Discovering python interpreters never finishes due to presence of symbolic link loop

[HoytXU]

Type: Bug

Vscode Version: Visual Studio Code Insiders
Extensions: Copilot Nightly, Copilot chat, Python, Pylance (Only these)

I've reviewed the former similar issues, but they can't solve my problem(sad).
I tried to set python.logging.level to "debug", but it says this setting is deprecated. So the following is the only information I got.

output -> python:
2023-05-27 15:19:22.087 [info] Experiment 'pythonPromptNewFormatterExt' is active
2023-05-27 15:19:22.088 [info] Experiment 'pythonPromptNewToolsExt' is active
2023-05-27 15:19:22.088 [info] Test server listening.
2023-05-27 15:19:22.088 [info] > conda info --json
2023-05-27 15:20:11.876 [error] Autoselection timeout out, this is likely a issue with how consumer called execution factory API. Using default python to execute.
2023-05-27 15:20:11.898 [info] > python -c "import sys;print(sys.executable)"
2023-05-27 15:20:12.000 [error] Autoselection timeout out, this is likely a issue with how consumer called execution factory API. Using default python to execute.

Extension version: 2023.9.11461009
VS Code version: Code - Insiders 1.79.0-insider (2dfb838f494f035099e999f0cd0eff5f1f488a30, 2023-05-26T05:22:45.569Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.22621
Modes: Unsupported
Remote OS version: Linux x64 5.19.0-41-generic

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-12500H (16 x 3110)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled canvas_oop_rasterization: disabled_off 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 video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	15.64GB (6.49GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 19921559-5588-4c15-90c1-006c63d2772a --crash-reporter-id 19921559-5588-4c15-90c1-006c63d2772a
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

Item	Value
Remote	SSH: DstGPU
OS	Linux x64 5.19.0-41-generic
CPUs	Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5-2650 v4 @ 2.20GHz (48 x 1200)
Memory (System)	251.78GB (214.46GB free)
VM	0%

A/B Experiments

vsliv695:30137379
vsins829:30139715
vsliv368:30146709
vsreu685:30147344
python383cf:30185419
vspor879:30202332
vspor708:30202333
vspor363:30204092
vswsl492cf:30256198
vslsvsres303:30308271
pythontb:30258533
vsc_aacf:30263846
pythonptprofiler:30281269
vshan820:30294714
vscod805:30301674
bridge0708:30335490
bridge0723:30353136
cmake_vspar411:30581797
vsaa593cf:30376535
pythonvs932:30404738
cppdebug:30492333
vsclangdf:30492506
c4g48928:30535728
dsvsc012:30540252
pynewext54:30618038
pylantcb52:30590116
pyind779:30611226
pythonsymbol12:30651887
2i9eh265:30646982
showlangstatbar:30737417
pythonms35:30671666
03d35959:30680466
ecj1e332:30687743
pythonfmttext:30716741
pythoncmvfstr:30726892
fixshowwlkth:30724385
showsbindicator:30724477
pythongtdpath:30726887

[HoytXU]

If you need any more information to solve the problem, please let me know. Thank you so much.

[HoytXU]

