microsoft / microsoft/vscode-cpptools

When debugging multiple inferiors with gdb, if one inferior exits the full debug session stops

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bug debugger help wanted
Dominant language
TypeScript
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Description

Environment
  • OS and version: Arch Linux with gdb 16.3
  • VS Code: 1.103.1
  • C/C++ extension: 1.26.3
  • OS and version of remote machine (if applicable): n/a
  • GDB / LLDB version: 16.3
Bug Summary and Steps to Reproduce

Bug Summary:

When debugging multiple inferiors in gdb, if one inferior exits the vscode debug session ends.

Steps to reproduce:

  1. git clone this repo: https://github.com/lostgoat/multiinferior-repro
  2. Set a breakpoint on the "parent exiting" line
  3. Start the "(gdb) Launch" debug task

When running gdb with the same configuration via commandline everything works correctly. Execution pauses after the child exits, and then one can use inferior <id> to switch back to the parent and keep debugging.

Debugger Configurations
{
            "name": "(gdb) Launch",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "preLaunchTask": "build test app",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${workspaceFolder}/test.out",
            "args": [],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "${fileDirname}",
            "environment": [],
            "externalConsole": false,
            "MIMode": "gdb",
            "setupCommands": [
                {
                    "description": "Enable pretty-printing for gdb",
                    "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
                    "ignoreFailures": true
                },
                {
                    "description": "Keep both sides of fork",
                    "text": "set detach-on-fork off"
                },
                {
                    "description": "Allow multiple inferiors to run",
                    "text": "set schedule-multiple on"
                }
            ],
            "logging": { "engineLogging": true, "trace": true, "traceResponse": true }
        },
Debugger Logs
Output window:

Starting test
parent running 
waiting for child: 965664
parent waitpid returned: 0 - 0
child started
child looping: 0
child looping: 1
child looping: 2
child looping: 3
parent waitpid returned: 0 - 0
child looping: 4
child looping: 5
child looping: 6
child looping: 7
parent waitpid returned: 0 - 0
child looping: 8
child looping: 9
child exiting
Other Extensions

No response

Additional Information

No response

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

Clone the linked multiinferior-repro repository and reproduce the failure using the (gdb) Launch configuration with detach-on-fork off and schedule-multiple on. Start by tracing the extension's GDB/MI session handling when one inferior exits. Done means the session remains active, pauses as expected, and still permits switching to the surviving inferior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp, typescript, vscode
Domain
devtools
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
42/100

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