Pixi for Visual Studio Code

Fast multi-language package management and workspace integration for Pixi in Visual Studio Code

Pixi for Visual Studio Code provides workspace integration for Pixi projects, including visual environment management, Conda and PyPI package search, task execution, integrated terminals, and Python / Jupyter environment support.

Quick Start

Install Pixi: Make sure Pixi CLI is installed on your system.
Install Extension: Install Pixi from the VS Code Marketplace or Open VSX.
Open Project: Open any folder containing a pixi.toml or pyproject.toml. Environments and tasks are detected automatically.

Requirements & Compatibility

Minimum Version: >= 0.60.0 (supports all daily workflows: environments, packages, tasks, terminals, Python, and search).
Recommended Version: >= 0.79.0 (or latest) for complete access to modern workspace CLI features:

Feature	Minimum Pixi	Fallback on Older Pixi (< 0.79.0)
Workspace Dependencies	`0.79.0+`	Add via feature scope or edit manifest
Activation Environment Config	`0.77.0+`	Configure manually in manifest `[activation]`
Preview Flags	`0.77.1+`	Configure manually in manifest `[workspace.preview]`
Host Platform Auto-Detection	`0.71.0+`	Select target platforms manually from Conda presets
Machine Workspace Registration	`0.70.0+`	Multi-root project discovery works automatically

Note: You can upgrade Pixi at any time by running pixi self-update in your terminal or via Pixi: Update Pixi CLI ... in VS Code.

Features

Visual Environments & Workspaces

Project Auto-Discovery: Instantly recognizes pixi.toml and pyproject.toml across single-root and multi-root workspaces.
Dual Perspective Tree: Toggle between Environment View (runtime status, installed packages, toolchains) and Feature View (declared features, dependencies).
One-Click Actions: Install, synchronize, update, lock, or export environments (Conda YAML / Explicit specs) directly from the Activity Bar.

Unified Package Search & Dependencies

Dual-Source Search: Search Conda (conda-forge) and PyPI packages with autocompletion.
Dependency Diagnostics: Inspect full resolved dependency trees and reverse search ("Why is this package installed?").
Locked Inlay Hints: View resolved package versions inline in manifests (: 1.26.4) with rich hover cards and lockfile navigation.

Tasks & Pre-Activated Terminals

Run Tasks: Run tasks from the Activity Bar, Command Palette, or manifest CodeLens and hover previews.
Smart Grouping: Group tasks by prefix (test-*, build-*) or environment to keep large projects organized.
Integrated Terminals: Launch terminals pre-activated in any Pixi environment with one click.
Global Tools: Inspect, install, update, and manage standalone CLI tools in ~/.pixi/bin.

Python & Multi-Language Support

Python & Jupyter: Automatic interpreter selection and Jupyter Notebook kernel registration via @vscode/python-environments.
Multi-Language Toolchains: Auto-detects compilers and toolchains in active environments for C/C++ (GCC, Clang, CMake), R, and Rust.

Commands

QuickPick menus provide access to common workflows. Press Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P and type Pixi::

Command Hub	Description
Pixi: Workspace ...	Manage workspace properties, shared dependencies, channels, platforms, and lockfile.
Pixi: Environment ...	Create, delete, reinstall, configure, export, and manage environments and features.
Pixi: Search Packages ...	Real-time search across Conda and PyPI with platform, license, and doc previews.
Pixi: Add Package ...	Add dependencies to specific environments, features, or workspace-wide scope.
Pixi: Remove Package ...	Remove packages with automatic feature/environment scope resolution.
Pixi: Run Task ...	Search and run any defined project task with optional custom CLI arguments.
Pixi: Open Terminal in Environment ...	Open an integrated terminal pre-activated in the selected environment.
Pixi: Configuration Management ...	Inspect and edit Pixi settings across workspace/user/system scopes.
Pixi: Authentication ...	Log in, log out, copy tokens, or check status (`pixi auth`).
Pixi: Global Tools ...	Manage user-level CLI packages, aliases, and dependency trees.

Key Settings

Customize extension behavior in your VS Code settings.json:

Setting	Default	Description
`pixi.executablePath`	`""`	Path to `pixi` binary (auto-discovered from `PATH` by default).
`pixi.executionMode`	`"smart"`	Command output mode: `"smart"`, `"terminal"`, or `"notification"`.
`pixi.environmentRules`	`[]`	Route files/folders to environments (e.g. `["tests/=dev", "train/=gpu"]`).
`pixi.environments.showToolchains`	`true`	Display detected toolchains (`Python`, `C++`, `Rust`, `R`) in environment tree.
`pixi.environments.showWorkspaceHeader`	`true`	Display pinned workspace overview item (name, version, manifest) in single projects.
`pixi.toolchains.scanLanguages`	`["python", "cpp", "rust", "r"]`	Languages to scan for toolchains (clear to `[]` to disable detection).
`pixi.terminal.autoActivateOnCreate`	`false`	Automatically activate default Pixi environment in standard integrated terminals.
`pixi.lockfile.checkOnSave`	`false`	Automatically detect lockfile drift when saving manifests.
`pixi.tasks.groupBy`	`"prefix"`	Organize task tree by `"prefix"`, `"environment"`, or `"none"`.
`pixi.tasks.manifestActions`	`"hover"`	Manifest task action style: `"hover"`, `"compact"`, `"full"`, or `"off"`.
`pixi.dependencies.inlayHints`	`true`	Show resolved package versions inline in `pixi.toml` and `pyproject.toml`.
`pixi.manifest.dependencyHover`	`true`	Display rich package hover cards in manifest files.
`pixi.packages.checkForUpdates`	`false`	Automatically detect package updates and show upgrade hints in tree and manifests.

Tip: Search @ext:sheeptao.pixi in VS Code Settings (Ctrl+, / Cmd+,) to browse all available options.

Troubleshooting

Check Output Logs: Open View → Output and select Pixi from the dropdown. Set log level via Developer: Set Log Level... → Pixi → Debug for verbose traces.
Binary Not Found: Verify pixi is available in your system PATH, or set pixi.executablePath in Settings.
Environments Not Showing: Ensure pixi.toml exists and run Pixi: Install (Sync Environments) to initialize environment prefixes.

Acknowledgements & License

Special thanks to Renan Santos and contributors of pixi-code for creating the original foundation.
Thanks to the Prefix.dev team for building the Pixi package manager and ecosystem.
Licensed under the MIT License.

Pixi

SheepTAO