PowerShell / PowerShell/vscode-powershell

Debug watched array item is shown as an empty string

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Area-Debugging Issue-Bug
Dominant language
TypeScript
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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).
image

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

image

NOTE: I have verified this bug with all extensions (except the PowerShell extension of course) disabled.

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. 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

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