Variable substitution not working in environment variable definitions file when debugging

[martinResearch]

Environment data

• VS Code version: 1.52.0

• Extension version (available under the Extensions sidebar): v2020.11.371526539

• OS and version: Windows 10 Enterprise 20H2

• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): Python 3.7.9 (tags/v3.7.9:13c94747c7, Aug 17 2020, 18:58:18) [MSC v.1900 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32

• Type of virtual environment used (N/A | venv | virtualenv | conda | ...): N/A

Expected behaviour

Should print the content of the PATH environment variable

Actual behaviour

the string "${env:PATH};" get printed

Steps to reproduce:

Steps to Reproduce:

create these files

d:\repos\bug_vscode\test.py:

import os
print(os.environ["PATH"])

d:\repos\bug_vscode.vscode.env

PATH=${env:PATH};

d:\repos\bug_vscode.vscode\launch.json

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [

    {
      "name": "Current File",
      "type": "python",
      "envFile": "${workspaceFolder}/.vscode/.env",
      "request": "launch",
      "program": "${file}",
      "console": "integratedTerminal"
    }
  ]
}

launch with the debug configuration from the GUI
This produces these prints in the terminal:

${env:PATH};

while, according to the documentation here I would expect ${env:PATH} to be replaced by the content of the environment variable

Documented the issue here microsoft/vscode#112142 but got closed assuming it was a problem with the extension

[ericsnowcurrently]

@martinResearch, thanks for letting us know about this. Currently when you provide the "envFile" setting to the debugger, the extension only applies to that .env file the env vars defined in the "env" setting. Process-defined and other extension-defined env vars are not used. We'll check on what can be done about that and get back to you.

@int19h

[ericsnowcurrently]

See: src/client/debugger/extension/configuration/resolvers/helper.ts

[mlisovyi]

For me it seems to actually work, if i skip env: portion, i.e. (assuming Windows like in the OP)

PYTHONPATH=${PYTHONPATH}

[kimadeline]

Still happening when using 2021.4.681399556-dev.

[eleanorjboyd]

Hi! Since it has been a year or so since this was last updated I wanted to check in to see if this issue still persists. Let me know if so, and any updated information you can provide and ill take a look! Thanks