Microsoft for Python Developers Blog
Read the latest updates about all things Python at Microsoft
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mssql-python vs pyodbc: Benchmarking SQL Server Performance
Reviewed by Imran Masud and Sumit Sarabhai When it comes to working with Microsoft SQL Server in Python, pyodbc has long been the de facto driver. It's mature, trusted and has been serving the community well for years. But as applications scale and Python becomes more central to modern data workflows — from microservices to data engineering and platforms like Microsoft Fabric — there's a growing need to modernize and improve the developer experience. So, can we take this further? Meet mssql-python - a modern SQL Server driver for Python that rethinks the architecture from the ground up while pres...
Python in Visual Studio Code – August 2025 Release
The August 2025 release includes Python shell integration support for Python 3.13+, Python Environments extension improvements, enhanced terminal suggestions with documentation, and more!
Announcing Full Cross-Platform Support for the mssql-python Driver
After the successful release of Public Preview of mssql-python driver, we’re thrilled to announce a major milestone for the mssql-python driver: full support for all three major operating systems—Windows, macOS, and Linux. This release marks a significant leap forward in our mission to provide seamless, performant, and Pythonic connectivity to Microsoft SQL Server and the Azure SQL family. Try it here: mssql-python Linux Joins the Party With this release, Linux support is officially live, completing our cross-platform vision. Whether you're developing on Ubuntu, Red Hat or Debian, the mssql-python...
Python in Visual Studio Code – July 2025 Release
The July 2025 release includes TBA and more!
Python in Visual Studio Code – June 2025 Release
The June 2025 release includes Copilot chat tools in the Python extension, project creation from a template, language server based terminal suggest, and more!
Python in Visual Studio Code – May 2025 Release
The May 2025 release includes updates in the Python Environments extension, a new color picker added by Pylance, branch coverage support, and more!
Microsoft at PyTexas 2025: Join Us for a Celebration of Python and Innovation
Microsoft is thrilled to announce our participation in PyTexas 2025, taking place this year in the vibrant city of Austin, Texas! At this year’s event, Microsoft is proud to contribute to the community’s growth and excitement by hosting a booth and delivering an engaging talk.
Build AI agents with Python in #AgentsHack
Microsoft is holding an AI Agents Hackathon, and we want to see what you can build with Python! We'll have 20+ live streams showing you how to build AI agents with Python using popular agent frameworks and Microsoft technologies. Then, you can submit your project for a chance to win prizes, including a Best in Python prize!
Python in Visual Studio Code – April 2025 Release
The April 2025 release of the Python and Jupyter extensions for Visual Studio Code is now available. This update introduces enhancements to the Copilot experience in Notebooks, improved support for editable installs, faster and more reliable diagnostics, and the addition of custom Node.js arguments with Pylance, and more!