VS Code Debugging and Tasks

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Launch configurations, breakpoints, tasks.json, and common debugging workflows in VS Code.

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Breakpoints and Debug Control

Toggle breakpoint

Set or remove a breakpoint.

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F9

Step over

Execute current line without stepping into functions.

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F10

Step into

Enter the next function call.

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F11

Step out

Finish the current function and return to caller.

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Shift+F11

Continue / pause

Resume running until next breakpoint.

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F5

launch.json

Basic Node launch config

Debug the current Node file.

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json

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "type": "node",
      "request": "launch",
      "name": "Node: Current File",
      "program": "${file}"
    }
  ]
}

Attach to existing Node process

Attach debugger to a process already running with inspect.

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json

{
  "type": "node",
  "request": "attach",
  "name": "Attach 9229",
  "port": 9229
}

Set env vars in launch config

Inject environment variables into debug sessions.

jsonANYlaunch-jsonenv

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json

{
  "type": "node",
  "request": "launch",
  "name": "Debug with env",
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/index.js",
  "env": {
    "NODE_ENV": "development",
    "LOG_LEVEL": "debug"
  }
}

tasks.json

NPM build task

Run npm build as a task.

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json

{
  "version": "2.0.0",
  "tasks": [
    {
      "label": "npm: build",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "npm run build",
      "group": "build"
    }
  ]
}

Background watch task

Mark long-running watchers as background tasks.

jsonANYtaskswatch

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json

{
  "label": "npm: dev",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "npm run dev",
  "isBackground": true,
  "problemMatcher": []
}

Run build task shortcut

Run default build task quickly.

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Windows/Linux: Ctrl+Shift+B
macOS: Cmd+Shift+B

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