Microsoft introduced the Python language server in VSCode
Microsoft continues to work to provide a better Python development experience by releasing the Python Language Server. It is currently available as part of the Python extension to Visual Studio Code and will be released as a standalone component soon.
Visual Studio previously had IntelliSense functionality for Python, but it is also a proprietary feature of Visual Studio. Microsoft IntelliSense is a code analysis and recommendation tool that provides auto-completion of variables, functions, and other symbols in your code.
According to Microsoft, IntelliSense has a deep understanding of Python, but only Visual Studio users can enjoy these benefits. Until the advent of the Python language server, it will enable users to enjoy these benefits using any tool that is compatible with the language server protocol.
Microsoft developer Steve Dower wrote in his blog: “Having a standalone, cross-platform language server means that we can continue to innovate and improve on our IntelliSense experience for Python developers in both Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code at the same time.”
The version included with the Python extension of Visual Studio Code in the July release is an earlier version of the server that contains the following features:
- Syntax errors as you type in code
- Warnings when modules are not found
- Using typeshed files to fill in missing completions for modules
- Improved performance for analyzing your workspace and presenting completions
- Ability to detect syntax errors on your entire workspace, rather than just the current file.
- Faster startup times
- Faster imports
- Better handling for a number of language constructs
Via: SDTimes
