🐍 Top 3 VS Code Extensions Every Python Developer Must Use in 2025

 

When it comes to Python development, VS Code stands out as one of the most popular and powerful editors.
But to unlock its full potential, you need the right set of extensions.

Whether you’re building data-driven apps, working with Jupyter notebooks, or just learning Python — these 3 must-have VS Code extensions will supercharge your workflow and productivity.

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🔹 1. Python (by Microsoft)

Why you need it:
This is the official extension that makes VS Code truly Python-friendly. It adds essential features like:

• Syntax highlighting & IntelliSense

• Code debugging and testing

• Virtual environment & interpreter support

• Jupyter notebook integration

It’s basically the foundation for all Python work in VS Code.
Without this extension, you’re just writing plain text!

Pro Tip:
After installation, press Ctrl + Shift + P → select “Python: Select Interpreter” to set up your environment.
Also enable “Format on Save” for clean, consistent code automatically.

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🔹 2. Pylance

What it does:
Pylance is a high-performance language server that enhances the Python extension with lightning-fast type checking and intelligent autocompletion.

Why it’s awesome:

• Boosts your coding speed with smart IntelliSense

• Helps catch type errors before runtime

• Improves code navigation with Go to Definition and Find References

If you use type hints or manage large projects, Pylance is a game-changer.

Pro Tip:
Make sure your settings include:

"python.languageServer": "Pylance"

This ensures you’re using the faster, more accurate analysis engine.

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🔹 3. Jupyter (VS Code Extension)

Perfect for:
Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning projects.

The Jupyter extension allows you to run .ipynb notebooks directly inside VS Code — no need to switch between your browser and editor.

Key Features:

• Run Python cells interactively

• Visualize data using Matplotlib or Plotly

• Convert .py scripts to notebook format

This is perfect for your data exploration, AI experiments, or even educational demos.

Pro Tip:
Use the command palette and select:
“Python: Create Interactive Window” to quickly test short Python snippets live.

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Final Thoughts

These three extensions — Python, Pylance, and Jupyter — form the core setup every Python developer should start with in VS Code.

They handle everything from:
✅ Writing clean code
✅ Debugging efficiently
✅ Running notebooks interactively

Once you’ve mastered these, you can explore more specialized tools like:

• Black Formatter (for auto-formatting)

• isort (for import sorting)

• autoDocstring (for generating docstrings automatically)

• Flake8 (for linting and style checking)

• Python Snippets (for quick code templates)

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Ready to take your Python productivity to the next level?
Install these extensions today and turn your VS Code into a full-fledged Python powerhouse.