ggplot2 does not show in VSCode in the plot viewer when sourcing the entire script

[mzavattaro]

I've discovered if I run a script line by line (e.g. Ctrl+Enter) in VSCode that has a plot call ggplot(data = complete_old, mapping = aes(x = weight, y = hindfoot_length, color = plot_type)), VSCode will automatically open the plot viewer; but if I source the entire script (e.g. Ctrl+Shift+S or clicking on the '>' in the top right corner), the plot viewer does not open.

If I wrap it in a print(ggplot(...)) and source the entire script, then VSCode will open the plot viewer.

I know that I can manually open the interactive window by inputting .vsc.attach() into the R console, but it still shows nothing if the script was sourced rather than ran line-by-line.

I've also tried this with httpgd and including the VSCode setting "r.plot.useHttpgd": true,, but this also doesn't work either when sourcing the entire script.

I am using the R extension for VSCode as well.

I would have thought that I didn't need to wrap it in a print(...) when sourcing the entire script?

[teunbrand]

I know nothing about VSCode and how it interacts with graphics devices. Is this a ggplot2 specific problem, or does the same happen with base graphics? If this doesn't happen with base graphics, does it happen with grid/lattice graphics?

[teunbrand]

I think this issue will get a better audience at a different venue like stackoverflow or the posit community. I'm not aware of any other ggplot2 developer that uses VSCode. In contrast, I expect R users with ggplot2 experience that work in VSCode to be a much larger group. They might be able to provide better help than we can.