Cleats: Python Launchpad

Run and debug the current or last Python file in VS Code with minimal setup.

This extension keeps run/debug flows fast while preserving deterministic launch configuration behavior.

Why It Exists

Opening Python scripts quickly is easy, but consistent run/debug ergonomics across files and workspaces often drift. Cleats: Python Launchpad keeps the workflow predictable and lightweight.

Behavior

• Provides five commands:
  • Run Current File
  • Debug Current File
  • Run Last File
  • Debug Last File
  • Remove Managed Target Configurations
• Depends on the Microsoft Python extension (ms-python.python) for Python debugging support.
• Persists the last valid Python target per workspace.
• Persists the last valid Python execution target details per workspace, including test-node selection when applicable.
• Generates run commands from a managed launch.json template entry that you can customize.
• Auto-detects test files (test*.py, *_test.py) and routes them to pytest or unittest using Python extension test settings.
• In test files, Run Current File runs only the current function or method when the cursor is inside one, otherwise the whole module target.
• In test files, Debug Current File debugs only the current function or method when the cursor is inside one, otherwise the whole module target.
• Prints a terminal summary tail after each run with outcome, exit code, and runtime (green for success, red for failure).
• Creates and updates only extension-managed debug configurations.
• Preserves user-managed launch configurations untouched.

Default Keybindings

Default shortcuts use Ctrl key combinations on all platforms:

• Debug Current File: Ctrl+Shift+F9
• Run Current File: Ctrl+Shift+F10
• Debug Last File: Ctrl+F9
• Run Last File: Ctrl+F10

Validation Rules

Targets are accepted only when:

• an active editor exists,
• the file is saved,
• the file is Python,
• the file is inside an open workspace folder.

Settings

• cleatsPythonLaunchpad.runCommandTemplate
  • Default: uv run python {script}
  • Used as the default value for the managed script run template in launch.json.
• cleatsPythonLaunchpad.pytestCommandTemplate
  • Default: uv run pytest {pytestTarget}
  • Used for test files when pytest is configured in Python extension test settings.
• cleatsPythonLaunchpad.unittestCommandTemplate
  • Default: uv run python -m unittest {testTarget}
  • Used for test files when unittest is configured in Python extension test settings.
• cleatsPythonLaunchpad.generatedLaunchNamePrefix
  • Default: Launchpad
• cleatsPythonLaunchpad.launchWorkspaceFolder
  • Default: empty string
  • Optional workspace folder name or absolute path that selects which workspace folder launch.json Cleats manages in multi-root workspaces.
  • If empty, Cleats uses the target Python file's workspace folder.
• cleatsPythonLaunchpad.runOpenNewTerminalIfBusy
  • Default: true
  • If true, run commands open a new terminal when a previous Cleats run is still active.
• cleatsPythonLaunchpad.terminalReveal
  • Allowed values: always, silent, never

Supported placeholders for runCommandTemplate, pytestCommandTemplate, and unittestCommandTemplate:

• {script}
• {workspaceFolder}
• {fileDirname}
• {fileBasename}
• {testTarget}
• {testFunction}
• {pytestTarget}
• {pytestFunction}

Managed launch.json entries

When you run or debug with Cleats, the extension manages two launch entries under your configured prefix:

• ...: Template
  • Stores runCommandTemplate for the workspace folder.
  • You can edit this template directly in launch.json and subsequent run commands use it.
  • Managed template identity is based on:
    • name: "<prefix>: Template"
    • presentation: { "group": "<prefix>", "hidden": true }
• ...: <workspace-relative-python-file>
  • Target-specific debug configuration.
  • Managed target identity is based on:
    • name: "<prefix>: <workspace-relative-python-file>"
    • presentation: { "group": "<prefix>" }

Use Remove Managed Target Configurations to delete all managed target entries while preserving user-defined entries and the managed template entry.

Release History

0.1.1 (2026-05-01)

• Added terminal-tail run summaries, including exit code and runtime for every run.
• Added ANSI coloring for terminal-tail summaries (green success, red failure).
• Removed status bar run lifecycle messages in favor of terminal-native completion output.
• Tightened VSIX packaging via .vscodeignore to keep publish artifacts runtime-focused.

0.1.0 (2026-04-25)

• Initial release candidate for Cleats: Python Launchpad.
• Added run/debug commands for current and last Python file targets.
• Added managed debug configuration generation and update flow.
• Added unit tests for command template expansion and launch config handling.
• Added a resized extension icon asset for Marketplace/package metadata.
• Updated development docs for release metadata checks.