diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index a63600b9..f538aa1a 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
       "version": "4.0.0",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
+        "@vscode/python-extension": "1.0.5",
         "glob": "^11.1.0",
         "semver": "^7.7.3",
         "vscode-languageclient": "^8.1.0",
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@
         "@types/mocha": "^10.0.6",
         "@types/node": "^22.13.0",
         "@types/semver": "^7.7.1",
-        "@types/vscode": "^1.67.0",
+        "@types/vscode": "^1.78.0",
         "@types/which": "^3.0.0",
         "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^8.52.0",
         "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^8.29.1",
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@
         "webpack-cli": "^6.0.1"
       },
       "engines": {
-        "vscode": "^1.67.0"
+        "vscode": "^1.78.0"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@azu/format-text": {
@@ -1528,6 +1529,16 @@
         "node": ">=20.0.0"
       }
     },
+    "node_modules/@vscode/python-extension": {
+      "version": "1.0.5",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@vscode/python-extension/-/python-extension-1.0.5.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-uYhXUrL/gn92mfqhjAwH2+yGOpjloBxj9ekoL4BhUsKcyJMpEg6WlNf3S3si+5x9zlbHHe7FYQNjZEbz1ymI9Q==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=16.17.1",
+        "vscode": "^1.78.0"
+      }
+    },
     "node_modules/@vscode/test-cli": {
       "version": "0.0.12",
       "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@vscode/test-cli/-/test-cli-0.0.12.tgz",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e05cb66a..ac1137f3 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
     }
   ],
   "engines": {
-    "vscode": "^1.67.0"
+    "vscode": "^1.78.0"
   },
   "icon": "assets/png/icon.png",
   "homepage": "https://github.com/fortran-lang/vscode-fortran-support#readme",
@@ -763,7 +763,7 @@
     "@types/mocha": "^10.0.6",
     "@types/node": "^22.13.0",
     "@types/semver": "^7.7.1",
-    "@types/vscode": "^1.67.0",
+    "@types/vscode": "^1.78.0",
     "@types/which": "^3.0.0",
     "@typescript-eslint/eslint-plugin": "^8.52.0",
     "@typescript-eslint/parser": "^8.29.1",
@@ -796,6 +796,7 @@
     ]
   },
   "dependencies": {
+    "@vscode/python-extension": "1.0.5",
     "glob": "^11.1.0",
     "semver": "^7.7.3",
     "vscode-languageclient": "^8.1.0",
diff --git a/src/util/python-installer.ts b/src/util/python-installer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1afbdc3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/util/python-installer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import * as vscode from 'vscode';
+
+import { spawnAsPromise } from './tools';
+
+const PYTHON_EXTENSION_ID = 'ms-python.python';
+// TODO: add pretty output Log channel or maybe progress notification?
+// TODO: Creates a schism between installation and detection/usage of binaries
+//       the detection/usage should also leverage the python extension
+// TODO: All of these functions watch for change events in the python extension
+/**
+ * Get Python executable from ms-python.python extension if available, otherwise fallback.
+ * @param resource Optional URI to determine workspace-specific environment
+ * @returns Python executable path or undefined
+ */
+async function getPythonExecutable(resource?: vscode.Uri): Promise<string | undefined> {
+  const pyExt = vscode.extensions.getExtension(PYTHON_EXTENSION_ID);
+  if (!pyExt) return undefined;
+
+  if (!pyExt.isActive) {
+    await pyExt.activate();
+  }
+
+  // Import type only when extension is available
+  const { PythonExtension } = await import('@vscode/python-extension');
+  const api = await PythonExtension.api();
+
+  const envPath = api.environments.getActiveEnvironmentPath(resource);
+  if (!envPath) return undefined;
+
+  const env = await api.environments.resolveEnvironment(envPath);
+  return env?.executable.uri?.fsPath;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Install Python package using pip with ms-python.python integration.
+ * Falls back to system Python if extension unavailable.
+ * @param pyPackage name of python package in PyPi
+ * @param resource Optional URI for workspace-specific environment selection
+ * @returns Success message
+ */
+export async function installPythonPackage(
+  pyPackage: string,
+  resource?: vscode.Uri
+): Promise<string> {
+  let pythonExe = await getPythonExecutable(resource);
+
+  // Fallback to system Python
+  if (!pythonExe) {
+    const candidates = ['python3', 'py', 'python'];
+    for (const cmd of candidates) {
+      try {
+        await spawnAsPromise(cmd, ['--version'], { windowsHide: true });
+        pythonExe = cmd;
+        break;
+      } catch {
+        continue;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (!pythonExe) {
+    throw new Error('No Python interpreter found');
+  }
+
+  const args = ['-m', 'pip', 'install', '--upgrade', pyPackage];
+
+  try {
+    // Virtual environments do not support user installs
+    // the first attempt is "global"
+    await spawnAsPromise(pythonExe, args, { windowsHide: true });
+  } catch {
+    // Retry with --user for permission-restricted environments
+    await spawnAsPromise(pythonExe, [...args, '--user'], { windowsHide: true });
+  }
+  // TODO: needs better returns, strings are lazy programming
+  return `Successfully installed ${pyPackage}`;
+}
diff --git a/src/util/tools.ts b/src/util/tools.ts
index 8398f118..766f5c18 100644
--- a/src/util/tools.ts
+++ b/src/util/tools.ts
@@ -141,6 +141,7 @@ export async function promptForMissingTool(
  * A wrapper around a call to `pip` for installing external tools.
  * Does not explicitly check if `pip` is installed.
  *
+ * @deprecated Use `installPythonPackage` from python-installer.ts for better virtual environment support
  * @param pyPackage name of python package in PyPi
  */
 export async function pipInstall(pyPackage: string): Promise<string> {