Setting Up Positron

hacking skills
Author

zenggyu

Published

2024-07-09

Modified

2025-11-10

Abstract
Guidance on setting up a fresh Positron installation.

Introduction

This is one of a series of posts where I document software configurations for personal reference. This post documents the configurations for Positron.

Extensions

  • shellcheck:
    • In shell: sudo apt install shellcheck.
    • In positron: ctrl + p -> ext install timonwong.shellcheck.
  • shell-format:
    • Download shfmt executable binary, rename it as shfmt, save it to /usr/local/bin/, and make it executable.
    • In positron: ctrl + p -> ext install foxundermoon.shell-format.
  • pastum:
    • In positron: ctrl + p -> ext install atsyplenkov.pastum

Settings

Go to “Preferences” - “Settings” and change the following settings:

  • Text Editor
    • Tab Size: 2
    • Word Wrap: "on"
    • Find
      • Auto Find In Selection: "multiline"
    • Font
      • Font Family: 'Ubuntu Mono', 'Droid Sans Mono', 'monospace', monospace, 'Droid Sans Fallback'
    • Suggestion
      • Accept Suggestion On Enter: "off"
    • Files
      • Auto Guess Encoding: true
  • Workbench
    • Color Theme: "Positron Dark"
  • Features
    • Extensions
      • Auto Check Updates: false
      • Auto Update: None
      • Ignore Recommendations: true
    • Terminal
      • Integrated: Cursor Blinking: true
      • Integrated: Enable Visual Bell: true
      • Integrated: Scrollback: 10000
  • Security
    • Workspace
      • Trust: Untrusted Files: "open"
  • Extensions:
    • shell-format configuration
      • Shellformat: Path: "/usr/local/bin/shfmt"

Keybindings

Go to “Preferences” - “Keyboard Shortcuts” and change the following shorcuts:

  • Reindent Selected Lines: Ctrl + K Ctrl + I when editorTextFocus && !editorReadonly (remove conflicting keybinding for “Show or Focus Hover”)

Useful shortcuts that use default:

  • Change Language Mode: Ctrl + K M
  • Console: Execute Code: Ctrl + Enter
  • File: New Untitled Text File: Ctrl + N
  • File: Open Folder: Ctrl + K Ctrl + O
  • Format Selection: Ctrl + K Ctrl + F
  • Quarto: Insert Code Cell: Ctrl + Shift + I
  • Show All Commands: Ctrl + Shift + P
  • Toggle Line Comment: Ctrl + /
  • View: Split Editor: Ctrl + \