If I run conda info --json and python -c "import sys;print(sys.executable)" in a terminal, I get these output. (If these can help)
After I run conda info --json, I press ctrl c to run the next command.
(base) liuyx@gpu1:~$ conda info --json
{
"GID": 1104,
"UID": 1104,
"active_prefix": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3",
"active_prefix_name": "base",
"av_data_dir": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/etc/conda",
"av_metadata_url_base": null,
"channels": [
"https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main/linux-64",
"https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main/noarch",
"https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r/linux-64",
"https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r/noarch"
],
"conda_build_version": "3.22.0",
"conda_env_version": "23.3.1",
"conda_location": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/lib/python3.9/site-packages/conda",
"conda_prefix": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3",
"conda_shlvl": 1,
"conda_version": "23.3.1",
"config_files": [],
"default_prefix": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3",
"env_vars": {
"CIO_TEST": "",
"CONDA_DEFAULT_ENV": "base",
"CONDA_EXE": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/bin/conda",
"CONDA_PREFIX": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3",
"CONDA_PROMPT_MODIFIER": "(base) ",
"CONDA_PYTHON_EXE": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/bin/python",
"CONDA_ROOT": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3",
"CONDA_SHLVL": "1",
"CURL_CA_BUNDLE": "",
"LD_LIBRARY_PATH": "/data2/users/liuyx/cuda-11.6/lib64:/usr/lib:/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:/data2/users/liuyx/cuda-11.6/lib64:/usr/lib:/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu:",
"LD_PRELOAD": "",
"PATH": "/data2/users/liuyx/cuda-11.6/bin:/data2/users/liuyx/.vscode-server-insiders/bin/2dfb838f494f035099e999f0cd0eff5f1f488a30/bin/remote-cli:/data2/users/liuyx/cuda-11.6/bin:/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/bin:/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/condabin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games:/usr/local/games:/snap/bin",
"REQUESTS_CA_BUNDLE": "",
"SSL_CERT_FILE": ""
},
"envs": [
"/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3",
"/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/envs/Project"
],
"envs_dirs": [
"/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/envs",
"/data2/users/liuyx/.conda/envs"
],
"netrc_file": null,
"offline": false,
"pkgs_dirs": [
"/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/pkgs",
"/data2/users/liuyx/.conda/pkgs"
],
"platform": "linux-64",
"python_version": "3.9.13.final.0",
"rc_path": "/data2/users/liuyx/.condarc",
"requests_version": "2.28.1",
"root_prefix": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3",
"root_writable": true,
"site_dirs": [],
"sys.executable": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/bin/python",
"sys.prefix": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3",
"sys.version": "3.9.13 (main, Aug 25 2022, 23:26:10) \n[GCC 11.2.0]",
"sys_rc_path": "/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/.condarc",
"user_agent": "conda/23.3.1 requests/2.28.1 CPython/3.9.13 Linux/5.19.0-41-generic ubuntu/22.04.1 glibc/2.35",
"user_rc_path": "/data2/users/liuyx/.condarc",
"virtual_pkgs": [
[
"__archspec",
"1",
"x86_64"
],
[
"__glibc",
"2.35",
"0"
],
[
"__linux",
"5.19.0",
"0"
],
[
"__unix",
"0",
"0"
]
]
}

(base) liuyx@gpu1:~$ python -c "import sys;print(sys.executable)"
/data2/users/liuyx/anaconda3/bin/python

[karrtikr]

Thanks for the bug report! We investigate issues in order based on priority and severity, which includes the impact it has on your ability to use the extension to do productive work, and the number of people affected. If other users come forward and leave a comment demonstrating they are seeing/reproducing the problem then we will raise this issue's priority. Thanks for understanding and the patience!

[sachit-menon]

I have a similar issue where "Discovering Python Interpreters" goes on forever, meaning Copilot is never initialized, making it useless. I'm on a Mac using Remote-SSH into a Linux machine. Here is my debug panel:

2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Experiment 'pythonPromptNewFormatterExt' is active
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Experiment 'pythonPromptNewToolsExt' is active
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Test server listening.
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] > conda info --json
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Python interpreter path: ~/mambaforge/envs/ag3/bin/python
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Found: /bin/python --> /bin/python2.7
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Found: /bin/python2 --> /bin/python2.7
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Found: /bin/python2.7 --> /bin/python2.7
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Found: /bin/python3 --> /bin/python3.8
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Found: /bin/python3.8 --> /bin/python3.8
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Found: /usr/bin/python --> /usr/bin/python2.7
2023-05-31 18:48:29.306 [info] Found: /usr/bin/python2 --> /usr/bin/python2.7
2023-05-31 18:48:29.312 [info] Found: /usr/bin/python2.7 --> /usr/bin/python2.7
2023-05-31 18:48:29.313 [info] Found: /usr/bin/python3 --> /usr/bin/python3.8
2023-05-31 18:48:29.314 [info] Found: /usr/bin/python3.8 --> /usr/bin/python3.8
2023-05-31 18:48:29.353 [info] Found: /data/home/sachit/mambaforge/bin/python --> /data/home/sachit/mambaforge/bin/python3.10
2023-05-31 18:48:29.358 [info] Found: /data/home/sachit/mambaforge/bin/python3 --> /data/home/sachit/mambaforge/bin/python3.10
2023-05-31 18:48:29.362 [info] Found: /data/home/sachit/mambaforge/bin/python3.1 --> /data/home/sachit/mambaforge/bin/python3.10
2023-05-31 18:48:29.362 [info] Found: /data/home/sachit/mambaforge/bin/python3.10 --> /data/home/sachit/mambaforge/bin/python3.10
2023-05-31 18:48:29.427 [info] > /bin/python -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:29.577 [warning] Error: Command failed: /bin/python -I /data/home/sachit/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py /data/home/sachit/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
Unknown option: -I
usage: /bin/python [option] ... [-c cmd | -m mod | file | -] [arg] ...
Try `python -h' for more information.

