Using the Fabric API in a Fabric Notebook with the synapse Visual Studio Code Extension

[sllewji]

Hi,

I have some PySpark code in a Fabric Notebook which uses the Fabric API to manage shortcuts in a Lakehouse.

I would like to be able to debug this code using the Synapse Visual Studio Code Extension.

However, having setup up Visual Studio Code with the necessary prerequisites, I find that the code is erroring at functions which use MSSparkUtils in the NotebookUtils library.

Whilst I understand that this library is not suitable for local installation, I had expected (hoped?) that calls to it would be redirected to a remote Spark Pool.

As a very new comer to things Fabric, Spark and even Python I wonder whether anyone else might have some experience that they would be willing to share as to whether the VS Code extension should, or possibly at some stage will, be able to support this requriement?

Edit: I should mention that the original Notebook code runs fine within Fabric itself, just not via the VS Code extension.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi @sllewji 

Aside from the old thread below, I couldn't find any other documents or materials mentioning this limitation.

Solved: "import notebookutils" via VSCode on remote Spark ... - Microsoft Fabric Community

According to the above thread and the testing results, the notebookutils module is still not supported in VS Code for the Synapse extension currently. This feature is probably on the roadmap and will be available in future versions, but there is no ETA for its release yet. 

However if you still want to experience with the notebookutils module in VS Code, you might try the VS Code (Web). This is a preview feature now. In my testing, it supports the notebookutils module. 

To learn more about this preview feature, please read Create and manage Fabric notebooks from VS Code for the Web - Microsoft Fabric | Microsoft Learn

Best Regards,
Jing
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[sllewji]

Hello Jing - Thanks for taking the time to reply. My google-Fu is clearly not up to par with yours!

It is good to hear that you have had success with the VS Code (web), unfortunately my experiences have been unsuccessful so far, but I will try again