how to use environment variables in vscode settings json

Question

I want to be able to use linux environment variables in vscode workspace settings (specifically $HOME) so that I can specify paths that aren't specific to a user. In this case I am trying to set the java.home setting.

I have tried using ${env:HOME} but this doesn't seem to work. I suspect this is only for vscode tasks.

{
    "java.home": "${env:HOME}/.sdkman/candidates/java/8.0.222.hs-adpt/"
}

Get the following error message at the moment:

The java.home variable defined in VS Code settings points to a missing or inaccessible folder (${env:HOME}/.sdkman/candidates/java/8.0.222.hs-adpt/)

:( would think that would work. Seeing issues: https://github.com/microsoft/vscode/issues/2809 env vars prob not supported yet (3+yr since issue opened) :( — Lawrence Cherone, Sep 15 '19 at 19:09
It works for certain extensions if the author has coded the extension to handle the environment variables. — Ben Creasy, Jan 27 '23 at 19:08

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 16 '22 at 11:55

Environment variables in Linux are supported now in VSCode (although I don't know since when or which version exactly). I have VSCode for Linux 1.73.1.

You can now use the following (just like in the question above):

{
    "java.home": "${env:HOME}/.sdkman/candidates/java/8.0.222.hs-adpt/"
}

how to use environment variables in vscode settings json

1 Answers1

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