Python Venv Activator

A VS Code extension that simplifies Python virtual environment management. With a single command, you can create and activate virtual environments without leaving your editor.

Features

• One-click activation of Python virtual environments
• Smart detection of existing environments (venv, .venv, etc.)
• Auto-detection of environments with names ending in "venv" or "env"
• Create new environments if none exist
• Properly updates terminal prompt to show the active environment
• Works reliably on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Installation

From VSIX file

1. Download the .vsix file from the latest release
2. In VS Code, go to Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X)
3. Click the "..." (More Actions) button at the top of the Extensions view
4. Select "Install from VSIX..." and choose the downloaded file

Building from source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/venv-activate.git
cd venv-activator

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Compile the extension
npm run compile

# Package the extension
npx vsce package

# Install the generated .vsix file
code --install-extension venv-activator-0.1.0.vsix

Usage

1. Open a workspace containing a Python project
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on macOS) to open the Command Palette
3. Type "Activate Venv" and select the command

The extension will:

• Look for existing virtual environments in your workspace
• If found, activate it in a new terminal with the environment name in the prompt
• If multiple environments are found, let you choose which one to activate
• If no environment is found, offer to create a new one

You can also use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+A (or Cmd+Shift+A on macOS)

How It Works

When you run the "Activate Venv" command, the extension:

1. Searches your workspace for directories named: venv, .venv, env, .env, virtualenv, etc.
2. Also detects any directory ending with "venv" or "env" (e.g., my-project-venv, backend-env)
3. If no environment is found, offers to create a new one or let you select an existing one
4. Creates a dedicated terminal with the environment name in the prompt
5. Activates the environment and shows confirmation

Windows Terminal Display

On Windows, the extension ensures the virtual environment name is displayed in the terminal prompt by:

1. Setting the prompt format with prompt (venv) $P$G
2. Running the activation script venv\Scripts\activate
3. Showing the Python executable path to confirm activation

Configuration

This extension has no configurable settings yet. Future versions may include options for:

• Custom virtual environment locations
• Default environment name
• Custom terminal commands

Requirements

• VS Code 1.60.0 or higher
• Python installed on your system

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to open an issue or submit a pull request.

License

This extension is licensed under the MIT License.