Unable to debug under Arch Linux: "Python is not installed" / "You need to select a Python interpreter"

Environment data

• VS Code version: 1.50.1
• Extension version (available under the Extensions sidebar): v2020.10.332292344
• OS and version: Arch Linux (rolling)
• Python version (& distribution if applicable, e.g. Anaconda): Python 3.8
• Type of virtual environment used (N/A | venv | virtualenv | conda | …): n/a
• Relevant/affected Python packages and their versions: -
• Relevant/affected Python-related VS Code extensions and their versions: -
• Value of the python.languageServer setting: None

Expected behaviour

After setting the Python binary once, I’m able to run python scripts using F5.

Actual behaviour

When pressing F5, a window pops up: “You need to select a Python interpreter before you start debugging. Tip: …” When I click on “Select Python Interpreter”, I see the current value (which correctly is /usr/bin/python). I enter /usr/bin/python, or /usr/bin/python3.8, and I’m immediately asked again, so I enter the same value again. No error is shown. Then, when I press F5, the same window as before pops up again.

[JCDetwiler]

Can confirm that downgrading electron9 from 9.3.4 to 9.3.3 fixed the issue for me on Arch Linux. For others:

sudo pacman -U /var/cache/pacman/pkg/electron9-9.3.3-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

(Or whichever earlier version you happen to have cached.)

[MathieuMorrissette]

This is caused by an issue with the latest version of electron (9.3.4) and vscode:

https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/110322

The workaround (downgrading electron) : https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/110322#issuecomment-726426703