Python Tools for Visual Studio

Turn Visual Studio into a powerful Python development environment with Python Tools for Visual Studio.
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Overview

Build, debug, profile, test, and deploy your Python apps using Python Tools for Visual Studio. This free, open-source extension adds all the functionality you need to develop and maintain your Python applications in Visual Studio, and deploy to Windows or Linux servers, or to Microsoft Azure.

You can install Python Tools for Visual Studio 2.1 into these versions:

  • Visual Studio 2013
  • Visual Studio Community 2013
  • Visual Studio Express 2013 for Web or for Windows Desktop
  • Visual Studio 2012 and 2010

Features

Bring your own Python

Bring the power of Visual Studio to your favorite Python interpreter! Python Tools for Visual Studio works best with CPython, but you can also use IronPython, and other programs that host Python. Or download a Python distribution bundle like Anaconda or Canopy and start exploring the Python library ecosystem.

Understand your code

Experience powerful IntelliSense that understands Python and provides useful completions for your own code and any libraries you are using.

Debug your code

Python support in Visual Studio’s interactive debugger means you can enjoy stepping through your code with breakpoints, visualizers, and automatic exception notifications. Get to the root of problems quickly and easily with familiar Visual Studio tools. Advanced features include mixed mode (Python/C++) debugging and cross OS (Linux/MacOS) debugging.

Iterate quickly with the Interactive Window

Use the Interactive Window to quickly iterate while developing. Take advantage of IPython and matplotlib integration for an interactive graphical workbench.

Integrate with Azure

Visit the Microsoft Azure Python Developer Center for tutorials and documentation to get started. The free, open-source Python Azure SDK is an easy way to start using the Azure Management, Storage and Service Bus services directly from your Python code. Access the Azure availability, performance and usage tools by using the Application Insights SDK for Python. Include the Azure DocumentDB service in your project by using azure-documentdb-python. Use Azure Active Directory for OAuth authentication on a Python web site by following the example in azure-python-authenticate.

Create instant web sites

Create, test, and deploy web sites written with Python and debug them from your desk while they run on your Linux or Windows-based server or on Microsoft Azure.

Get started building Python apps in Visual Studio

If you’re ready to get started, install Python Tools for Visual Studio, and then install a Python interpreter, and build your first Python app.

Install Python Tools for Visual Studio

To build and run Python code in Visual Studio, you need Python Tools for Visual Studio. Download and install the latest version from here:

Python Tools for Visual Studio

Don’t have Visual Studio? Get Visual Studio Community edition for free.

Install a Python Interpreter and libraries

Python Tools for Visual Studio can use any of several Python interpreters. Try a version of one of the following interpreters and library bundles:

CPython - Python with no extra packages, a great starting point for web sites.

Anaconda - a complete science and data solution with all the packages you need.

IronPython - runs on .NET, so you can use all your managed libraries.

Build your first Python apps

Start small and use a basic tutorial. Python Tools for Visual Studio creates several project templates to help get you started. Choose the Python Application template to create a simple "Hello World" application. Check out our sample packs to see how to interact with Excel for computational problems, create apps with Kinect for Windows, or use scikit-learn for machine learning tasks.

Get help and support

Find Python tutorials, documentation, tools, and community resources on python.org. See the Python Tools for Visual Studio YouTube channel for demonstrations and walk-throughs. For assistance from the community, see the Python Tools for Visual Studio Discussions section on CodePlex. StackOverflow is also a good resource for questions focused on Python Tools for Visual Studio.