VSCode — how to set working directory for debugging a Python program

How do I run a Python program under debug and set the working directory for the run?

Answers:

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Method 1

@SpeedCoder5’s comment deserves to be an answer.

In launch.json, specify a dynamic working directory (i.e. the directory where the currently-open Python file is located) using:

"cwd": "${fileDirname}"

This takes advantage of the “variables reference” feature in VS Code, and the predefined variable fileDirname.

If you’re using the Python: Current File (Integrated Terminal) option when you run Python, your launch.json file might look like mine, below (more info on launch.json files here).

{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
    {
            "name": "Python: Current File (Integrated Terminal)",
            "type": "python",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${file}",
            "console": "integratedTerminal",
            "cwd": "${fileDirname}"
    }, 

    //... other settings, but I modified the "Current File" setting above ...
}

Remember the launch.json file controls the run/debug settings of your Visual Studio code project; my launch.json file was auto-generated by VS Code, in the directory of my current “Open Project”. I just edited the file manually to add "cwd": "${fileDirname}" as shown above.

Remember the launch.json file may be specific to your project, or specific to your directory, so confirm you’re editing the correct launch.json (see comment)

If you don’t have a launch.json file, try this:

To create a launch.json file, open your project folder in VS Code (File > Open Folder) and then select the Configure gear icon on the Debug view top bar.

Method 2

Configure the cwd setting in launch.json as follows:

{
    "name": "Python",
    "type": "python",
    "pythonPath": "python", 
    ...
    "cwd": "<Path to the directory>"
    ...
}

Method 3

This setting helps me:

{
  "type": "node",
  "request": "launch",
  "name": "Launch Program",
  "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}\app\js", // set directory here
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}\app\js\server.js", // set start js here
}

Method 4

In some cases, it might be also useful to set the PYTHONPATH along with the workspaceFolder:

{
    "name": "Python: Current File",
    "type": "python",
    "request": "launch",
    "program": "${file}",
    "console": "integratedTerminal",
    "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
    "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "${cwd}"
    }
}

Method 5

I am posting this sample configuration for people who use TypeScript on Node.js

in my project my Node.js server TypeScript files are located in folder Application_ts
and the compiled js files are generated in the folder named Application

because when we run our application in debug mode or start it normally we should start from Application folder which contains the js files
so bellow configuration run debug from root folder where my application_ts also exists and works perfect

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
        "type": "node",
        "request": "launch",
        "name": "Debug TypeScript in Node.js",
        "program": "${workspaceRoot}\Application\app.js",
        "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}\Application",
        "protocol": "inspector",
        "outFiles": [],
        "sourceMaps": true
    },        
    {
        "type": "node",
        "request": "attach",
        "name": "Attach to Process",
        "port": 5858,
        "outFiles": [],
        "sourceMaps": true
    }
 ]
}

Method 6

You can set up current working directory for debugged program using cwd argument in launch.json

Method 7

To set current working directory to whatever file you are executing at the time:

File > Preferences > Settings > Python > Data Science > Execute in File Dir

Thanks brch: Python in VSCode: Set working directory to python file’s path everytime

All methods was sourced from stackoverflow.com or stackexchange.com, is licensed under cc by-sa 2.5, cc by-sa 3.0 and cc by-sa 4.0