Terminal Environment Contributions: Path Modifications get Overwritten

[kenblu24]

Type: Bug

Behaviour

Depending on the order of terminal environment changes, path modifications will overwrite path mods from other extensions.

Particularly, it seems that I get ONLY prepends or ONLY appends, and this differs on a per-workspace basis.

This culminates in things like Python environments not activating in certain workspaces, or debugpy not being available in certain workspaces (among other things)

Steps to reproduce:

Depending on the workspace, the order of terminal environment contributions seems to change. This seems to affect whether path prepends or path appends take priority.

I demonstrate this with a python virtual environment:

1. Open a workspace or folder which has the python interpreter set at a workspace level
2. Open a new NuShell, Powershell, or CMD integrated terminal
3. Ensure that ms-python.python, and ms-python.debugpy are contributing to the environment.
   a. You can do this by hovering over the terminal icon (next to the + add terminal button) and clicking Show Environment Contributions in the pop-up.
   b. I have other things contributing to the environment, such as GitHub.copilot-chat. In this case,
   i. ms-python.python PRE-pends to path (add BEFORE)
   ii. ms-python.debugpy and GitHub.copilot-chat APpend to path (add AFTER)
4. View the path:
   a. NuShell: $env.Path | last 3 | prepend ($env.Path | first 3)
   b. Powershell: ($env:Path -split ';' | select -First 3) + ($env:Path -split ';' | select -Last 3)
   c. cmd: echo %PATH%
5. Inspect the path. See that only EITHER prepends or appends were made. i.e. either the python virtual environment was prepended, or the github copilot and debugpy no-config debug were appended to path.

Note: I was able to "fix" this (change the order) for one workspace by:

1. Closing VSCode and Deleting the relevant "workspace workspace" dir and "folder workspace" dir from AppData\Roaming\Code\User\workspaceStorage
2. Deleting Code\User\globalStorage\state.vscdb WARNING: THIS WILL DELETE YOUR VSCODE STATE. DO NOT DO THIS.
3. Removing references to the folder/workspace from globalStorage\storage.json
4. Setting up VSCode
5. Opening the folder
6. Setting a workspace-level python interpreter
7. Saving the workspace
8. Deleting and re-creating the virtualenv
9. Opening a terminal to check that the order of environment contributions is different.

Note: I don't actually know if the order of environment contributions is what determines whether prepends or appends work. What I do know is that this is a per-workspace behavior difference.

If I only do steps 1 and 3, then the issue is not fixed once I open VSCode. However, doing step 2 doesn't seem to be the lynchpin, as this process didn't fix every workspace, only the one I fully scrubbed.

Diagnostic data

Output for Python in the Output panel

Note: The output is shown for a workspace for which the path injection DOESN'T WORK. However, this output looks almost identical to that of a workspace for which it DOES work.

2025-05-20 20:49:55.910 [info] Experiment 'pythonRecommendTensorboardExt' is active
2025-05-20 20:49:55.910 [info] Experiment 'pythonSurveyNotification' is active
2025-05-20 20:49:55.910 [info] Experiment 'pythonTerminalEnvVarActivation' is active
2025-05-20 20:49:55.910 [warning] Dir "c:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss\.pixi\envs" is not watchable (directory does not exist)
2025-05-20 20:49:55.967 [info] Python interpreter path: .\.venv\Scripts\python.exe
2025-05-20 20:49:55.985 [info] > pyenv which python
2025-05-20 20:49:55.985 [info] cwd: .
2025-05-20 20:49:56.060 [warning] Shell integration may not be active, environment activated may be overridden by the shell.
2025-05-20 20:49:57.299 [info] > overlay use ./.venv/Scripts/activate.nu && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-05-20 20:49:57.300 [info] shell: nushell
2025-05-20 20:49:57.345 [error] getActivatedEnvironmentVariables Error: Command failed: overlay use c:/Users/kenbl/Documents/.projects/rss/.venv/Scripts/activate.nu && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python c:/Users/kenbl/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
Error: nu::parser::shell_andand

  x The '&&' operator is not supported in Nushell
   ,-[source:1:78]
 1 | overlay use c:/Users/kenbl/Documents/.projects/rss/.venv/Scripts/activate.nu && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python c:/Users/kenbl/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
   :                                                                              ^|
   :                                                                               `-- instead of '&&', use ';' or 'and'
   `----
  help: use ';' instead of the shell '&&', or 'and' instead of the boolean
        '&&'


