Run Python and R scripts in Visual Studio Code notebooks with SQL Server Machine Learning Services

Applies to: SQL Server 2017 (14.x) and later versions

Learn how to run Python and R scripts in Visual Studio Code notebooks with SQL Server Machine Learning Services. Visual Studio Code is a cross-platform development tool.

Prerequisites

Download and install Visual Studio Code) on your workstation. Visual Studio Code is cross-platform and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Install the Polyglot Notebooks extension for Visual Studio Code.
A server with SQL Server Machine Learning Services installed and enabled. You can use Machine Learning Services on Windows, Linux, or Big Data Clusters.

Create a SQL notebook

Important

Machine Learning Services runs as part of SQL Server. Therefore, you need to use a SQL kernel and not a Python kernel.

You can use Machine Learning Services in Visual Studio Code with a SQL notebook. To create a new notebook, follow these steps:

Select File and New Notebook to create a new notebook. The notebook uses the SQL kernel by default.
Select Attach To and Change Connection.
Connect to an existing or new SQL Server. You can either:
1. Choose an existing connection under Recent Connections or Saved Connections.
2. Create a new connection under Connection Details. Fill out the connection details to your SQL Server and database.

Run Python or R scripts

SQL Notebooks consist of code and text cells. Use code cells to run Python or R scripts through the stored procedure sp_execute_external_scripts. Use text cells to document your code in the notebook.

Run a Python script

Follow these steps to run a Python script:

Select + Code to add a code cell.

Enter the following script in the code cell:

EXECUTE sp_execute_external_script
    @language = N'Python',
    @script = N'
            a = 1
            b = 2
            c = a/b
            d = a*b
            print(c, d)
            ';

Select Run cell (the round black arrow) or press F5 to run the single cell.
The result appears under the code cell.

Run an R script

Follow these steps to run an R script:

Select + Code to add a code cell.

Enter the following script in the code cell:

EXECUTE sp_execute_external_script
    @language = N'R',
    @script = N'
            a <- 1
            b <- 2
            c <- a/b
            d <- a*b
            print(c(c, d))
            ';

Select Run cell (the round black arrow) or press F5 to run the single cell.
The result appears under the code cell.

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Last updated on 2025-12-15