Test runs ignore TestRunRequest.exclude (filtered tests still run) #25742
Description
Type: Bug
Behaviour
When running tests from the VS Code Testing UI with a filter applied (or other scenarios where VS Code provides an exclude list), the Python extension ignores TestRunRequest.exclude. As a result, tests that VS Code explicitly excludes (commonly via Testing view filtering / “run visible tests”) still execute.
Expected behavior is that the extension honors TestRunRequest.exclude, excluding those items and their descendants per the VS Code Testing API contract. This appears to be the same underlying issue as #16929, which was closed but remains broken in early 2026.
Steps to reproduce:
- Open a workspace with multiple tests (pytest or unittest).
- In the VS Code Testing view, apply a filter so only a subset of tests is shown.
- Click Run Tests.
- Observe that tests outside the filtered set still execute.
Diagnostic data
Output for Python in the Output panel (View→Output, change the drop-down the upper-right of the Output panel to Python)
N/A - this is a deterministic test selection bug: VS Code passes include/exclude lists to the extension in TestRunRequest, but the extension currently ignores request.exclude when constructing the run list (including descendants). Happy to provide logs if maintainers want them, but there are no errors emitted in the Python output panel for this scenario.
Extension version: 2026.1.2026011501
VS Code version: Code 1.107.1 (994fd12f8d3a5aa16f17d42c041e5809167e845a, 2025-12-17T14:15:14.850Z)
OS version: Linux x64 6.8.0-90-generic snap
Modes:
- Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): 3.10.12
- Type of virtual environment used (e.g. conda, venv, virtualenv, etc.): Venv
- Value of the
python.languageServersetting: Default
User Settings
languageServer: "Pylance"
testing
• pytestArgs: "<placeholder>"
• pytestEnabled: true
Installed Extensions
| Extension Name | Extension Id | Version |
|---|---|---|
| arrange-selection | Wup | 1.3.1 |
| black-formatter | ms- | 2025.2.0 |
| cmake | twx | 0.0.17 |
| cmake-tools | ms- | 1.21.36 |
| copilot-chat | Git | 0.35.3 |
| cpptools | ms- | 1.30.1 |
| cpptools-extension-pack | ms- | 1.3.1 |
| cpptools-themes | ms- | 2.0.0 |
| debugpy | ms- | 2025.18.0 |
| EditorConfig | Edi | 0.17.4 |
| even-better-toml | tam | 0.21.2 |
| gitlens | eam | 17.9.0 |
| js-debug | ms- | 1.105.0 |
| js-debug-companion | ms- | 1.1.3 |
| jupyter | ms- | 2025.9.1 |
| jupyter-keymap | ms- | 1.1.2 |
| jupyter-renderers | ms- | 1.3.0 |
| nsight-vscode-edition | nvi | 2025.1.36067579 |
| prettier-vscode | esb | 12.1.1 |
| pylint | ms- | 2025.2.0 |
| python | ms- | 2026.1.2026011501 |
| remote-containers | ms- | 0.437.0 |
| sort-lines-by-selection | ear | 1.2.0 |
| vscode-containers | ms- | 2.3.0 |
| vscode-cython | ktn | 1.0.3 |
| vscode-eslint | dba | 3.0.20 |
| vscode-github-actions | git | 0.29.1 |
| vscode-js-profile-flame | ms- | 1.0.9 |
| vscode-js-profile-table | ms- | 1.0.10 |
| vscode-jupyter-cell-tags | ms- | 0.1.9 |
| vscode-jupyter-slideshow | ms- | 0.1.6 |
| vscode-markdownlint | Dav | 0.61.1 |
| vscode-pylance | ms- | 2025.10.4 |
| vscode-python-envs | ms- | 1.17.10151017 |
System Info
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| CPUs | Intel(R) Xeon(R) Silver 4216 CPU @ 2.10GHz (32 x 800) |
| GPU Status | 2d_canvas: enabled direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: disabled_software vulkan: disabled_off webgl: enabled webgl2: enabled webgpu: disabled_off webnn: disabled_off |
| Load (avg) | 3, 2, 1 |
| Memory (System) | 187.36GB (180.59GB free) |
| Process Argv | --no-sandbox --force-user-env --ozone-platform=x11 --crash-reporter-id 627b27e5-8ac6-490e-85f7-777399b797a5 |
| Screen Reader | no |
| VM | 0% |
| DESKTOP_SESSION | ubuntu |
| XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP | ubuntu:GNOME |
| XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP | ubuntu |
| XDG_SESSION_TYPE | x11 |
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