtualEnvWrapper took 10.62µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.716 [info] Locator GlobalVirtualEnvs took 381.337µs
2025-02-19 13:49:19.717 [info] Locator Locators took 19.772844ms
2025-02-19 13:49:19.717 [info] Locator Path took 19.614297ms
2025-02-19 13:49:19.717 [info] Locator Workspaces took 6.57784ms
2025-02-19 13:49:19.717 [info] Refresh completed in 19ms
2025-02-19 13:49:19.718 [warning] Inaccurate Python Environment Info for => 
Environment (Venv)
   Executable  : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.12.8
   Prefix      : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv
   Symlinks    : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.12"
.
Resolved as => 
Environment (Venv)
   Executable  : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.11.11.final.0
   Prefix      : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv
   Architecture: x64
   Symlinks    : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.11"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.12"

Incorrect information => 
Environment Some(Venv) incorrectly identified
   Version is incorrect

2025-02-19 13:49:19.719 [info] Resolved Python Environment /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
2025-02-19 13:49:19.721 [warning] Inaccurate Python Environment Info for => 
Environment (Venv)
   Executable  : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.12.8
   Prefix      : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv
   Symlinks    : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.12"
.
Resolved as => 
Environment (Venv)
   Executable  : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.11.11.final.0
   Prefix      : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv
   Architecture: x64
   Symlinks    : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.11"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.12"

Incorrect information => 
Environment Some(Venv) incorrectly identified
   Version is incorrect

2025-02-19 13:49:19.721 [info] Resolved Python Environment /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
2025-02-19 13:49:20.077 [warning] Inaccurate Python Environment Info for => 
Environment (Venv)
   Executable  : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.12.8
   Prefix      : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv
   Symlinks    : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.12"
.
Resolved as => 
Environment (Venv)
   Executable  : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.11.11.final.0
   Prefix      : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv
   Architecture: x64
   Symlinks    : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.11"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.12"

Incorrect information => 
Environment Some(Venv) incorrectly identified
   Version is incorrect

2025-02-19 13:49:20.100 [info] Resolved Python Environment /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
2025-02-19 13:53:05.218 [warning] Inaccurate Python Environment Info for => 
Environment (Venv)
   Executable  : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.12.8
   Prefix      : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv
   Symlinks    : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.12"
.
Resolved as => 
Environment (Venv)
   Executable  : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python
   Version     : 3.11.11.final.0
   Prefix      : /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv
   Architecture: x64
   Symlinks    : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.11"
               : "/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python3.12"

Incorrect information => 
Environment Some(Venv) incorrectly identified
   Version is incorrect

2025-02-19 13:53:05.218 [info] Resolved Python Environment /home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin/python

2025-02-19 13:49:15.748 [info] Experiment 'pythonRecommendTensorboardExt' is active
2025-02-19 13:49:15.748 [info] Experiment 'pythonSurveyNotification' is active
2025-02-19 13:49:15.748 [info] Experiment 'pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation' is active
2025-02-19 13:49:15.748 [info] Experiment 'pythonTestAdapter' is active
2025-02-19 13:49:15.748 [info] Native locator: Refresh started
2025-02-19 13:49:15.890 [info] VS Code was launched from an activated environment: '.venv', selecting it as the interpreter for workspace.
2025-02-19 13:49:17.870 [info] > pyenv which python
2025-02-19 13:49:17.870 [info] cwd: .
2025-02-19 13:49:18.578 [info] > conda info --json
2025-02-19 13:49:19.717 [info] Native locator: Refresh finished in 5011 ms
2025-02-19 13:49:20.102 [info] Python interpreter path: ./.venv/bin/python
2025-02-19 13:49:20.206 [info] > . ./.venv/bin/activate && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python /nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-02-19 13:49:20.207 [info] shell: zsh
2025-02-19 13:49:20.232 [info] > . ./.venv/bin/activate && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python /nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-02-19 13:49:20.232 [info] shell: bash
2025-02-19 13:49:20.296 [info] > /nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12 /nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-02-19 13:49:20.296 [info] shell: zsh
2025-02-19 13:49:20.383 [info] Setting environment variable PYTHONNOUSERSITE in collection to 1 {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-02-19 13:49:20.383 [info] Prepending environment variable PATH in collection with /nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/python_files/deactivate/zsh:/home/cnf/Documents/Projects/Octopussy/.venv/bin: {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-02-19 13:49:20.384 [info] Send text to terminal: /nix/store/yrb7lrm7m59vdrqcglzwh82zmpvb4fcr-python3-3.12.8-env/bin/python3.12 /nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/python_files/printEnvVariablesToFile.py /nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/python_files/deactivate/zsh/envVars.txt
2025-02-19 13:49:20.725 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2025-02-19 13:49:50.386 [error] Failed to initialize deactivate script /home/cnf/.nix-profile/bin/zsh [Error: "/nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/python_files/deactivate/zsh/envVars.txt" file not created
	at Timeout.<anonymous> (/nix/store/63cr12ggsa70c6054ba9655hgrvivsb1-vscode-extension-ms-python-python-2025.1.2025021102/share/vscode/extensions/ms-python.python/out/client/extension.js:2:312098)
	at listOnTimeout (node:internal/timers:581:17)
	at process.processTimers (node:internal/timers:519:7)]

