VSCode — how to set working directory for debugging a Python program

You can set up current working directory for debugged program using cwd argument in launch.json

Configure the cwd setting in launch.json as follows:

{
    "name": "Python",
    "type": "python",
    "pythonPath": "python", 
    ...
    "cwd": "<Path to the directory>"
    ...
}

This setting helps me: (I am a Windows person)

{
  "type": "node",
  "request": "launch",
  "name": "Launch Program",
  "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}\app\js", // set directory here
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}\app\js\server.js", // set start js here
}

In some cases, it might be also useful to set the PYTHONPATH along with the workspaceFolder:

{
    "name": "Python: Current File",
    "type": "python",
    "request": "launch",
    "program": "${file}",
    "console": "integratedTerminal",
    "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
    "env": {
        "PYTHONPATH": "${cwd}"
    }
}

I am posting this sample configuration for people who use TypeScript on Node.js

in my project my Node.js server TypeScript files are located in folder Application_ts
and the compiled js files are generated in the folder named Application

because when we run our application in debug mode or start it normally we should start from Application folder which contains the js files
so bellow configuration run debug from root folder where my application_ts also exists and works perfect

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
        "type": "node",
        "request": "launch",
        "name": "Debug TypeScript in Node.js",
        "program": "${workspaceRoot}\Application\app.js",
        "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}\Application",
        "protocol": "inspector",
        "outFiles": [],
        "sourceMaps": true
    },        
    {
        "type": "node",
        "request": "attach",
        "name": "Attach to Process",
        "port": 5858,
        "outFiles": [],
        "sourceMaps": true
    }
 ]
}

To set current working directory to whatever file you are executing at the time:

File > Preferences > Settings > Python > Data Science > Execute in File Dir

Thanks brch: Python in VSCode: Set working directory to python file's path everytime

I faced the same issue and noticed that when running the which python command in Terminal in Mac it shows me a different path to what I get when I run the which python command in vs code. And also that my file runs properly in the terminal when run using python filename.py

So I copied that path from the terminal and pasted it in VS code into Preferences->Settings->Extensions->Python->Default Interpreter Path and it worked. I hope this helps.

I use the "justMyCode = false" so I can also debug and jump into the functions that the main script calls.

{
    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.    
    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.    
    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387    
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Python: Current File",
            "type": "python",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${file}",
            "console": "integratedTerminal",
            "justMyCode": false,
            "cwd": "${fileDirname}"        }
    ]
}

In order to make this work globally I had to do the following. Updating only the launch.json file only solves it in the folder where VSCode currently is open.

1. Locate the settings.json file.

   Windows %APPDATA%CodeUsersettings.json

   macOS $HOME/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json

   Linux $HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json

2. Update the file.

{
    // -- other default or custom settings from before

    "python.terminal.executeInFileDir": true,
    "launch": {
        "version": "0.2.0",
        "configurations": [
            {
                "name": "Python: Current File",
                "type": "python",
                "request": "launch",
                "program": "${file}",
                "console": "integratedTerminal",
                "justMyCode": true,
                "cwd": "${fileDirname}",
                "purpose": ["debug-in-terminal"]
            }
        ]}
}

More information here and here.