    at genericNodeError (node:internal/errors:984:15)
    at wrappedFn (node:internal/errors:538:14)
    at ChildProcess.exithandler (node:child_process:423:12)
    at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:536:35)
    at maybeClose (node:internal/child_process:1104:16)
    at Socket.<anonymous> (node:internal/child_process:456:11)
    at Socket.emit (node:events:524:28)
    at Pipe.<anonymous> (node:net:343:12) {
  code: 1,
  killed: false,
  signal: null,
  cmd: "overlay use c:/Users/kenbl/Documents/.projects/rss/.venv/Scripts/activate.nu && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python c:/Users/kenbl/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py"
}
2025-05-20 20:49:57.354 [info] > ./.venv/Scripts/activate.bat && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-05-20 20:49:57.354 [info] shell: commandPrompt
2025-05-20 20:49:58.128 [info] > C:\Python312\python.exe ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-05-20 20:49:58.128 [info] shell: commandPrompt
2025-05-20 20:49:58.215 [info] Prepending environment variable PATH in collection with C:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss\.venv\Scripts; {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:49:58.215 [info] Setting environment variable PROMPT in collection to (rss) $P$G {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:49:58.215 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV in collection to C:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss\.venv {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:49:58.215 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT in collection to rss {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:49:58.215 [info] Setting environment variable _OLD_VIRTUAL_PROMPT in collection to $P$G {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:50:00.149 [info] Starting Pylance language server.
2025-05-20 20:56:28.805 [info] Shell integration status changed, can confirm it's working.
2025-05-20 20:56:28.809 [info] > overlay use ./.venv/Scripts/activate.nu && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-05-20 20:56:28.809 [info] shell: nushell
2025-05-20 20:56:28.840 [error] getActivatedEnvironmentVariables Error: Command failed: overlay use c:/Users/kenbl/Documents/.projects/rss/.venv/Scripts/activate.nu && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python c:/Users/kenbl/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
Error: nu::parser::shell_andand

  x The '&&' operator is not supported in Nushell
   ,-[source:1:78]
 1 | overlay use c:/Users/kenbl/Documents/.projects/rss/.venv/Scripts/activate.nu && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python c:/Users/kenbl/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
   :                                                                              ^|
   :                                                                               `-- instead of '&&', use ';' or 'and'
   `----
  help: use ';' instead of the shell '&&', or 'and' instead of the boolean
        '&&'


    at genericNodeError (node:internal/errors:984:15)
    at wrappedFn (node:internal/errors:538:14)
    at ChildProcess.exithandler (node:child_process:423:12)
    at ChildProcess.emit (node:events:536:35)
    at maybeClose (node:internal/child_process:1104:16)
    at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (node:internal/child_process:304:5) {
  code: 1,
  killed: false,
  signal: null,
  cmd: "overlay use c:/Users/kenbl/Documents/.projects/rss/.venv/Scripts/activate.nu && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python c:/Users/kenbl/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py"
}
2025-05-20 20:56:28.844 [info] > ./.venv/Scripts/activate.bat && echo 'e8b39361-0157-4923-80e1-22d70d46dee6' && python ~/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.python-2025.6.1-win32-x64/python_files/printEnvVariables.py
2025-05-20 20:56:28.844 [info] shell: commandPrompt
2025-05-20 20:56:28.908 [info] Prepending environment variable PATH in collection with C:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss\.venv\Scripts; {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:56:28.908 [info] Setting environment variable PROMPT in collection to (rss) $P$G {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:56:28.908 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV in collection to C:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss\.venv {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:56:28.908 [info] Setting environment variable VIRTUAL_ENV_PROMPT in collection to rss {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}
2025-05-20 20:56:28.908 [info] Setting environment variable _OLD_VIRTUAL_PROMPT in collection to $P$G {"applyAtShellIntegration":true,"applyAtProcessCreation":true}

