ConnectionMaster · pull · Jan 8, 2026 · Jan 8, 2026 · Jan 8, 2026 · Jan 8, 2026
diff --git a/.devcontainer/Dockerfile b/.devcontainer/Dockerfile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-FROM mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/typescript-node:18-bookworm
+FROM mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/typescript-node:22-bookworm
 
 RUN apt-get install -y wget bzip2
 

diff --git a/.github/workflows/build.yml b/.github/workflows/build.yml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ on:
 permissions: {}
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: 22.17.0
+  NODE_VERSION: 22.21.1
   PYTHON_VERSION: '3.10' # YML treats 3.10 the number as 3.1, so quotes around 3.10
   # Force a path with spaces and to test extension works in these scenarios
   # Unicode characters are causing 2.7 failures so skip that for now.

diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-check.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-check.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ on:
 permissions: {}
 
 env:
-  NODE_VERSION: 22.17.0
+  NODE_VERSION: 22.21.1
   PYTHON_VERSION: '3.10' # YML treats 3.10 the number as 3.1, so quotes around 3.10
   MOCHA_REPORTER_JUNIT: true # Use the mocha-multi-reporters and send output to both console (spec) and JUnit (mocha-junit-reporter). Also enables a reporter which exits the process running the tests if it haven't already.
   ARTIFACT_NAME_VSIX: ms-python-insiders-vsix

diff --git a/.nvmrc b/.nvmrc
@@ -1 +1 @@
-v20.18.0
+v22.21.1
diff --git a/.vscode/tasks.json b/.vscode/tasks.json
@@ -39,6 +39,24 @@
             "problemMatcher": ["$python"],
             "label": "npm: check-python",
             "detail": "npm run check-python:ruff && npm run check-python:pyright"
+        },
+        {
+            "label": "npm: check-python (venv)",
+            "type": "shell",
+            "command": "bash",
+            "args": ["-lc", "source .venv/bin/activate && npm run check-python"],
+            "problemMatcher": [],
+            "detail": "Activates the repo .venv first (avoids pyenv/shim Python) then runs: npm run check-python",
+            "windows": {
+                "command": "pwsh",
+                "args": [
+                    "-NoProfile",
+                    "-ExecutionPolicy",
+                    "Bypass",
+                    "-Command",
+                    ".\\.venv\\Scripts\\Activate.ps1; npm run check-python"
+                ]
+            }
         }
     ]
 }
diff --git a/build/azure-pipelines/pipeline.yml b/build/azure-pipelines/pipeline.yml
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ extends:
         testPlatforms:
           - name: Linux
             nodeVersions:
-              - 22.17.0
+              - 22.21.1
           - name: MacOS
             nodeVersions:
-              - 22.17.0
+              - 22.21.1
           - name: Windows
             nodeVersions:
-              - 22.17.0
+              - 22.21.1
         testSteps:
           - template: /build/azure-pipelines/templates/test-steps.yml@self
             parameters:

diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
@@ -1746,7 +1746,7 @@
         "@types/glob": "^7.2.0",
         "@types/lodash": "^4.14.104",
         "@types/mocha": "^9.1.0",
-        "@types/node": "^22.5.0",
+        "@types/node": "^22.19.1",
         "@types/semver": "^5.5.0",
         "@types/shortid": "^0.0.29",
         "@types/sinon": "^17.0.3",

diff --git a/pythonExtensionApi/package.json b/pythonExtensionApi/package.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
     "main": "./out/main.js",
     "types": "./out/main.d.ts",
     "engines": {
-        "node": ">=22.17.0",
+        "node": ">=22.21.1",
         "vscode": "^1.93.0"
     },
     "license": "MIT",

diff --git a/src/client/common/process/rawProcessApis.ts b/src/client/common/process/rawProcessApis.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ export function shellExec(
     const shellOptions = getDefaultOptions(options, defaultEnv);
     if (!options.doNotLog) {
         const processLogger = new ProcessLogger(new WorkspaceService());
-        processLogger.logProcess(command, undefined, shellOptions);
+        const loggingOptions = { ...shellOptions, encoding: shellOptions.encoding ?? undefined };
+        processLogger.logProcess(command, undefined, loggingOptions);
     }
     return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
         // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any

