Python Scaffold

Purpose

Configure VS Code for Python development by creating or merging .vscode/settings.json and .vscode/extensions.json. Designed to compose with /mern-scaffold, /nean-scaffold, or /ios-scaffold — or run standalone for Python-only projects.

Template-first rule

Use files from templates/ as the source of truth for Python VS Code config.

Templates provide:

• VS Code workspace settings (interpreter path, pytest, Ruff, Black formatter)
• VS Code extension recommendations (Python, Pylance, Ruff, Black, mypy, coverage gutters)

What gets created or merged

<project>/
└── .vscode/
    ├── settings.json      # Python workspace settings (merged if exists)
    └── extensions.json    # Python extension recommendations (merged if exists)

Scaffold steps

1. Detect virtual environment location

• Check if .venv/ directory exists in the project root
• If not, check if venv/ directory exists
• Use whichever exists; default to .venv/ if neither exists yet
• Update the python.defaultInterpreterPath value in settings template accordingly

2. Handle .vscode/extensions.json

If .vscode/extensions.json already exists (from a prior kit scaffold):

• Read the existing file
• Parse the recommendations array
• Append Python recommendations from the template (deduplicate — skip any already present)
• Write back the merged file

If .vscode/extensions.json does not exist:

• Copy templates/.vscode/extensions.json directly

3. Handle .vscode/settings.json

If .vscode/settings.json already exists (from a prior kit scaffold):

• Read the existing file
• Merge Python-specific keys from the template into the existing object:
  • python.defaultInterpreterPath
  • python.testing.pytestEnabled
  • python.testing.pytestArgs
  • ruff.enable
  • [python] formatter and code actions block
• Do NOT overwrite existing keys from the prior scaffold
• Write back the merged file

If .vscode/settings.json does not exist:

• Copy templates/.vscode/settings.json directly (with venv path adjusted per step 1)

Output

Summarize: what was created vs merged, venv path used, and list the recommended extensions.