virtual env is ignored while testing

[cupcat121]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

Even if I installed pytest in the venv and selected the interpretor, it still use the pytest of my system while testing. I had to modify python.testing.pytestPath to ${workspaceFolder}/.venv/bin/pytest to get it worked.

There is no error performing my tests in the terminal within the venv activated

Steps to reproduce:

1. create a project and an virtual env without pip
2. install pytest in the virtual env
3. install the project as editable mode with pip install -e
4. add a test file which contains import of the project from myproject import foo
5. run test in the sidebar

Diagnostic data

python test log panel

=============================
platform linux -- Python 3.12.3, pytest-8.1.2, pluggy-1.4.0
rootdir: /mnt/lib/develop/sources/python/cphub
configfile: pyproject.toml
plugins: typeguard-4.2.1, anyio-4.3.0, mock-3.14.0
collected 0 items / 1 error

==================================== ERRORS ====================================
___________________ ERROR collecting tests/test_pastebin.py ____________________
ImportError while importing test module '/mnt/lib/develop/sources/python/cphub/tests/test_pastebin.py'.
Hint: make sure your test modules/packages have valid Python names.
Traceback:
/usr/lib/python3.12/importlib/__init__.py:90: in import_module
    return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
tests/test_pastebin.py:4: in <module>
    from cphub.pastebin import PasteBin
E   ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'cphub'
-------------- generated xml file: /tmp/tmp-88939gx50f6ouwSFD.xml --------------
=========================== short test summary info ============================
ERROR tests/test_pastebin.py
=============================== 1 error in 0.03s ===============================
ERROR: found no collectors for /mnt/lib/develop/sources/python/cphub/tests/test_pastebin.py::test_singleton_instance

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

2024-05-10 17:59:35.532 [info] > ~/.local/bin/pytest --rootdir . --override-ini junit_family=xunit1 --junit-xml=/tmp/tmp-88939gx50f6ouwSFD.xml ./tests/test_pastebin.py::test_singleton_instance
2024-05-10 17:59:35.533 [info] cwd: .

Extension version: 2024.7.11301009
VS Code version: Code - Insiders 1.90.0-insider (ccba2fc85c14bedeef5a72b7ebc0bde9b0e91948, 2024-05-06T08:06:22.239Z)
OS version: Linux x64 6.8.9-zen1-1-zen
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.10.14
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Venv
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Pylance

User Settings

venvPath: "<placeholder>"

venvFolders: "${workspaceFolder}/.venv"

languageServer: "Pylance"

testing
• cwd: "${workspaceFolder}"
• pytestArgs: "${workspaceFolder}/tests"
• pytestEnabled: true
• pytestPath: "<placeholder>"

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
Auto Close Tag	formulahendry.auto-close-tag	0.5.15
Auto Rename Tag	formulahendry.auto-rename-tag	0.1.10
Even Better TOML	tamasfe.even-better-toml	0.19.2
gitignore	codezombiech.gitignore	0.9.0
Indenticator	SirTori.indenticator	0.7.0
IntelliCode	VisualStudioExptTeam.vscodeintellicode	1.3.1
IntelliCode API Usage Examples	VisualStudioExptTeam.intellicode-api-usage-examples	0.2.8
json	ZainChen.json	2.0.2
Live Server	ritwickdey.LiveServer	5.7.9
Markdown All in One	yzhang.markdown-all-in-one	3.6.2
Path Intellisense	christian-kohler.path-intellisense	2.8.5
Prettify JSON	mohsen1.prettify-json	0.0.3
Project Manager	alefragnani.project-manager	12.8.0
Pylance	ms-python.vscode-pylance	2024.5.1
Python	ms-python.python	2024.7.11301009
Python Debugger	ms-python.debugpy	2024.6.0
Python Extension Pack	donjayamanne.python-extension-pack	1.7.0
Python Indent	KevinRose.vsc-python-indent	1.18.0
Python Test Explorer for Visual Studio Code	littlefoxteam.vscode-python-test-adapter	0.8.2
Python Type Hint	njqdev.vscode-python-typehint	1.5.1
Remote - SSH	ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh	0.112.2024050815
Remote - SSH: Editing Configuration Files	ms-vscode-remote.remote-ssh-edit	0.86.0
Remote Explorer	ms-vscode.remote-explorer	0.5.2024031109
Remote Repositories	ms-vscode.remote-repositories	0.41.2024022202
Ruff	charliermarsh.ruff	2024.20.0
Table Visualizer for JavaScript Profiles	ms-vscode.vscode-js-profile-table	1.0.9
Tabnine AI	TabNine.tabnine-vscode	3.98.0
Test Adapter Converter	ms-vscode.test-adapter-converter	0.1.9
Test Explorer UI	hbenl.vscode-test-explorer	2.21.1
Todo Tree	Gruntfuggly.todo-tree	0.0.226
Tokyo Night	enkia.tokyo-night	1.0.6
Wal Theme	dlasagno.wal-theme	1.2.0
YAML	redhat.vscode-yaml	1.14.0

