Ability to pre-filter Python interpreter list

[cdce8p]

With the pythonDeprecatePythonPath experiment the only way to change the interpreter is through the Select Interpreter command. Unfortunately this lists all available once (global, user, venv) which can get messy if multiple different Python versions are installed. For example, for one of my projects the list currently contains 17 entries which makes switching between them more complicated than it needs to be. I almost always only care only about the virtual environments, so there is no value for me to still list the system interpreters. I would love it if I could hide them.

[brettcannon]

You can specify python.defaultInterpreterPath as a way to specify what you want. We are also about to make a release where we will have an experiment that sorts interpreters with local environments first, then global environments, then globally installed interpreters. Would that solve your issue?

[cdce8p]

I think having a sorted list would go a long way. Have to test it to be sure, but just thinking about it some kind of separator between the individual sections (venv, venv global, interpreter) would be nice.

[brettcannon]

I don't think we get to insert a line into the picker; closest we get it are icons per entry.

[cdce8p]

Another idea: Why not hide all global environments and global interpreters if a local environment is found? I would imaging for most the local ones are what they are looking for in the first place. Others could still be accessible via a new Show more interpreters item. A new setting could be added for those who would like to always show all interpreters.

If I could add one more thing, I would really like it if the interpreter list is sorted by descending Python version. I usually have a venv with the latest version that I use for day to day stuff, and keep older once around to check for compatibility once in a while. The current order doesn't make much sense to me: 2.7 - 3.10 - 3.7 - 3.8 - 3.9

[brettcannon]

The plan is to sort by environment "scope" (local env, global env, globally installed), and then within those grouping to sort newest to oldest version of Python.

[brettcannon]

Moved to #17176