PowerShell kernel incompatible with Python 3.12 and above - Guidance for supported PowerShell notebook workflow needed

[sassdawe]

Greetings,

I am attempting to follow the migration guidance from the dotnet/interactive deprecation notice (dotnet/interactive#4163), which recommends using the VS Code Jupyter extension for notebook scenarios.

To enable PowerShell support, I installed the PowerShell kernel based on:

https://github.com/vors/jupyter-powershell

However, when attempting to start the kernel using a current Python runtime (3.14.3), I receive the following error:

The kernel failed to start due to the missing module 'imghdr'.

I can see that the imghdr module was removed in Python 3.12:
https://docs.python.org/3/library/imghdr.html

This suggests that the current PowerShell kernel implementation is not compatible with supported Python runtimes.

Given that:

• dotnet/interactive is being deprecated

• The recommended replacement path points toward the Jupyter ecosystem

• PowerShell support appears dependent on a kernel incompatible with modern Python

Could you please clarify:

1. Is there an officially supported PowerShell kernel for use with VS Code Jupyter?

2. Is jupyter-powershell considered production-ready and actively maintained?

3. What is the recommended path for using PowerShell in notebooks moving forward?

4. Is Python 3.11 currently the only viable runtime for PowerShell kernel scenarios?

I am specifically looking for guidance suitable for enterprise environments where:

• Runtimes must be supported and maintained

• Dependency chains must be compatible with current platform versions

• Long-term servicing considerations are required

Thank you for any clarification.

[sassdawe]

Please also see for reference: dotnet/interactive#4176

[DonJayamanne]

@claudiaregio do you have any suggestions here?

[DonJayamanne]

@sassdawe I'm not sure about the details of .NET kernels nor Powershell kernels.
This extension merely tries to support the Jupyter protocol, so if there's a kernel that works with Jupyter, then you can bring that here.
As for your questions about official guidance and the like, that should be raised in the other repo.
I'm sorry to push you back there, but thats not an answer I can provide, as we don't handle any specific kernel.
Yes we have excellent support for Python kernels, but thats only because its the majority, but if you were to use Julia kernel as well, it will work and if there are issues we will resolve them.

[claudiaregio]

@sassdawe The particular issue you're running into with the kernel should be filed in the kernel repo: https://github.com/vors/jupyter-powershell/issues. Like Don said, this extension supports Jupyter protocol so they support a "bring your own kernel" model, but if there are notebook/tooling-specific features you'd like to see lit up in VS Code, you can file those requests in this repo. I/we are not familiar with the kernel you've tried to use so we can't speak to what's going on there but you could try requesting an official supported Jupyter kernel here: https://github.com/PowerShell/PowerShell