Python Debugger doesn't work on Windows if you don't have local admin privs

[BMW1Addict]

Type: Bug

My company does not allow developers to have local admin permissions on their company latop. Python debugger does not work on WIndows and the debugger bar (with run, step, step-into, etc. buttons) disappears shortly after starting the debug session when attempting to debug a Python solution on my work laptop where my account does not have local admin permissions. Yet that same Python solution I can debug using PyCharm Community Edition on my Windows work laptop without local admin permissions and that same Python solution I can debug on my home Windows PC where my personal account has local admin permissions and I can debug that exact same Python solution on my MacBookAir.

Extension version: 2023.12.0
VS Code version: Code 1.80.2 (2ccd690cbff1569e4a83d7c43d45101f817401dc, 2023-07-27T20:57:59.134Z)
OS version: Darwin arm64 22.5.0
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Apple M2 (8 x 24)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled canvas_oop_rasterization: disabled_off direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled metal: disabled_off multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled
Load (avg)	1, 1, 1
Memory (System)	24.00GB (8.43GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id 8b3001bc-e595-4f74-a6fe-9add6124eeab
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

A/B Experiments

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pythoncmv:30756943
fixshowwlkth:30771522
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pythongtdpath:30769146
i26e3531:30792625
pythonnosmt12:30797651
pythonnoceb:30797650
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dsvsc013:30795093
dsvsc014:30797589

[karthiknadig]

@BMW1Addict Can you verify if VS Code is being launched or installed in a location where such a permission is not needed? I am suspecting the extensions are getting installed where permissions are restricted.

Extensions for VS Code usually get installed in ~\.vscode\extensions directory. You could try launching VS Code using code extensions-dir <path-to-dir> where path-to-dir is some directory you control; this will install extensions there and you should be able to see if it was permissions issue with where the extensions are installed by default.

[BMW1Addict]

@karthiknadig - On Windows, VSCode is installed in %USERPROFILE% default location for my user id. All VSCode extensions are installed from within VSCode and are stored in VSCode's default location for extensions %USERPROFILE%\.vscode\extensions This is the same location as my Windows PC at home where I do have local admin rights. Running the Python solution normally (not debugged) works as expected everywhere (on work laptop in VSCode, on work laptop in PyCharm CE, on my Windows PC at home in VSCode and on my MacBookAir in VSCode. Trying to debug the exact same Python solution works as expected (break points trip) on work laptop in PyCharm CE, on home Windows PC in VSCode and on MacBookAir in VSCode. Only place VSCode Python debugger for the exact same Python solution does not work is on Windows work laptop where I do not have local admin rights.

[karthiknadig]

This is really strange, the debugger should not need admin permissions to run. This could be blocked using group policy.

Can you share the error or the windows modal dialog that pops up? Can you verify if running using code --extensions-dir <dir-path> works for you (dir-path can be any path that is not under %USERPROFILE%)?

Is there a particular type of debug session that fails or is it all debugger scenarios (launch, attach, attach to process) etc?

[BMW1Addict]

@karthiknadig on Windows work laptop where I don’t have local admin, I set a break point and it never breaks and the debugger stop, run, step button bar just disappears.

screen capture