Visual Studio Code: run Python file with arguments

Question

Is there an easy way to run a Python file inside Visual Studio Code with arguments?

I know I can add a custom configuration in the launch.json file with the

Answer 1

A workaround is to have your script ask for the command-line arguments (in the internal Visual Studio Code console).

This can be made much more usable by leaning on readline, which allows you to do things like press the Up arrow key to cycle through previous commands (command history), and more. An example:

import argparse, readline

def main():
  # Ask for additional command line arguments if needed (for VSCode)
  parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
  parser.add_argument('--interactive', action='store_true', default=False)
  (args, rest) = parser.parse_known_args()
  if args.interactive:
    try: readline.read_history_file()
    except: pass
    rest += input("Arguments: ").split(" ")  # Get input args
    try: readline.write_history_file()
    except: pass

  # Your other script arguments go here
  parser.add_argument("-output-dir", default="/out")
  # ...
  args = parser.parse_args(rest)

  print(args)

if __name__ == "__main__":
  main()

Then just set up Visual Studio Code to always pass in the --interactive argument, and your script will always ask for arguments (with history!) even as you set breakpoints.