Allow using variables as part of path and args values in terminal settings

[pszlazak]

Using Terminal profiles introduced in 1.55 (via #45444) I tried to use system variables as part of path and args values but w/o success.

Example for path:

• this one works:

"terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": {
        "Yet Another PowerShell": {
            "path": "c:\\Users\\Piotr\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\pwsh.exe"
        }
}

• this one does not work - it's not even listed on the list of available profiles:

"terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": {
        "Yet Another PowerShell": {
            "path": "%LOCALAPPDATA%\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\pwsh.exe"
        },
}

Same thing is observed if variable is used as part of value of args. Following configuration:

"terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": {
        "Yet Another PowerShell": {
            "path": "c:\\Users\\Piotr\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\pwsh.exe"
            "args": [
                "-noexit",
                "-file",
                "%APPDATA%\\PowerShell\\oh-my-posh.ps1"
            ]
        }
}

fails with error:

The terminal process "c:\Users\Piotr\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\pwsh.exe '-noexit', '-file', '%APPDATA%\PowerShell\oh-my-posh.ps1'" terminated with exit code: 64.

[Tyriar]

This is supported but using a different cross-platform syntax:

"terminal.integrated.profiles.windows": {
        "Yet Another PowerShell": {
            "path": "${env:LOCALAPPDATA}\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\pwsh.exe"
        }
}

The %VAR% syntax may work but only if your shell resolves them, VS Code will not by design.

You can read more about the variables at https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/variables-reference

[Tyriar]

Created microsoft/vscode-docs#4661 to add to the documentation

[dhgsg]

This example still does not work, though:

"tmux test": { "path": "tmux", "args": [ "new-session", "-A", "-s", "${workspaceFolderBasename}" ]

The session ends up being named "${workspaceFolderBasename}" instead of using the name of the folder.

[Tyriar]

@dhgsg I'll look into it in the similar sounding #126066. Can you post that example with machine information there? (OS, version, remote info if any, etc.)

[Tyriar]

@dhgsg you might also be seeing #115560

[dhgsg]

Both of those look like they are related to what I see, thanks.