Further Positron Resources

Overview

This unit provides a few more bits of information, and a listing of hopefully useful resources for further learning.

Goals

• Be aware of some additional useful Positron topics.
• Know where to get help and learn more.

Reading

Introduction

Positron is still fairly new and under active development. As such, the available documentation is still a bit sparse, and things might change. Here are a few pointers that hopefully help you as you learn more about Positron.

Positron = VS Code (often)

As mentioned multiple times, Positron is built on VS Code (technically Code OSS, which is the source behind VS Code). That means that almost always, any tip you find for VS Code will also work in Positron. There might be exceptions, especially as Positron continues to evolve and possibly move further away from VS Code. But it’s always a good idea to search for help for VS Code if you can’t find something for Positron, and try if the VS Code solution works.

It also means that most - though not all - extensions that work in VS Code will also work in Positron. So if you find a useful extension for VS Code, you can likely install it in Positron as well.

Trust Issues

When you open a folder or workspace in Positron for the first time, you might be asked if you trust the authors of the files in that folder/workspace. This is a security feature to prevent malicious code from running on your computer without your knowledge. If you are working on your own projects, you can generally safely trust the folder. If you are working on projects from others, make sure you know and trust the source before trusting the folder.

If you want to change the overall trust settings, you can go to ‘Settings’, then search for ‘trust’. You can adjust various settings related to trust. For instance if you don’t want to get these notifications, you can set Trust: Startup Prompt to never.

Tutorials and other Resources

• The Positron website has a number of Guides that cover various topics. They are a good starting point to learn more about specific topics. These are still fairly new and expected to grow over time.
• The VS Code website has a large number of Getting Started Tutorials that are also applicable to Positron.
• Beyond the getting started section, the VS Code Documentation is very comprehensive.
• For prior RStudio users, there is a specific Migration Guide available at the Positron website.

Summary

You reached the end of the brief Introduction to Positron Course. This should get you enough information to get started, but there is a lot to learn. Fortunately, online resources are fairly complete. Just remember that Positron-specific resources are still new, but VS Code information is plentiful.

Further Resources

Well, this whole unit is about further resources, so follow the links mentioned above 😁.

Test yourself

What is the best way to think about VS Code extensions when using Positron?

Every VS Code extension works unchanged in PositronNo VS Code extensions work in PositronMany VS Code extensions work, but some do not—check the Positron list if unsureOnly Positron-branded extensions will load

Positron is built on the VS Code codebase, so many extensions work, but not all; consult the Positron extension list if you’re unsure.

• False
• False
• True
• False

If you can’t find Positron-specific instructions for something, what is the recommended next step?

Try the same solution you’d use in VS Code, since most tips work in Positron tooAssume the feature isn’t possible in Positron yetReinstall Positron before trying anything elseAvoid searching for VS Code guidance because it won’t apply

Positron is built on the VS Code codebase, so many VS Code tips and solutions work in Positron and are worth trying first.

• True
• False
• False
• False

When Positron asks whether you trust the authors of a newly opened folder, what should you generally do?

Only trust the folder if you know and trust the source; otherwise review before allowingAlways trust every folder to avoid promptsNever trust any folder, even your own projectsDelete the folder to avoid the decision

Trust prompts help prevent malicious code from running; you should only trust folders from sources you know and review unfamiliar ones before allowing.

• True
• False
• False
• False

Practice

• Read one of the Guides on the Positron website that interest you.
• Test Google or your favorite AI by asking about a topic related to Positron you are interested in.