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor (12 x 4016)
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 skia_graphite: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: disabled_software vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: disabled_off
Load (avg)	1, 1, 1
Memory (System)	15.51GB (8.74GB free)
Process Argv	--unity-launch --enable-features=UseOzonePlatform --ozone-platform=wayland --password-store=gnome --enable-wayland-ime
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%
DESKTOP_SESSION	plasma
XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP	KDE
XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP	plasma
XDG_SESSION_TYPE	wayland

[tzaffi]

Identical problem since I updated VS Code yesterday. My PyTest is borked on VSCode (but works fine on the terminal).

[karthiknadig]

@cupcat121 it looks like you have set a path to pytest via settings to point to ~/.local/bin/pytest. That will use whatever environment pytest is installed at. We don't control that scenario. The pytest binary will pick the python based on the environment it is in.

If you have a .venv environment and you want to use a global ~/.local/bin/pytest. That is not a supported scenario. You can try launching VS Code from an activated environment from a external terminal and see if it helps.

Is there any reason you want a venv without pip?

[karthiknadig]

@cupcat121 Also doing pip install -e will install in the global environment, as you mentioned your virtual environment does not have pip that means that this is getting installed to be loaded with global environment. See here for more info https://snarky.ca/why-you-should-use-python-m-pip/

Note: If you create virtual environment using VS Code Create environment command, it can try to install pip into the virtual environment for you.

[tzaffi]

@karthiknadig - are you suggesting that if I use VS Code Create vs. my own bespke virtual env, pytest should work fine?

[karthiknadig]

@tzaffi Not really. If you have a User settings.json (global settings) with python.testing.pytestPath set to ~/.local/bin/pytest. Then, all workspaces will use that pytest and the environment that pytest was installed in. This is because of how ~/.local/bin/pytest actually is designed:

It will start /usr/bin/python3 (from line 1), and use that as the environment. That means if you have a workspace specific environment, then you will have to point python.testing.pytestPath to the workspace specific one. Otherwise, it will use the wrong environment. So, to make it work you will have to set python.testing.pytestPath to ${workspaceFolder}/.venv/bin/pytest. The .venv/bin/pytest just points to .venv/bin/python and starts pytest by importing it from that environment.

My suggestion is remove the global python.testing.pytestPath setting from User settings, and also remove it from workspace settings. Python extension will pick up the one in your environment automatically, based on the selected python. Python extension just runs <selected python> -m pytest so you will get the right environment.

[andrewstevens-infineon]

Note that although Run Test action does not execute pytest in the select venv's environment the Debug Test action does . See #23467.

[github-actions]

Hey @eleanorjboyd, this issue might need further attention.

@cupcat121, you can help us out by closing this issue if the problem no longer exists, or adding more information.

[github-actions]

Because we have not heard back with the information we requested, we are closing this issue for now. If you are able to provide the info later on, then we will be happy to re-open this issue to pick up where we left off.

Happy Coding!

[andrewstevens-infineon]

Thanks Eleanor. The underlying problem #23467 (Run Test not "honouring" the specified venv as"Debug Test" does) is pretty clear.