# Fix Python Virtual Environment Detection in Zed
## Problem
Zed was not properly detecting Python virtual environments when a
project didn't contain a `pyrightconfig.json` file. This caused Pyright
(the Python language server) to report `reportMissingImports` errors for
packages installed in virtual environments, even though the virtual
environment was correctly set up and worked fine in other editors.
The issue was that while Zed's `PythonToolchainProvider` correctly
detected virtual environments, this information wasn't being
communicated to Pyright in a format it could understand.
## Root Cause
The main issue was in how Zed communicated virtual environment
configuration to Pyright through the Language Server Protocol (LSP).
When Pyright requests workspace configuration, it expects virtual
environment settings (`venvPath` and `venv`) at the root level of the
configuration object - the same format used in `pyrightconfig.json`
files. However, Zed was attempting to place these settings in various
nested locations that Pyright wasn't checking.
## Solution
The fix involves several coordinated changes to ensure Pyright receives
virtual environment configuration in all the ways it might expect:
### 1. Enhanced Workspace Configuration (`workspace_configuration`
method)
- When a virtual environment is detected, Zed now sets `venvPath` and
`venv` at the root level of the configuration object, matching the exact
format of a `pyrightconfig.json` file
- Uses relative path `"."` when the virtual environment is located in
the workspace root
- Also sets `python.pythonPath` and `python.defaultInterpreterPath` for
compatibility with different Pyright versions
### 2. Environment Variables for All Language Server Binaries
- Updated `check_if_user_installed`, `fetch_server_binary`,
`check_if_version_installed`, and `cached_server_binary` methods to
include shell environment variables
- This ensures environment variables like `VIRTUAL_ENV` are available to
Pyright, helping with automatic virtual environment detection
### 3. Initialization Options
- Added minimal initialization options to enable Pyright's automatic
path searching and import completion features
- Sets `autoSearchPaths: true` and `useLibraryCodeForTypes: true` to
improve Pyright's ability to find packages
## Key Changes
The workspace configuration now properly formats virtual environment
configuration:
- Root level: `venvPath` and `venv` (matches pyrightconfig.json format)
- Python section: `pythonPath` and `defaultInterpreterPath` for
interpreter paths
## Impact
- Users no longer need to create a `pyrightconfig.json` file for virtual
environment detection
- Python projects with virtual environments in standard locations
(`.venv`, `venv`, etc.) will work out of the box
- Import resolution for packages installed in virtual environments now
works correctly
- Maintains compatibility with manual `pyrightconfig.json` configuration
for complex setups
## Testing
The changes were tested with Python projects using virtual environments
without `pyrightconfig.json` files. Pyright now correctly resolves
imports from packages installed in the virtual environment, eliminating
the `reportMissingImports` errors.
## Release Notes
- Fixed Python virtual environment detection when no
`pyrightconfig.json` is present
- Pyright now correctly resolves imports from packages installed in
virtual environments (`.venv`, `venv`, etc.)
- Python projects with virtual environments no longer show false
`reportMissingImports` errors
- Improved Python development experience with automatic virtual
environment configuration
---------
Co-authored-by: Piotr Osiewicz <24362066+osiewicz@users.noreply.github.com>
3e6435eddc