back to article Updated Python support in VS Code brings browser editing and ditches open-source language server for Pylance

Microsoft has updated Python support in Visual Studio Code, introducing editing in a web browser. The company has also archived its open-source Python language server in favour of the closed-source Pylance. The Python Extension has over 41 million installs, according to the stats, versus just over 3 million for a third-party …

  1. DevOpsTimothyC

    Can't change it's spots

    Embrace, Extend, Extinguish. As we really surprised that Microsoft is doing this?

    1. amanfromMars 1 Silver badge

      Re: Can't change it's spots, say Lone Wolves which be spotless

      Embrace, Extend, Extinguish. As we really surprised that Microsoft is doing this? .... DevOpsTimothyC

      Maybe not, DOTC, but habits are easily changed.

      Does it make you wonder and ponder what Microsoft would be following/chasing/counterfeiting and need to be preparing to do next in support or defence of any Plans Future AIdVenturing ‽ .

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    VSCodium is open-source, VSCode is not

    VSCode has never really been open source. Sure, you can download and compile source code from the VSCode GitHub repositories, but what you get from that does not contain all the features and functionality of the VSCode binaries available for download from Microsoft.

    This latest introduction of a proprietary blob just shines a brighter light on the fact that VSCode is entirely a Microsoft product, and your presence among the source-code is merely tolerated for PR purposes.

  3. eldel

    The problem (for some of us anyway) is what's the alternative. Some large US corps banned Jetbrains stuff because "reasons", Eclipse is a dinosaur and Pydev seems to be stuck in the neolithic (let's not get into it's Git workflow). Sublime is just Vi on steroids (not that there's anything wrong with that per-se) and Atom could be great if I want to spend a not insignificant amount of time getting the customization sorted out.

    VSCode is free and does the job better than anything other than PyCharm. The Flask and Django support are also free - the last time I looked PyCharm was still charging for those.

    All in my opinion of course - but as it's my time and effort spent using it - that's the only one I really care about :-)

    1. Tim Parker

      For Python ? Wing - if the licensing works for you. One of the older IDEs but still one of the most fully featured.

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    VSCode - The only real game left in town

    For anyone who needs to fire up an IDE quickly, irrespective of the language, without a ton of messing about then VSCode is generally the only real choice. It's far from perfect but you only have to watch any coding tutorial on YouTube, LinkedInLearning or Pluralsight filmed in the last 18 months and almost all advocate VSCode as the editor of choice.

    Eclipse - stuck in the 1990s, bulky and overcomplex. Jetbrains - expensive, paid only. Notepad/Wordpad/Sublime/vi/edlin - basic editing with no code completion or syntax checking.

    VSCode is heading to browser only app, once that happens MS just needs to buy out Jetbrains and then MS can start charging for VSCode subscriptions or at the very least make you sign a waiver to be allowed to keep your code in return for allowing you to continue to use VSCode for free.

    1. thames

      Re: VSCode - The only real game left in town

      I use Geany. It has all the features I want and then some. It's also small, fast, and pretty straightforward. It has loads of features and settings, and there are quite a few plug-ins as well.

      I tried MS VSCode, but found it to be too slow and without any compelling features from my perspective.

      Editors are one of those things where there is no one size fits all solution and what is best for one person isn't necessarily the best for someone else. I've tried quite a few editors and IDEs, but Geany is the one that I ended up sticking with.

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