    at ChildProcess.exithandler (node:child_process:400:12)
    at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:513:28)
    at maybeClose (node:internal/child_process:1093:16)
    at Socket.<anonymous> (node:internal/child_process:451:11)
    at Socket.emit (node:events:513:28)
    at Pipe.<anonymous> (node:net:757:14) {
  code: 2,
  killed: false,
  signal: null,
  cmd: '/bin/python -I /data/home/sachit/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py /data/home/sachit/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py'
}
2023-05-31 18:48:29.577 [error] Support for Python 2.7 has been dropped by the Python extension so certain features may not work, upgrade to using Python 3.
2023-05-31 18:48:29.598 [info] > /bin/python ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:29.645 [info] > /bin/python3 -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:29.689 [info] > /usr/bin/python -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:29.753 [warning] Error: Command failed: /usr/bin/python -I /data/home/sachit/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py /data/home/sachit/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
Unknown option: -I
usage: /usr/bin/python [option] ... [-c cmd | -m mod | file | -] [arg] ...
Try `python -h' for more information.

    at ChildProcess.exithandler (node:child_process:400:12)
    at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:513:28)
    at maybeClose (node:internal/child_process:1093:16)
    at Socket.<anonymous> (node:internal/child_process:451:11)
    at Socket.emit (node:events:513:28)
    at Pipe.<anonymous> (node:net:757:14) {
  code: 2,
  killed: false,
  signal: null,
  cmd: '/usr/bin/python -I /data/home/sachit/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py /data/home/sachit/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py'
}
2023-05-31 18:48:29.753 [error] Support for Python 2.7 has been dropped by the Python extension so certain features may not work, upgrade to using Python 3.
2023-05-31 18:48:29.769 [info] > /usr/bin/python ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:29.816 [info] > /usr/bin/python3 -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:36.661 [info] > conda run -n ag3 --no-capture-output python ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/printEnvVariables.py
2023-05-31 18:48:36.662 [info] shell: bash
2023-05-31 18:48:36.662 [info] > conda run -n ag3 --no-capture-output python ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/printEnvVariables.py
2023-05-31 18:48:36.662 [info] shell: bash
2023-05-31 18:48:36.683 [info] > ~/mambaforge/bin/python -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:36.707 [info] > ~/mambaforge/envs/ag3/bin/python -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:36.709 [info] Send text to terminal: conda activate ag3
2023-05-31 18:48:36.893 [info] > ~/mambaforge/envs/din/bin/python -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:37.609 [info] > ~/mambaforge/envs/mg/bin/python -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-05-31 18:48:37.973 [info] > ~/mambaforge/envs/pyt/bin/python -I ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server-insiders/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.9.11461009/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py

[amit9oct]

Hi,
I'm facing the exact same issues. "Discovering Python Interpreters" never finishes. The following are the logs from the Python Extension:

2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Test server listening.
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] > ~/miniconda3/condabin/conda info --json
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Found: /bin/python3 --> /bin/python3.10
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Found: /bin/python3.10 --> /bin/python3.10
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Found: /usr/bin/python3 --> /usr/bin/python3.10
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Found: /usr/bin/python3.10 --> /usr/bin/python3.10
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Found: /home/amthakur/miniconda3/bin/python --> /home/amthakur/miniconda3/bin/python3.10
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Found: /home/amthakur/miniconda3/bin/python3 --> /home/amthakur/miniconda3/bin/python3.10
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Found: /home/amthakur/miniconda3/bin/python3.1 --> /home/amthakur/miniconda3/bin/python3.10
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] Found: /home/amthakur/miniconda3/bin/python3.10 --> /home/amthakur/miniconda3/bin/python3.10
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] > /bin/python3 -I ~/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.10.1/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.10.1/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py
2023-06-20 06:54:22.520 [info] > /usr/bin/python3 -I ~/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.10.1/pythonFiles/get_output_via_markers.py ~/.vscode-server/extensions/ms-python.python-2023.10.1/pythonFiles/interpreterInfo.py

