# Positron, new IDE based on VS code

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/positron-new-ide-based-on-vs-code/116389>\
**Category:** General Usage\
**Created:** [June 29, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/positron-new-ide-based-on-vs-code/116389 "2024-06-29T13:56:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![AdaemmerP](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/adaemmerp/32/52351_2.png) [@AdaemmerP](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/AdaemmerP)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 1:56pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/positron-new-ide-based-on-vs-code/116389/1 "2024-06-29T13:56:02Z")

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Posit has just released a new IDE called Positron ([GitHub - posit-dev/positron: Positron, a next-generation data science IDE](https://github.com/posit-dev/positron)) based on VS Code. It is specifically tailored for R and Python. Could this be a great opportunity for the Julia community to get involved and improve the editor experience?

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**Author:** ![savq](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/savq/32/22063_2.png) [@savq](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/savq)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2024, 4:45am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/positron-new-ide-based-on-vs-code/116389/2 "2024-07-01T04:45:22Z")

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As long as posit develops multilingual projects, julia can ride the wave. See for example [GitHub - PumasAI/QuartoNotebookRunner.jl](https://github.com/PumasAI/QuartoNotebookRunner.jl/)

What’s seems much more interesting than the vscode reskin, is that they’re working on an R “super-kernel” that works as a jupyter kernel, an lsp, and dap debugger. [GitHub - posit-dev/ark: Ark, an R kernel](https://github.com/posit-dev/ark). From the readme:

> we needed to tightly integrate with the Jupyter kernel to provide introspective features based on the current state of the R session.

I.e. They’re using dynamic introspection to improve the language server. That just _feels right._

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**Author:** ![markusgumbel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/markusgumbel/32/49707_2.png) [@markusgumbel](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/markusgumbel)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2024, 8:47am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/positron-new-ide-based-on-vs-code/116389/3 "2024-07-01T08:47:50Z")

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I think the Julia community should definitely keep an eye on this IDE. It’s good to see that Posit is also using VSC. I think Julia would get even more attention if Posit also supported their data science IDE. Also, there is a good chance that Julia will also benefit from new features.

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**Author:** ![RoyiAvital](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/royiavital/32/571_2.png) [@RoyiAvital](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/RoyiAvital)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2024, 9:05am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/positron-new-ide-based-on-vs-code/116389/4 "2024-07-01T09:05:17Z")

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Supporting Julia issue is already raised: [Julia language as a native citizen? · Issue #3679 · posit-dev/positron · GitHub](https://github.com/posit-dev/positron/issues/3679).

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**Author:** ![AdaemmerP](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/adaemmerp/32/52351_2.png) [@AdaemmerP](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/AdaemmerP)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2024, 11:01am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/positron-new-ide-based-on-vs-code/116389/5 "2024-10-17T11:01:02Z")

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Positron is making rapid progress towards its release candidate. There is already a lot of interest expressed in supporting Julia on GitHub. Posit members already provided concrete guidance ([1](https://github.com/posit-dev/positron/issues/3679#issuecomment-2201065164) and [2](https://github.com/posit-dev/positron/issues/3679#issuecomment-2202599985)) on what steps are necessary, while of course saying that Positron’s extension API is still experimental.

I would be so happy to see this happen, as I think enabling Julia within Positron would be a HUGE popularity win for the language. Given that Positron is based on VS code, the transition from the current Julia extension to a full language feature within Positron may not be too difficult?