How to set a default kernel for jupyter notebook in Positron?

[matthewgson]

Every time I open a .ipynb file, I have to change the default python kernel (venv) to what I mostly use. I'm wondering if there's feature to set this?

[coatless]

In short, this should be resolved by setting python.defaultInterpreterPath under Profile -> Default -> Settings and, then, adding:

{
    "python.defaultInterpreterPath": "/opt/miniconda3/envs/ds/bin/python",
    # other configuration lines
}

https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-python/wiki/Setting-descriptions#pythondefaultinterpreterpath

However, I don't think Positron is respecting the startup workflow as it seems to randomly default into the first found interpreter?

[NCMBianchi]

I also have a similar issue (let me know if it requires instead a separate issue): I can see several versions of Python, but not all of them: specifically I can only see some of the versions I installed with Pyenv (and especially not the one I set as global in my environment), but none of the actual environments I would like to operate it. And the same for Conda: I see the version itself, but not the conda environment.

I would also maybe like to be able to toggle some of those versions not to appear in the dropdown list. Finally for some reason while I was tinkering the dropdown menu got stuck and it doesn't disappear anymore.

Just to clarify, that is NOT my global version. It actually calls global several of the versions. I have no issues setting up kernels I want to see and operate in with Jupyter (via ipykernel).

[juliasilge]

Hmmmm, yes, I think a new discussion would be great to figure these things out. Note that you may be able to see your Python runtimes more easily (paths, organization, etc) if you use "Python: Select Interpreter" from the command palette.

You may be interested in #3574 where we are tracking excluding runtimes that you never want Positron to pick up on; that is coming soon!

[matthewgson]

Thanks for the idea, and yeah, Positron doesn't seem to recognize these setting parameters.

[seeM]

Thank you for the feedback @matthewgson and @coatless! I've created two issues based on this discussion:

• Automatic kernel selection does not work in workspaceless sessions #6280
• Respect python.defaultInterpreterPath setting #6281

Was Positron launched in a workspace (more info here)? When in a workspace, Positron should use the workspace's selected interpreter for all Jupyter notebooks, so that might be the simplest workaround for now.

[matthewgson]

@seeM Thank you. I launched positron without workspace and would like to set default interpreter for this cases. Perhaps could it also be possible to set default interpreter to R for jupyter notebook too?

[seeM]

@matthewgson that makes sense, and sounds like a new feature. Could you please open a feature request here?

[juliasilge]

Do you want to set a default interpreter only for notebooks, or would it work for you to set a default interpreter for all consoles and notebooks? In #6145 we added the ability to set language level startup settings. If you set R to "auto" and Python to "manual" then all new interpreters that Positron starts (console or notebook) will always be R, unless you specifically go and start Python yourself (such as from the command palette with "Python: Select Interpreter".

Would that work for you @matthewgson? Or are you only wanting this behavior for notebooks?