Extension version: 2025.1.2025021102
VS Code version: Code 1.97.2 (e54c774e0add60467559eb0d1e229c6452cf8447, 2025-02-12T23:20:35.343Z)
OS version: Linux x64 6.13.2
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.11.11
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Venv
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Pylance

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

testing
• pytestEnabled: true
• unittestEnabled: true

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
black-formatter	ms-	2024.6.0
cmake-tools	ms-	1.14.20
code-spell-checker	str	4.0.21
continue	Con	0.8.54
cpptools	ms-	1.22.2
cpptools-extension-pack	ms-	1.3.0
datawrangler	ms-	1.7.2
debugpy	ms-	2024.6.0
direnv	mkh	0.17.0
EditorConfig	Edi	0.16.4
gitlens	eam	16.0.5
go	gol	0.41.4
hexeditor	ms-	1.9.11
isort	ms-	2023.13.13171013
js-debug	ms-	1.97.1
js-debug-companion	ms-	1.1.3
jupyter	ms-	2025.1.0
jupyter-renderers	ms-	1.0.15
nix-env-selector	arr	1.0.10
nix-ide	jno	0.3.5
python	ms-	2025.1.2025021102
remote-containers	ms-	0.376.0
remote-explorer	ms-	0.4.3
remote-repositories	ms-	0.42.0
remote-server	ms-	1.5.2
remote-ssh	ms-	0.78.0
remote-ssh-edit	ms-	0.86.0
shellcheck	tim	0.37.7
todo-tree	Gru	0.0.226
vscode-js-profile-table	ms-	1.0.10
vscode-jupyter-cell-tags	ms-	0.1.8
vscode-jupyter-slideshow	ms-	0.1.5
vscode-pull-request-github	Git	0.78.1
vscode-pylance	ms-	2025.2.1
vscode-remote-extensionpack	ms-	0.26.0
vscode-tailscale	Tai	0.6.4
vsliveshare	ms-	1.0.5918

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	AMD Ryzen 5 7640U w/ Radeon 760M Graphics (12 x 4540)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled canvas_oop_rasterization: enabled_on direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: disabled_software multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: disabled_software vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled_readback webgl2: enabled_readback webgpu: disabled_off webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	4, 2, 2
Memory (System)	27.22GB (14.95GB free)
Process Argv	--ozone-platform-hint=auto --enable-features=WaylandWindowDecorations --enable-wayland-ime=true --crash-reporter-id e03c7df6-1d72-4b13-b812-82429276134d
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%
DESKTOP_SESSION	undefined
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP	Hyprland
XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP	undefined
XDG_SESSION_TYPE	wayland

A/B Experiments

vsliv368cf:30146710
vspor879:30202332
vspor708:30202333
vspor363:30204092
pythonvspyt551:31179978
vscod805cf:30301675
binariesv615:30325510
py29gd2263:31024239
c4g48928:30535728
azure-dev_surveyone:30548225
vscrpc:30673769
962ge761:30959799
h48ei257:31000450
pythontbext0:30879054
cppperfnew:31000557
dwnewjupyter:31046869
nativerepl2:31139839
pythonrstrctxt:31112756
nativeloc1:31192215
iacca1:31171482
5fd0e150:31155592
dwcopilot:31170013
stablechunks:31184530
6074i472:31201624
dwoutputscf:31238124
customenabled:31241370
5a9hg449:31230677
hdaa2157:31222309
copilot_t_ci:31222730
jda6j935:31233686
copilothoveron:31240708

[cnf]

Ok, I quit vscode,

• rm -rf .venv
• rm .config/Code/User/globalStorage/ms-python.python/pythonLocator/*
• rm .config/Code/User/globalStorage/state.vscdb*
• recreated the .venv with nix-shell
• and restarted vscode

and now the python version gets identified correctly.

So the cache is taking precedence over what is detected?

[karthiknadig]

@DonJayamanne This looks like a bug in how pet updates interpreter info on delete and re-create.

[danielkza]

I observe the same issue when the symlink an interpreter points to changes. Even though PET is supposed to notice it and invalidate the cache, it never does, and continues to try to use a now non-existant Python executable it had resolved and cached previously.

[DonJayamanne]

@karthiknadig I'm unable to repro this at my end.
I think this is similar to #182
Where the solution is to delete the global cache (see here #193 (comment))

[DonJayamanne]

@danielkza @cnf

Please can you share the logs

• Set the log level to trace using the command Developer: Set Log Level
• From the command palette select the command Python: Select Interpreter
• Next select the command Output: Focus Output View
• Next select the item Python: Environments from the output views (its a dropdown that displayed on the top right of the output panel)
• Please copy all of the output from this and share it
• Similarly select the item Python from the output views and copy and paste all of the logs

[DonJayamanne]

Upstream issue microsoft/vscode-python#25087