Cannot debug C++ in visual studio code on Mac. Launch.json does not execute program in terminal

Question

I am new to Visual Studio Code. I am trying to debug a simple C++ code. I edited my launch.json to be able to debug the app like this:

{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "(lldb) Launch", 
            "type": "cppdbg",  
            "request": "launch",      
            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/Calculator",   
            "args": [],   
            "stopAtEntry": false,  
            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",  
            "environment": [],  
            "externalConsole": true,  
            "MIMode": "lldb"            
        }        
    ]
}

When I start debugging, the terminal is opened in the correct folder but the program is not executed. So the Visual Code does not stop in the breakpoints I want to check in the program.

In my task.json I have the following code:

{
    "version": "2.0.0",
    "tasks": [
        {
            "label": "Echo vars",
            "command": "echo",
            "args": [
                "${env:USERNAME}",
                "workspaceFolder = ${workspaceFolder}"
            ],
            "type": "shell",
            "problemMatcher": []
        },
        {
            "label": "build",
            "type": "shell",
            "command": "g++ -g Calculator.cpp -o Calculator",
            "group": {
                "kind": "build",
                "isDefault": true
            },
            "problemMatcher": "$gcc"
        }
    ]
}

Can anybody help me on this?

Thanks in advance

Hi Alan, thanks for answering. I am afraid I do not know what you mean with "debug symbols". Can you explain me that in more detail please? — Julio Cesano
– Julio Cesano, Commented Mar 19, 2020 at 19:51

pero_hero · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-20 08:45:20Z

1

As mentioned in the comments: if your Calculator.cpp is not compiled with debug symbols ie. g++ called without -g flag, you will not be able to debug it.

Hence, add to your launch.json a prelaunchTask entry which will make sure your build task which is compiling your source with debug symbols is always executed prior to launching the debugger.

"environment": [],  
"externalConsole": true,  
"MIMode": "lldb",      
"preLaunchTask": "build"

edit your launch.json to add debugger log output to your project:

"logging": { "engineLogging": true, "trace": false, "traceResponse": false }

edited Mar 20, 2020 at 8:45

answered Mar 19, 2020 at 21:11

pero_hero

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22 Comments

Julio Cesano Over a year ago

I added all that. Besides in my task.json I have the following sentence: "command": "g++ -g Calculator.cpp -o Calculator", so I guess I am compiling with debug symbols as you suggested. I followed different tutorial and I do not know what is wrong with may Mac. I guess I will try to reinstall VSCode again

pero_hero Over a year ago

do you see in VSC that the command g++ -g Calculator.cpp -o Calculator is executed before your program is launched?

Julio Cesano Over a year ago

Hi pero_hero. Thanks for answering. Yes, the command is being executed before my program is launched. Actually, to be sure of that I deleted the executable file after pressing the Start Debugging button. And the command is perfectly executed. Calculator executable file is correctly created.

Julio Cesano Over a year ago

In the debug console i always get this message: "Warning: Debuggee TargetArchitecture not detected, assuming x86_64."

pero_hero Over a year ago

I have this warning message as well and it is working. can you try to add a logging output of the debugger to your project, as shown in the updated answer and add the first part of it to the OP? I would also set stopAtEntry to true.

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