diff --git a/src/client/common/utils/localize.ts b/src/client/common/utils/localize.ts
@@ -516,3 +516,15 @@ export namespace CreateEnv {
         );
     }
 }
+
+export namespace PythonLocator {
+    export const startupFailedNotification = l10n.t(
+        'Python Locator failed to start. Python environment discovery may not work correctly.',
+    );
+    export const windowsRuntimeMissing = l10n.t(
+        'Missing Windows runtime dependencies detected. The Python Locator requires the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable. This is often missing on clean Windows installations.',
+    );
+    export const windowsStartupFailed = l10n.t(
+        'Python Locator failed to start on Windows. This might be due to missing system dependencies such as the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable.',
+    );
+}
diff --git a/src/client/pythonEnvironments/base/locators/common/nativePythonFinder.ts b/src/client/pythonEnvironments/base/locators/common/nativePythonFinder.ts
@@ -15,18 +15,24 @@ import { noop } from '../../../../common/utils/misc';
 import { getConfiguration, getWorkspaceFolderPaths, isTrusted } from '../../../../common/vscodeApis/workspaceApis';
 import { CONDAPATH_SETTING_KEY } from '../../../common/environmentManagers/conda';
 import { VENVFOLDERS_SETTING_KEY, VENVPATH_SETTING_KEY } from '../lowLevel/customVirtualEnvLocator';
-import { createLogOutputChannel } from '../../../../common/vscodeApis/windowApis';
+import { createLogOutputChannel, showWarningMessage } from '../../../../common/vscodeApis/windowApis';
 import { sendNativeTelemetry, NativePythonTelemetry } from './nativePythonTelemetry';
 import { NativePythonEnvironmentKind } from './nativePythonUtils';
 import type { IExtensionContext } from '../../../../common/types';
 import { StopWatch } from '../../../../common/utils/stopWatch';
 import { untildify } from '../../../../common/helpers';
 import { traceError } from '../../../../logging';
+import { Common, PythonLocator } from '../../../../common/utils/localize';
+import { Commands } from '../../../../common/constants';
+import { executeCommand } from '../../../../common/vscodeApis/commandApis';
+import { getGlobalStorage, IPersistentStorage } from '../../../../common/persistentState';
 
 const PYTHON_ENV_TOOLS_PATH = isWindows()
     ? path.join(EXTENSION_ROOT_DIR, 'python-env-tools', 'bin', 'pet.exe')
     : path.join(EXTENSION_ROOT_DIR, 'python-env-tools', 'bin', 'pet');
 
+const DONT_SHOW_SPAWN_ERROR_AGAIN = 'DONT_SHOW_NATIVE_FINDER_SPAWN_ERROR_AGAIN';
+
 export interface NativeEnvInfo {
     displayName?: string;
     name?: string;
@@ -106,8 +112,13 @@ class NativePythonFinderImpl extends DisposableBase implements NativePythonFinde
         timeToRefresh: 0,
     };
 
-    constructor(private readonly cacheDirectory?: Uri) {
+    private readonly suppressErrorNotification: IPersistentStorage<boolean>;
+
+    constructor(private readonly cacheDirectory?: Uri, private readonly context?: IExtensionContext) {
         super();
+        this.suppressErrorNotification = this.context
+            ? getGlobalStorage<boolean>(this.context, DONT_SHOW_SPAWN_ERROR_AGAIN, false)
+            : ({ get: () => false, set: async () => {} } as IPersistentStorage<boolean>);
         this.connection = this.start();
         void this.configure();
         this.firstRefreshResults = this.refreshFirstTime();
@@ -212,6 +223,30 @@ class NativePythonFinderImpl extends DisposableBase implements NativePythonFinde
             proc.stderr.on('data', (data) => this.outputChannel.error(data.toString()));
             writable.pipe(proc.stdin, { end: false });
 
+            // Handle spawn errors (e.g., missing DLLs on Windows)
+            proc.on('error', (error) => {
+                this.outputChannel.error(`Python Locator process error: ${error.message}`);
+                this.outputChannel.error(`Error details: ${JSON.stringify(error)}`);
+                this.handleSpawnError(error.message);
+            });
+
+            // Handle immediate exits with error codes
+            let hasStarted = false;
+            setTimeout(() => {
+                hasStarted = true;
+            }, 1000);
+
+            proc.on('exit', (code, signal) => {
+                if (!hasStarted && code !== null && code !== 0) {
+                    const errorMessage = `Python Locator process exited immediately with code ${code}`;
+                    this.outputChannel.error(errorMessage);
+                    if (signal) {
+                        this.outputChannel.error(`Exit signal: ${signal}`);
+                    }
+                    this.handleSpawnError(errorMessage);
+                }
+            });
+
             disposables.push({
                 dispose: () => {
                     try {
@@ -397,6 +432,33 @@ class NativePythonFinderImpl extends DisposableBase implements NativePythonFinde
     async getCondaInfo(): Promise<NativeCondaInfo> {
         return this.connection.sendRequest<NativeCondaInfo>('condaInfo');
     }
+
+    private async handleSpawnError(errorMessage: string): Promise<void> {
+        // Check if user has chosen to not see this error again
+        if (this.suppressErrorNotification.get()) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        // Check for Windows runtime DLL issues
+        if (isWindows() && errorMessage.toLowerCase().includes('vcruntime')) {
+            this.outputChannel.error(PythonLocator.windowsRuntimeMissing);
+        } else if (isWindows()) {
+            this.outputChannel.error(PythonLocator.windowsStartupFailed);
+        }
+
+        // Show notification to user
+        const selection = await showWarningMessage(
+            PythonLocator.startupFailedNotification,
+            Common.openOutputPanel,
+            Common.doNotShowAgain,
+        );
+
+        if (selection === Common.openOutputPanel) {
+            await executeCommand(Commands.ViewOutput);
+        } else if (selection === Common.doNotShowAgain) {
+            await this.suppressErrorNotification.set(true);
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 type ConfigurationOptions = {
@@ -461,7 +523,7 @@ export function getNativePythonFinder(context?: IExtensionContext): NativePython
     }
     if (!_finder) {
         const cacheDirectory = context ? getCacheDirectory(context) : undefined;
-        _finder = new NativePythonFinderImpl(cacheDirectory);
+        _finder = new NativePythonFinderImpl(cacheDirectory, context);
         if (context) {
             context.subscriptions.push(_finder);
         }