Output for Python Language Server in the Output panel

2025-05-20 20:49:57.442 [info] (Client) Pylance async client (2025.5.1) started with python extension (2025.6.1)
2025-05-20 20:49:59.653 [info] [Info  - 8:49:59 PM] (747840) Server root directory: file:///c%3A/Users/kenbl/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.vscode-pylance-2025.5.1/dist
2025-05-20 20:49:59.821 [info] [Info  - 8:49:59 PM] (747840) Pylance language server 2025.5.1 (pyright version 1.1.400, commit b962ffc2) starting
2025-05-20 20:50:00.134 [info] [Info  - 8:50:00 PM] (747840) Starting service instance "rss" for workspace "c:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss"
2025-05-20 20:50:00.679 [info] [Info  - 8:50:00 PM] (747840) Setting environmentName for service "rss": "3.12.2 (.venv venv)"
2025-05-20 20:50:00.679 [info] [Info  - 8:50:00 PM] (747840) Setting pythonPath for service "rss": "c:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss\.venv\Scripts\python.exe"
2025-05-20 20:50:00.679 [info] [Info  - 8:50:00 PM] (747840) No include entries specified; assuming c:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss
2025-05-20 20:50:00.679 [info] [Info  - 8:50:00 PM] (747840) Auto-excluding **/node_modules
2025-05-20 20:50:00.694 [info] [Info  - 8:50:00 PM] (747840) Auto-excluding **/__pycache__
2025-05-20 20:50:00.700 [info] [Info  - 8:50:00 PM] (747840) Auto-excluding **/.*
2025-05-20 20:50:00.814 [info] [Info  - 8:50:00 PM] (747840) Assuming Python version 3.12.2.final.0
2025-05-20 20:50:01.042 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) Found 255 source files
2025-05-20 20:50:01.061 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) Setting environmentName for service "rss": "3.12.2 (.venv venv)"
2025-05-20 20:50:01.061 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) Setting pythonPath for service "rss": "c:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss\.venv\Scripts\python.exe"
2025-05-20 20:50:01.061 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) No include entries specified; assuming c:\Users\kenbl\Documents\.projects\rss
2025-05-20 20:50:01.061 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) Auto-excluding **/node_modules
2025-05-20 20:50:01.061 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) Auto-excluding **/__pycache__
2025-05-20 20:50:01.061 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) Auto-excluding **/.*
2025-05-20 20:50:01.120 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) Assuming Python version 3.12.2.final.0
2025-05-20 20:50:01.323 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) Found 255 source files
2025-05-20 20:50:01.331 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) BG: Priority queue background worker(2) root directory: file:///c%3A/Users/kenbl/.vscode/extensions/ms-python.vscode-pylance-2025.5.1/dist
2025-05-20 20:50:01.331 [info] [Info  - 8:50:01 PM] (747840) BG: Priority queue background worker(2) started

Extension version: 2025.6.1
VS Code version: Code 1.100.2 (848b80aeb52026648a8ff9f7c45a9b0a80641e2e, 2025-05-14T21:47:40.416Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.19045
Modes:

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.12.2
• Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Venv
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: Default

User Settings

languageServer: "Pylance"

