My Ultimate VS Code Setup for Python Development (2025 Edition)

I used to think a Python IDE didn’t matter — until I optimized VS Code and everything changed.

My Ultimate VS Code Setup for Python Development (2025 Edition)

I’ve been a Python developer for years now, and if there’s one tool that’s consistently evolved with me, it’s Visual Studio Code.

Fast, lightweight, endlessly customizable, and packed with powerful extensions — VS Code is the editor I return to, project after project.

In this post, I’m walking you through my ultimate VS Code setup for Python development in 2025.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned Pythonista looking to upgrade your workflow, this guide will help you get the most out of your editor.

1. Must-Have Extensions for Python

Extensions are the soul of VS Code. These are the essentials I install immediately on any new machine:

- Python (by Microsoft)

Syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, linting, and debugging — it’s the backbone.

It auto-detects your virtual environments and works great with Jupyter notebooks now.

- Pylance

Lightning-fast IntelliSense, type checking, and docstring rendering.

Built on Pyright, it offers rich type inference and detects bugs early.

- Black Formatter

Enforces a consistent code style. I never argue about formatting in code reviews anymore.

Add "editor.formatOnSave": true to your settings and let Black do the magic.

- isort

Automatically sorts your imports in a clean and logical way.

Combined with Black: It prevents unnecessary merge conflicts and makes diffs cleaner.

- Ruff (NEW in 2025!)

Blazing-fast linter written in Rust that replaces flake8, pylint, and even parts of Black and isort.

Add a .ruff.toml config for precise control.

2. My Settings for Peak Productivity

Here’s a peek into my settings.json that powers my workflow:

{ 
  "python.formatting.provider": "black", 
  "editor.formatOnSave": true, 
  "editor.codeActionsOnSave": { 
    "source.organizeImports": true 
  }, 
  "python.linting.enabled": true, 
  "python.linting.ruffEnabled": true, 
  "python.defaultInterpreterPath": ".venv/bin/python", 
  "files.exclude": { 
    "**/__pycache__": true, 
    "**/.pytest_cache": true, 
    "**/.mypy_cache": true 
  }, 
  "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile.linux": "zsh" 
}

I’ve tailored this for:

• Clean code every time I save.
• Quiet clutter by hiding Python cache files.
• Default interpreter pointing to my .venv.

3. Testing Made Effortless

I use pytest for all my projects. Here’s how I make it seamless inside VS Code:

• Install pytest in your virtual environment.
• In settings.json, add:

"python.testing.pytestEnabled": true, 
"python.testing.unittestEnabled": false, 
"python.testing.autoTestDiscoverOnSaveEnabled": true

Then just hit Ctrl+Shift+P → Python: Discover Tests and you’re set. You can run tests inline, view failures in the Test Explorer, and even debug them in-place.

4. Intelligent Debugging

VS Code’s debugger is elite. Here’s how I supercharge it:

• Breakpoints: I use conditional breakpoints for debugging complex loops.
• Launch Configs:

{ 
  "name": "Python: Main", 
  "type": "python", 
  "request": "launch", 
  "program": "${file}", 
  "console": "integratedTerminal" 
}

• Watch variables, inspect call stacks, and step into code like a pro.

Add a "justMyCode": false flag to peek inside library code when needed.

5. Virtual Environments and Dependency Management

In 2025, I use Poetry to manage Python projects. It keeps dependencies clean and reproducible. My process:

poetry init 
poetry add requests fastapi 
poetry shell

Then in VS Code:

• Select the Poetry environment using Ctrl+Shift+P → Python: Select Interpreter
• VS Code will automatically detect and use it for linting, IntelliSense, and debugging.

6. Jupyter Notebooks Support

If you’re doing data science or quick prototyping, the built-in Jupyter extension is a gem.

• Run cells with Shift+Enter
• Use variable explorer to inspect state
• Export as .py or .ipynb

And yes, you can now debug notebook cells just like regular code — huge productivity win in 2025.

7. My Visual Theme & UI Tweaks

Coding should be a joy to the eyes. My personal favorites:

• Theme: GitHub Dark Default or Night Owl
• Font: JetBrains Mono with ligatures
• Icon Pack: Material Icon Theme
• Zen Mode: View → Appearance → Zen Mode for distraction-free coding.

Bonus setting:

"editor.fontLigatures": true, 
"workbench.colorTheme": "GitHub Dark Default"

Final Thoughts

VS Code is more than an editor — it’s my Python development cockpit. With the right extensions, configurations, and tweaks, you can make it feel like a fully-featured IDE… minus the bloat.

Whether you’re building APIs, automating tasks, or training ML models — your tools should work for you, not against you.

What’s in your Python VS Code setup in 2025? I’d love to hear what plugins or tricks you’re using — drop a comment below

Liked this setup? Share it with a fellow Python dev or bookmark it for your next VS Code reinstall.