@SpeedCoder5’s comment deserves to be an answer.
In launch.json
, specify a dynamic working directory (i.e. the directory where the currently-open Python file is located) using:
"cwd": "${fileDirname}"
This takes advantage of the “variables reference” feature in VS Code, and the predefined variable fileDirname
.
Note as comments say, you might also need to add the purpose
option:
"purpose": ["debug-in-terminal"]
“Purpose” might be required if using the play button on the top-right of the window, vs F5 or “Run and Debug” in the sidebar.
If you’re using the Python: Current File (Integrated Terminal)
option when you run Python, your launch.json
file might look like mine, below (more info on launch.json
files here).
{
"version": "0.2.0",
"configurations": [
{
"name": "Python: Current File (Integrated Terminal)",
"type": "python",
"request": "launch",
"program": "${file}",
"console": "integratedTerminal",
"cwd": "${fileDirname}",
"purpose":["debug-in-terminal"]
},
//... other settings, but I modified the "Current File" setting above ...
}
Remember the launch.json
file controls the run/debug settings of your Visual Studio code project; my launch.json
file was auto-generated by VS Code, in the directory of my current “Open Project”. I just edited the file manually to add "cwd": "${fileDirname}"
as shown above.
Remember the launch.json
file may be specific to your project, or specific to your directory, so confirm you’re editing the correct launch.json
(see comment)
If you don’t have a launch.json
file, try this:
To create a launch.json file, open your project folder in VS Code (File > Open Folder) and then select the Configure gear icon on the Debug view top bar.
Per @kbro’s comment, you might be prompted to create a launch.json
file by clicking the Debug button itself:
When I clicked on the Debug button on my navigation panel it said “To customise Run and Debug create a launch.json file.” Clicking on “create…” opened a dialog asking what language I was debugging. In my case I selected Python