Conda terminal activation incorrectly uses name for path-based environments created by VS Code

[herenfor]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

Actual behaviour:

When using the "Python: Create Environment" command to create a path-based Conda environment (in the default ".conda" folder), the automatic terminal activation feature (python.terminal.activateEnvInCurrentTerminal) incorrectly tries to activate it by name (conda activate .conda), which fails with an EnvironmentNameNotFound error.

Expected behaviour:

When a path-based Conda environment is created using the Python: Create Environment command, the python.terminal.activateEnvInCurrentTerminal feature should correctly identify this environment as path-based. Consequently, it should use the environment's full path for activation (e.g., conda activate "d:\path\to\project\.conda") instead of incorrectly attempting to activate it by name.

Steps to reproduce:

1. On a clean Windows system with a fresh Miniconda installation, run conda init powershell.

2. Open a project folder in VS Code, preferably with spaces in its path (e.g., D:\test folder).

3. Create a new file and save it with a .py extension (e.g., app.py). This ensures the Python extension is fully activated.

4. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "Python: Create Environment".

5. Select "Conda" as the environment type.

6. Choose any Python version (e.g., 3.11).

7. Wait for the environment to be successfully created in the local .conda folder.

8. Terminate any active terminal instances (e.g., using the trash can icon). Then, open a new integrated terminal using the `Ctrl + `` shortcut.

9. Observe that the terminal automatically tries to run conda activate .conda and fails.

Diagnostic data

launch.json configuration

N/A (Not Applicable). The issue occurs without a `launch.json` file.

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

2025-08-07 20:39:41.197 [info] Running Conda Env creation script:  [
  'D:\\Miniconda3\\python.exe',
  'c:\\Users\\Administrator\\.vscode\\extensions\\ms-python.python-2025.10.1-win32-x64\\python_files\\create_conda.py',
  '--git-ignore',
  '--install',
  '--python',
  '3.11'
]
2025-08-07 20:39:41.197 [info] > D:\Miniconda3\python.exe ~\.vscode\extensions\ms-python.python-2025.10.1-win32-x64\python_files\create_conda.py --git-ignore --install --python 3.11
2025-08-07 20:39:41.197 [info] cwd: d:\vsc python\py machine
2025-08-07 20:39:41.254 [info] Running: D:\Miniconda3\python.exe -m conda create --yes --prefix .conda python=3.11
2025-08-07 20:39:42.315 [info] 3 channel Terms of Service accepted
2025-08-07 20:39:42.315 [info] WARNING conda.core.prefix_data:validate_path(324): Environment paths should not contain spaces. Prefix: 'd:\vsc python\py machine\.conda'
2025-08-07 20:39:42.821 [info] Channels:
- defaults
Platform: win-64
Collecting package metadata (repodata.json): -
2025-08-07 20:39:45.822 [info] done
Solving environment:
2025-08-07 20:39:45.923 [info] done
2025-08-07 20:39:45.924 [info] ==> WARNING: A newer version of conda exists. <==
current version: 25.5.1
latest version: 25.7.0
Please update conda by running
$ conda update -n base -c defaults conda
2025-08-07 20:39:45.937 [info] ## Package Plan ##
environment location: d:\vsc python\py machine\.conda
added / updated specs:
- python=3.11
The following NEW packages will be INSTALLED:
bzip2              pkgs/main/win-64::bzip2-1.0.8-h2bbff1b_6
ca-certificates    pkgs/main/win-64::ca-certificates-2025.2.25-haa95532_0
expat              pkgs/main/win-64::expat-2.7.1-h8ddb27b_0
libffi             pkgs/main/win-64::libffi-3.4.4-hd77b12b_1
openssl            pkgs/main/win-64::openssl-3.0.17-h35632f6_0
pip                pkgs/main/noarch::pip-25.1-pyhc872135_2
python             pkgs/main/win-64::python-3.11.13-h981015d_0
setuptools         pkgs/main/win-64::setuptools-78.1.1-py311haa95532_0
sqlite             pkgs/main/win-64::sqlite-3.50.2-hda9a48d_1
tk                 pkgs/main/win-64::tk-8.6.14-h5e9d12e_1
tzdata             pkgs/main/noarch::tzdata-2025b-h04d1e81_0
ucrt               pkgs/main/win-64::ucrt-10.0.22621.0-haa95532_0
vc                 pkgs/main/win-64::vc-14.3-h2df5915_10
vc14_runtime       pkgs/main/win-64::vc14_runtime-14.44.35208-h4927774_10
vs2015_runtime     pkgs/main/win-64::vs2015_runtime-14.44.35208-ha6b5a95_10
wheel              pkgs/main/win-64::wheel-0.45.1-py311haa95532_0
xz                 pkgs/main/win-64::xz-5.6.4-h4754444_1
zlib               pkgs/main/win-64::zlib-1.2.13-h8cc25b3_1
2025-08-07 20:39:45.937 [info] Downloading and Extracting Packages: ...working... done
Preparing transaction:
2025-08-07 20:39:46.053 [info] done
2025-08-07 20:39:46.053 [info] Verifying transaction: |
2025-08-07 20:39:47.168 [info] done
2025-08-07 20:39:47.169 [info] Executing transaction:
2025-08-07 20:39:49.970 [info] Discover tests for workspace name: py machine - uri: d:\vsc python\py machine\.conda\Lib\site-packages\pkg_resources\tests\data\my-test-package-source\setup.cfg
2025-08-07 20:39:52.483 [info] done
2025-08-07 20:39:52.498 [info] #
# To activate this environment, use
#
#     $ conda activate "d:\vsc python\py machine\.conda"
#
# To deactivate an active environment, use
#
#     $ conda deactivate
2025-08-07 20:39:52.591 [info] CREATED_CONDA_ENV:d:\vsc python\py machine\.conda
2025-08-07 20:39:52.591 [info] Creating: d:\vsc python\py machine\.conda\.gitignore
2025-08-07 20:39:52.611 [info] Active interpreter [d:\vsc python\py machine]:  d:\vsc python\py machine\.conda\python.exe
2025-08-07 20:39:52.613 [info] Discover tests for workspace name: py machine - uri: d:\vsc python\py machine
2025-08-07 20:39:52.613 [info] Python 解释器路径: .\.conda\python.exe
2025-08-07 20:41:32.511 [info] Send text to terminal: D:/Miniconda3/Scripts/activate
2025-08-07 20:41:33.024 [info] Send text to terminal: conda activate .conda
```powershell
(base) PS D:\vsc python\py machine> D:/Miniconda3/Scripts/activate
(base) PS D:\vsc python\py machine> conda activate .conda

EnvironmentNameNotFound: Could not find conda environment: .conda
You can list all discoverable environments with `conda info --envs`.


Invoke-Expression : 无法将参数绑定到参数“Command”，因为该参数为空字符串。
所在位置 D:\Miniconda3\shell\condabin\Conda.psm1:76 字符: 36
+         Invoke-Expression -Command $activateCommand;
+                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (:) [Invoke-Expression]，ParameterBindingValidationException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : ParameterArgumentValidationErrorEmptyStringNotAllowed,Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.InvokeExp
   ressionCommand

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

N/A

Extension version: 2025.10.0
VS Code version: Code 1.98.2 (ddc367ed5c8936efe395cffeec279b04ffd7db78, 2025-03-12T13:32:45.399Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.26100
Modes: Unsupported

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.11.13
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Conda

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12600KF (16 x 3686)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled canvas_oop_rasterization: enabled_on direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	31.82GB (14.84GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 794c9ebe-4943-4fd5-b62d-f4683b3b589a
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

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