co-authored from @amunger via #24451

Author: anthonykim1

src/client/repl/nativeRepl.ts

@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ export class NativeRepl implements Disposable {
     /**
      * Function that opens interactive repl, selects kernel, and send/execute code to the native repl.
      */
-    public async sendToNativeRepl(code?: string): Promise<void> {
+    public async sendToNativeRepl(code?: string | undefined, preserveFocus: boolean = true): Promise<void> {
         const mementoValue = (await this.context.globalState.get(NATIVE_REPL_URI_MEMENTO)) as string | undefined;
         let mementoUri = mementoValue ? Uri.parse(mementoValue) : undefined;
         const openNotebookDocuments = workspace.notebookDocuments.map((doc) => doc.uri);
@@ -177,7 +177,12 @@ export class NativeRepl implements Disposable {
             await this.cleanRepl();
         }
 
-        const notebookEditor = await openInteractiveREPL(this.replController, this.notebookDocument, mementoUri);
+        const notebookEditor = await openInteractiveREPL(
+            this.replController,
+            this.notebookDocument,
+            mementoUri,
+            preserveFocus,
+        );
 
         this.notebookDocument = notebookEditor.notebook;
         await this.context.globalState.update(NATIVE_REPL_URI_MEMENTO, this.notebookDocument.uri.toString());

src/client/repl/replCommandHandler.ts

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export async function openInteractiveREPL(
     notebookController: NotebookController,
     notebookDocument: NotebookDocument | undefined,
     mementoValue: Uri | undefined,
+    preserveFocus: boolean = true,
 ): Promise<NotebookEditor> {
     let viewColumn = ViewColumn.Beside;
     if (mementoValue) {
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ export async function openInteractiveREPL(
     const editor = window.showNotebookDocument(notebookDocument!, {
         viewColumn,
         asRepl: 'Python REPL',
-        preserveFocus: true,
+        preserveFocus,
     });
     await commands.executeCommand('notebook.selectKernel', {
         editor,

src/client/repl/replCommands.ts

@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ export async function registerStartNativeReplCommand(
             if (interpreter) {
                 if (interpreter) {
                     const nativeRepl = await getNativeRepl(interpreter, disposables, context);
-                    await nativeRepl.sendToNativeRepl();
+                    await nativeRepl.sendToNativeRepl(undefined, false);
                 }
             }
         }),