How to Read the Python Path from VS Code settings.json in Python

import json
from pathlib import Path
from unittest.mock import patch

def read_vscode_python_path(settings_path: Path) -> str:
    """Extract python.defaultInterpreterPath from VS Code settings.json."""
    with open(settings_path, "r") as f:
        settings = json.load(f)
    return settings.get("python", {}).get("defaultInterpreterPath", "not-set")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    mock_settings = Path("mock_settings.json")
    mock_settings.write_text(
        json.dumps({
            "python": {
                "defaultInterpreterPath": "/usr/bin/python3.11"
            }
        })
    )
    
    with patch("builtins.open", create=True) as mock_open:
        mock_open.return_value.__enter__.return_value.read.return_value = mock_settings.read_text()
        path = read_vscode_python_path(mock_settings)
    
    mock_settings.unlink()
    print(f"Python path from settings.json: {path}")