TPI: copilot tools for the python envs ext

[eleanorjboyd]

Refs: #280

• macOS @ulugbekna
• linux @rzhao271
• windows @chrisdias

Complexity: 4

Author: @eleanorjboyd

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✅ Test Plan Item: Manual Verification of python_environment_tool and python_install_package_tool

🧪 Objective

Validate that python_environment_tool and python_install_package_tool provide accurate and useful information for a Python environment in VS Code. Ensure they support a variety of common developer tasks and return expected results.

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⚙️ Setup

• Install the Python Environments extension in VS Code.
• Open a folder with a Python environment (virtual environment, Conda environment, or system Python). Use existing or ask copilot to create one for you and see how it goes!

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🧪 Test Steps

ask questions to copilot in agent mode to test the tools and tool calling!

[ ] Prompt the model in ways to use the python_environment_tool. Ideas include:

• Get environment details (type, Python version, installed packages, run command).
• Ask for the Python version specifically.
• Ask how to run a file or script with Python and check the returned run command.
• Use it in a notebook and confirm it detects the notebook’s environment correctly.
• Try in a data science context and verify it still returns appropriate information.

[ ] Prompt the model in ways to use the python_install_package_tool. Ideas include:

• Install a new package (e.g., requests).
• Install a specific version of a package (e.g., requests==2.31.0).
• Update an existing package.
• Install packages needed for a project (simulate by asking to install a list like numpy, pandas, scikit-learn).

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✅ Expected Outcome

• python_environment_tool correctly provides environment type, Python version, run command, and installed packages.
• python_install_package_tool successfully installs or updates the specified packages.
• Agent responses summarize environment info clearly and suggest relevant actions.
• Outputs are correct and usable in typical Python and data science workflows.

[DonJayamanne]

@eleanorjboyd the tools were renamed to remove the _tool suffix.

[chrisdias]

I will do this TPI the morning of april 29

[chrisdias]

I did my best to find something but couldn't :)