[bicepjai]

I am facing the same issue

Version: 1.79.2
Commit: 695af097c7bd098fbf017ce3ac85e09bbc5dda06
Date: 2023-06-14T08:58:33.551Z (2 wks ago)
Electron: 22.5.7
Chromium: 108.0.5359.215
Node.js: 16.17.1
V8: 10.8.168.25-electron.0
OS: Darwin arm64 22.5.0

[gravic07]

+1

[Anutlet]

+1

[Zsirl]

me too.
Discovering python interpreters forever!

[karrtikr]

Hi all, please provide the debug logs which can help diagnose the issue:

• Run Developer: Set log level command
• Select Python -> Select Trace
• Run Developer: Reload Window command

After which, please provide the logs:

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

XXX

[karrtikr]

As a workaround, please try disabling the Jupyter extension. The issue should also be resolved once microsoft/vscode-jupyter#12719 is addressed.

[Zsirl]

I am a beginner of vscode. Nowadays, I want to use some computing resources of cloud server. After ssh connection, I face this problem. So, this one, right? I am not sure. I can't find the button of the last step. Sorry!
ms-python.LOG

[karrtikr]

@Zsirl Thank you! Although I think all the logs are probably not included in your run. Try adding this environment variable:

VSC_PYTHON_LOG_FILE=~/python.log

I suspect the issue is related to conda, try setting python.condaPath to the correct path to conda binary, which is probably /usr/local/miniconda3/bin/conda and see if it helps.

[karrtikr]

@Zsirl Can you try running conda in bash terminal and see if it finishes?

conda info --json

also try

<Value of "python.condaPath" setting> info --json

The issue seems to be that these commands are never finishing, leading to Discovery taking forever. A screenshot demonstrating in would be helpful.

[karrtikr]

I would need the logs and info asked above to further diagnose the issue, use the pre-release version of the extension:

[karrtikr]

I'm glad it fixed it @LachlanGreen 🙂

If I may, could you restore the file and provide me the logs again for https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-python/suites/14400902686/artifacts/812053648? I need this info to fix it for everyone, thanks!

[karrtikr]

Unfortunately I'm unable to reproduce the issue when I attempt to create such a link using:

ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3 /usr/local/bin/python3

So I wonder how that problematic symlink was created.

[LachlanGreen]

@karrtikr, I deleted the original python3 and python3.10, but could recreate the issue by doing the following:

• cd /usr/local/bin
• removing python3 and python3.10
• sudo ln -s python3.10 python3.10
• sudo ln -s /usr/local/bin/python3.10 python3
• And then running the 'Python: Select Interpreter" command in vscode

After doing the above steps, the "Discovering Python Interpreters" error reappears

---

When I install the given VSIX, the error disappears and here's the logging:
output_python.log
python.log

[karrtikr]

@LachlanGreen, Could you try #21310 (comment) as well to see if it fixes the error? Thank you.

[karrtikr]

@LachlanGreen Could you confirm the following, here's my understanding,

After doing the above steps, the "Discovering Python Interpreters" error reappears

This is when using the VSIX suggested here #21310 (comment)?

When I install the given VSIX, the error disappears

I'm assume the VSIX you're referring to here is #21310 (comment)

If this sounds right, this would suggest that the latest VSIX I provided to you fixed the error for you.

[LachlanGreen]

@karrtikr,

This is when using the VSIX suggested here #21310 (comment)?

Yep, that's right, here's the logs:

python.log

I'm assume the VSIX you're referring to here is #21310 (comment)
If this sounds right, this would suggest that the latest VSIX I provided to you fixed the error for you.

Yep, I believe that's correct. Using this package, I didn't have to delete any of my machines problematic symbolic links: this is what my /usr/local/bin currently looks like and the error no longer occurs:

[karrtikr]

Thanks for the help! Fix should be out in the pre-release version of the extension in a day, use the following to try it out:

[karrtikr]

@LachlanGreen Fix should be out, let me know if that helps.

[amunger]

got it to repro in stable, and not in insiders 👍