# Microsoft Python Engineering Read the latest updates about all things Python at Microsoft This is one page of public article previews, not the complete archive. Follow Next page to continue. Summaries are not the original full articles. ## PyCon US 2026 DevFeed: [PyCon US 2026]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Vedha Ranganathan Published: 2026-05-14T00:18:13Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [Microsoft](), [GitHub](), [Azure](), [Microsoft Agent Framework](), [Meta](), [AI search]() Tags: [2026](), [azure](), [blog](), [developers](), [github](), [meta](), [microsoft](), [microsoft-agent-framework](), [microsoft-foundry](), [post](), [python](), [search]() ### AI overview Microsoft and GitHub announce their presence at PyCon US 2026 in Long Beach, including a booth, hands-on labs, and information about a Pylance integration with Meta's Pyrefly type checker that is in early preview. ### Source excerpt PyCon US 2026 The post PyCon US 2026 appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Introducing Apache Arrow Support in mssql-python DevFeed: [Introducing Apache Arrow Support in mssql-python]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Saumya Garg Published: 2026-05-04T04:33:00Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [sql-server](), [data-processing](), [interoperability](), [data](), [pandas]() Tags: [apache-arrow](), [arrow](), [azure](), [azure-sql](), [client-driver](), [data-processing](), [interoperability](), [pandas](), [python](), [python-driver-for-azure-sql](), [python-driver-for-sql-server](), [sql-server](), [sql-server-2025](), [zero-copy]() ### AI overview Microsoft introduces Apache Arrow support in mssql-python, enabling SQL Server data to be fetched directly into Arrow structures for Polars, Pandas, DuckDB, and other Arrow-native libraries. The approach is intended to reduce Python object creation and memory overhead during data processing. ### Source excerpt Reviewed by Sumit Sarabhai Fetching a million rows from SQL Server into a Polars DataFrame used to mean a million Python objects, a million GC allocations, and then throwing it all away to build a DataFrame. Not anymore. mssql-python now supports fetching SQL Server data directly as Apache Arrow structures - a faster and more [...] The post Introducing Apache Arrow Support in mssql-python appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Python Environments Extension for VS Code- April Update DevFeed: [Python Environments Extension for VS Code- April Update]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Vedha Ranganathan Published: 2026-04-27T20:07:30Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [Python](), [Extension](), [Visual Studio Code](), [Package Management](), [Conda](), [Poetry](), [ssh]() Tags: [2026](), [conda](), [crash](), [extension](), [microsoft](), [poetry](), [python](), [recovery](), [release](), [remote](), [ssh](), [terminal](), [update](), [vs-code]() ### AI overview Microsoft's April 2026 release update for the Python Environments extension in Visual Studio Code describes faster startup and environment resolution, narrower workspace scanning, improved crash recovery, a Conda environment fix, automatic package-list refreshes, and multi-project terminal support. ### Source excerpt The April 2026 release update includes the Python Environments extension... Keep on reading to learn more! The post Python Environments Extension for VS Code- April Update appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Write SQL Your Way: Dual Parameter Style Benefits in mssql-python DevFeed: [Write SQL Your Way: Dual Parameter Style Benefits in mssql-python]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Jahnvi Thakkar Published: 2026-04-07T16:12:05Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [sql-server](), [Python](), [SQL](), [Microsoft](), [Azure]() Tags: [azure](), [azure-sql](), [client-driver](), [code](), [developers](), [microsoft](), [python](), [python-driver-for-azure-sql](), [python-driver-for-sql-server](), [sql](), [sql-server](), [sql-server-2025]() ### AI overview Microsoft's mssql-python driver now supports both qmark positional parameters and pyformat named parameters for Python applications using SQL Server and Azure SQL. The driver automatically detects the parameter style from the supplied tuple, list, or dictionary, while preserving existing qmark code without configuration changes. ### Source excerpt Reviewed by: Sumit Sarabhai If you've been writing SQL in Python, you already know the debate: positional parameters (?) or named parameters (%(name)s)? Some developers swear by the conciseness of positional. Others prefer the clarity of named. With mssql-python, you no longer need to choose - we support both. We've added dual parameter style support to mssql-python, enabling both qmark and pyformat parameter styles in Python [...] The post Write SQL Your Way: Dual Parameter Style Benefits in mssql-python appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Python in Visual Studio Code - March 2026 Release DevFeed: [Python in Visual Studio Code - March 2026 Release]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Vedha Ranganathan Published: 2026-04-02T00:27:15Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [Python](), [Visual Studio Code](), [Extension](), [Rust](), [out-of-process]() Tags: [2026](), [extensions](), [feature](), [improvements](), [out-of-process](), [parallel](), [performance](), [python](), [release](), [visual-studio-code]() ### AI overview Microsoft's March 2026 release of the Python and Jupyter extensions for Visual Studio Code adds optional search for Python symbols in installed packages and an experimental Rust-based parallel indexer for Pylance. The indexer runs out of process and is intended to improve performance, especially on large Python projects. ### Source excerpt The March 2026 release of the Python and Jupyter extensions for Visual Studio Code is now available. Keep on reading to learn more! The post Python