Installed Extensions

Extension Name	Extension Id	Version
activitusbar	Gru	0.0.47
autodocstring	njp	0.6.1
better-cpp-syntax	jef	1.27.1
bracketeer	pus	1.3.1
change-case	wma	1.0.0
cmake	twx	0.0.17
cmake-tools	ms-	1.20.53
copilot	Git	1.322.0
copilot-chat	Git	0.27.1
cpptools	ms-	1.25.3
cpptools-extension-pack	ms-	1.3.1
cpptools-themes	ms-	2.0.0
csharp	ms-	2.76.27
daily	sld	6.0.3
dainty-vscode	ale	1.1.22
data-workspace-vscode	ms-	0.6.2
datawrangler	ms-	1.22.0
debugpy	ms-	2025.8.0
docker	doc	0.6.0
doxdocgen	csc	1.4.0
es7-react-js-snippets	dsz	4.4.3
even-better-toml	tam	0.21.2
expand-selection-to-scope	vit	0.2.0
gitlens	eam	17.1.0
identical-sublime-monokai-csharp-theme-colorizer	max	1.2.3
isort	ms-	2025.0.0
java	red	1.42.0
js-debug	ms-	1.100.1
js-debug-companion	ms-	1.1.3
jupyter	ms-	2025.4.0
jupyter-keymap	ms-	1.1.2
jupyter-renderers	ms-	1.1.0
latex-utilities	tec	0.4.14
latex-workshop	Jam	10.9.1
makefile-tools	ms-	0.12.17
markdown-all-in-one	yzh	3.6.3
mssql	ms-	1.32.0
oceanic-monokai	und	0.0.1
open-in-browser	igo	1.0.2
platformio-ide	pla	3.3.4
powershell	ms-	2025.0.0
python	ms-	2025.6.1
rainbow-csv	mec	3.19.0
remote-containers	ms-	0.413.0
remote-explorer	ms-	0.5.0
remote-server	ms-	1.5.2
remote-ssh	ms-	0.120.0
remote-ssh-edit	ms-	0.87.0
remote-wsl	ms-	0.99.0
ruff	cha	2025.22.0
rust-analyzer	rus	0.3.2466
sql-bindings-vscode	ms-	0.4.1
sql-database-projects-vscode	ms-	1.5.2
sublime-keybindings	ms-	4.1.10
sublime-text-4-theme	Emi	1.1.2
supermaven	Sup	1.1.12
theme-monokai-pro-vscode	mon	2.0.6
transpose	v4r	0.0.6
vetur	oct	0.37.3
vsc-python-indent	Kev	1.21.0
vscode-django	bat	1.15.0
vscode-docker	ms-	1.29.6
vscode-dotnet-runtime	ms-	2.3.3
vscode-eslint	dba	3.0.10
vscode-github-actions	git	0.27.1
vscode-html-css	ecm	2.0.13
vscode-js-profile-table	ms-	1.0.10
vscode-jupyter-cell-tags	ms-	0.1.9
vscode-jupyter-slideshow	ms-	0.1.6
vscode-paste-and-indent	Rub	0.0.8
vscode-proto3	zxh	0.5.5
vscode-pull-request-github	Git	0.110.0
vscode-pylance	ms-	2025.5.1
vscode-react-native	msj	1.13.0
vscode-yaml	red	1.18.0
vsliveshare	ms-	1.0.5948
zoterolatex	bna	0.4.1

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	AMD Ryzen 9 7900X 12-Core Processor (24 x 4691)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled canvas_oop_rasterization: enabled_on direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	63.14GB (23.46GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id fdf58350-4bde-4f0f-94e7-09c3724edea9
Screen Reader	no
VM	36%

A/B Experiments

vsliv368cf:30146710
vspor879:30202332
vspor708:30202333
vspor363:30204092
vswsl492:30256859
pythonvspyt551:31249599
vscod805cf:30301675
binariesv615:30325510
c4g48928:30535728
azure-dev_surveyone:30548225
962ge761:30959799
h48ei257:31000450
pythontbext0:30879054
cppperfnew:31000557
dwnewjupytercf:31046870
pythonrstrctxt:31112756
nativeloc2:31192216
5fd0e150:31155592
dwcopilot:31170013
6074i472:31201624
dwoutputs:31242946
customenabled:31248079
9064b325:31222308
copilot_t_ci:31222730
e5gg6876:31282496
pythoneinst12:31285622
bgtreat:31268568
4gafe986:31271826
c7cif404:31309971
996jf627:31283433
pythonrdcb7cf:31303019
usemplatestapi:31297334
0aa6g176:31307128
7bj51361:31289155
747dc170:31275177
pylancecolor:31309108
aj953862:31281341
generatesymbolt:31295002
convertfstringf:31295003
gendocf:31295004
j6a0c355:31309728

[anthonykim1]

Hello @kenblu24 thanks for the detail in this issue. Will look into this soon when I get a chance. Thanks!
Possibly related: microsoft/vscode#245613 with env var collection

[anthonykim1]

Can you @kenblu24 try installing https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-python.vscode-python-envs and set setting python-envs.terminal.autoActivationType to shell startup? This way, Python extension won't modify your path and we have better approach of activating your environment.

Please let me know how this goes. Thank you

[chr0m]

Having a similar issue here.

If I have the python debugger extension enabled the venv path is not prepended to the path environment variable. It looks like it gets prepended and then the python debug extension comes and overrides it.

[anthonykim1]

duplicate of microsoft/vscode#245613