PowerShell / PowerShell/vscode-powershell
Debug watched array item is shown as an empty string
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Description
Fully described here: https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode/issues/72433
Debugging PowerShell: an array value is shown as an empty string on the left but it's plainly not empty on hover or under locals:
System Details
VSCode version:
1.33.1 51b0b28134d51361cf996d2f0a1c698247aeabd8 x64
VSCode extensions:
- Fr43nk.seito-openfile@1.8.5
- ms-vscode.powershell@1.12.1
- rozzzly-dev.vscode-prompt-debug@0.0.2
PSES version: 1.12.1.0
PowerShell version:
Name Value
---- -----
PSVersion 5.1.16299.820
PSEdition Desktop
PSCompatibleVersions {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...}
BuildVersion 10.0.16299.820
CLRVersion 4.0.30319.42000
WSManStackVersion 3.0
PSRemotingProtocolVersion 2.3
SerializationVersion 1.1.0.1
Issue Description
I am experiencing a problem with watching an item in a (large) array - the value is not displayed correctly (at all).

Expected Behaviour
Should be seeing the array value
Actual Behaviour
Array item is displayed as the empty string "" but only on the left. Elsewhere (hover, locals) it's displayed correctly

NOTE: I have verified this bug with all extensions (except the PowerShell extension of course) disabled.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by reading the linked VS Code issue 72433 and reproducing the watched-array behavior in the PowerShell debugging extension. The issue names no source file or test, so locating the relevant watch-value entry point and an existing debugging test will require repository investigation. Done means the array item is shown correctly in the watch view, matching hover and locals.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- powershell, typescript, vscode
- Domain
- developer-experience, tooling
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 28/100