in Visual Studio Code - March 2026 Release appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Python Environments Extension for VS Code DevFeed: [Python Environments Extension for VS Code]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Vedha Ranganathan Published: 2026-02-18T22:00:22Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [Python](), [vs-code]() Tags: [python](), [release](), [vs-code]() ### AI overview The February 2026 release introduces the Python Environments extension for VS Code. It provides a unified interface for discovering and managing Python environments, interpreters, and packages across several environment managers. ### Source excerpt The February 2026 release This release includes the Python Environments extension... Keep on reading to learn more! The post Python Environments Extension for VS Code appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Python in Visual Studio Code - November 2025 Release DevFeed: [Python in Visual Studio Code - November 2025 Release]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Luciana Abud Published: 2025-11-13T18:41:50Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [Python](), [Visual Studio Code](), [GitHub Copilot](), [debug](), [modules]() Tags: [copilot](), [debugger](), [developers](), [features](), [github-copilot](), [improvements](), [modules](), [python](), [release](), [visual-studio-code]() ### AI overview The November 2025 release of the Python extension for Visual Studio Code adds Copilot Hover Summaries support for inserting AI-generated documentation as docstrings, localized hover summaries, a Pylance Code Action for converting wildcard imports to explicit imports, and debugger support for multiple project interpreters through the Python Environments Extension. ### Source excerpt The November 2025 release brings new Pylance features including improvements to Copilot Hover Summaries and a Code Action to convert wildcard imports to explicit imports. Keep on reading to learn more! The post Python in Visual Studio Code - November 2025 Release appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Python in Visual Studio Code - October 2025 Release DevFeed: [Python in Visual Studio Code - October 2025 Release]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Luciana Abud Published: 2025-10-10T17:55:26Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [Python](), [Visual Studio Code](), [releases](), [Testing](), [Pytest](), [.NET 11](), [Windows Subsystem for Linux](), [GitHub Copilot](), [jupyter]() Tags: [2025](), [github-copilot](), [powershell](), [pytest](), [python](), [release](), [releases](), [testing](), [visual-studio-code](), [wsl]() ### AI overview Microsoft announces the October 2025 release of the Python extensions for Visual Studio Code. The update improves Python environment handling, adds a Copy Test ID option for pytest functions, and makes Python virtual-environment activation more reliable across shell creation methods, PowerShell, and WSL. ### Source excerpt The October 2025 release of the Python and Jupyter extensions for Visual Studio Code are now available. This release includes improvements to the Python Environments extension, Copy Test ID functionality, and enhanced environment activation when using Copilot Chat. Keep on reading to learn more! The post Python in Visual Studio Code - October 2025 Release appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Simplifying Resource Management in mssql-python through Context Manager DevFeed: [Simplifying Resource Management in mssql-python through Context Manager]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Jahnvi Thakkar Published: 2025-09-26T09:49:51Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [Python](), [sql-server](), [Databases](), [Exception]() Tags: [azure](), [azure-sql](), [cleanup](), [client-driver](), [databases](), [exception-handling](), [python](), [python-driver-for-azure-sql](), [python-driver-for-sql-server](), [sql-server](), [sql-server-2025](), [transactions]() ### AI overview This tutorial explains context manager support in the mssql-python driver for Python applications using SQL Server and Azure SQL. It describes how context managers manage connections and cursors, commit successful transactions, roll back transactions when exceptions occur, and close connections automatically. ### Source excerpt Reviewed by: Sumit Sarabhai and Gaurav Sharma If you've worked with databases in Python, you know the boilerplate: open a connection, create a cursor, run queries, commit or rollback transactions, close cursors and connection. Forgetting just one cleanup step can lead to resource leaks (open connections) or even inconsistent data. That's where context managers step [...] The post Simplifying Resource Management in mssql-python through Context Manager appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog. ## Python in Visual Studio Code - September 2025 Release DevFeed: [Python in Visual Studio Code - September 2025 Release]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Luciana Abud Published: 2025-09-15T18:22:18Z Content type: release Language: en Sources: [Microsoft Python Engineering]() Topics: [Python](), [Visual Studio Code](), [GitHub Copilot](), [Extension](), [Artificial Intelligence]() Tags: [2025](), [copilot](), [experimental](), [extension](), [feature](), [github](), [github-copilot](), [pre-release](), [python](), [release](), [visual-studio-code]() ### AI overview The September 2025 release of the Python, Pylance, and Jupyter extensions for Visual Studio Code introduces experimental AI-powered hover summaries with GitHub Copilot, a Run Code Snippet AI tool, and Python Environments improvements including pipenv support. ### Source excerpt The September 2025 release includes pipenv support in the Python Environment Extension, a new experimental hover feature with GitHub Copilot and Pylance, and more! The post Python in Visual Studio Code - September 2025 Release appeared first on Microsoft for Python Developers Blog.