vscode-python-ta

A VS Code extension that runs PythonTA on demand and displays its diagnostics as squiggles and Problems panel entries.

How it works

Pressing Ctrl+Shift+T (or running Run PythonTA from the Command Palette) spawns python -m python_ta --output-format pyta-lsp on the active file. The extension reads the JSON output from stdout and populates a named DiagnosticCollection, so PythonTA's annotations appear in the editor.

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v18+)
• pnpm (npm install -g pnpm)
• VS Code (v1.100+)
• A Python environment with PythonTA installed (pip install python-ta)

Developer setup

# Install dependencies
pnpm install

# Compile TypeScript once
pnpm run compile

# Or watch for changes (recompiles on save)
pnpm run watch

Press F5 to open an Extension Development Host window with the extension loaded. In that window, open any .py file and press Ctrl+Shift+T to trigger a check.

After editing src/extension.ts, press Ctrl+Shift+F5 in the Extension Development Host window to reload the extension without restarting.

Configuration

Setting	Default	Description
pythonta.pythonPath	(ms-python interpreter)	Path to the Python executable that has PythonTA installed. Falls back to python if neither this nor the ms-python extension is available.
pythonta.configPath	(none)	Path to a PythonTA config file (.pylintrc). Passed to the subprocess via --config.

Project structure

src/
└── extension.ts     # activate(), runPythonTA(), getPythonPath()
.vscode/
├── launch.json      # F5 debug configuration
└── tasks.json       # compile / watch build tasks
package.json         # extension manifest (commands, keybindings, configuration)
tsconfig.json

Packaging

# Install the vsce tool if you don't have it
pnpm add -g @vscode/vsce

# Build a .vsix for local installation
vsce package --no-dependencies

Install the resulting .vsix via Extensions: Install from VSIX… in the Command Palette.