[jibin jose (jibin7jose)]

Fixes #1917

Fix workspace-scoped python.defaultInterpreterPath values that use a bare command name, such as python3.12. When the command is unavailable on the extension-host PATH, keep it unchanged for native resolution instead of converting it to a workspace-relative path.

[Eleanor Boyd (eleanorjboyd)]

For separator-free values, could we use this precedence?

1. Found on PATH → return that executable, preserving existing behavior.
2. Names an existing directory in the workspace → return its absolute path so PET can find Python inside it.
3. Otherwise → pass the bare name unchanged to PET.

This would preserve workspace-relative environment folders such as .venv or env, which the new early return also treats as bare commands, while still fixing command names such as python3.12 that are missing from the extension host PATH.

[Copilot]

🟡 Changes recommended

Native lookup can succeed while background execution still fails with ENOENT because the fallback retains a bare command name instead of the resolved environment’s executable and path.

1 open issue

• Use the resolved executable when native lookup finds a PATH-missing command · New

What changed in this PR

Addresses #1917 by preserving bare python.defaultInterpreterPath commands for native resolution when they are absent from the extension-host PATH.

Changes:

• Pass missing bare commands through unchanged instead of resolving them against the workspace.
• Preserve workspace-relative resolution for existing bare directory names such as .venv.
• Update regression tests for both behaviors.

File	Description
src/​test/​features/​interpreterSelection.unit.test.ts	Tests unchanged command forwarding and bare workspace-directory resolution.
src/​features/​interpreterSelection.ts	Distinguishes unresolved bare commands from existing workspace directories.

_{Review effort: Balanced}

[Eduardo Villalpando Mello (edvilme)]

Changes look good overall, except for a few comments and questions. Thank you very much for working on this!

[Eduardo Villalpando Mello (edvilme)]

Hello, thanks for your quick response and for taking a look at all the comments. Changes look good to me.
Will let tests run and let you know if there is anything else.

Thank you!