isort randomly ignores its configuration from setup.cfg

Environment data

• VS Code version: 1.28.2 / 7f3ce96ff4729c91352ae6def877e59c561f4850 / x64
• Extension version (available under the Extensions sidebar): 2018.10.1
• OS and version: GNU/Linux Fedora 29 Linux 4.18.17-300.fc29.x86_64
• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): Python 2.7.15 (Also Python 3.7.1)
• Type of virtual environment used (N/A | venv | virtualenv | conda | …): pipenv, version 2018.10.13, with Python 3.6.6
• Relevant/affected Python packages and their versions: Builtin isort

Actual behavior

Isort configuration is defined in the [isort] section of the setup.cfg file in the root dir of one of folders in the workspace.

Using “Organize imports” sometimes, most notably after fresh VS Code start, acts like there is no configuration provided in the setup.cfg file. After some time, usually dozens of minutes, “Organize imports” starts to work properly.

Expected behavior

“Organize imports” should always obey the configuration provided in the setup.cfg file.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Start VS Code with workspace automatically loaded.
2. Open *.py file from the folder having setup.cfg with [isort] section.
3. Type some code altering import statements in a way expected to be corrected by isort differently with and without custom configuration, i.e. provide a custom value for line_length and/or lines_after_imports options.
4. Invoke “Organize imports”

Logs

Output for Python in the Output panel (View→Output, change the drop-down the upper-right of the Output panel to Python)

No output

Output from Console under the Developer Tools panel (toggle Developer Tools on under Help)

No output

Edit: see updates below

[phwh]

I have the same issue. I tried passing the --settings-path argument to isort via the projects’ workspace settings and it seems to be working more reliable now.

"python.sortImports.args": [
        "--settings-path=/Users/..."
]

Of course this is only a workaround.

[DonJayamanne]

that’s unclear that this is the actual intent at the moment.

That’s why the issue is open. We need to make a decision.