microsoft / microsoft/vscode-cpptools
[Debugger] vscode-cpptools should not launch a new terminal when using attach mode
Nobody has claimed this yet.
- Dominant language
- TypeScript
- Stars
- 6.2k
- Forks
- 1.7k
- Avg merge
- 14h 46m
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 61
Description
Environment
- OS and version: Windows 10
- VS Code: 1.107.1
- C/C++ extension: 1.29.3
- OS and version of remote machine (if applicable): RHEL 8
- GDB / LLDB version: 16.3
Bug Summary and Steps to Reproduce
Bug Summary:
When using attach mode, vscode-cpptools should not start a new terminal. The terminal is always empty and useless.
Steps to reproduce:
-
Install
C/C++extension andTasks Shell Inputextension. -
launch.json:{ "version": "0.2.0", "configurations": [ { "name": "(gdb) Attach", "type": "cppdbg", "request": "attach", "program": "${workspaceFolder}/main", "processId": "${input:processID}", "MIMode": "gdb" } ], "inputs": [ { "id": "processID", "type": "command", "command": "shellCommand.execute", "args": { "command": "cat ${workspaceFolder}/main.pid", "useFirstResult": true } } ] } -
main.c:#include <stdio.h> #include <stdlib.h> #include <unistd.h> int main() { FILE *fp = fopen("main.pid", "w"); if (!fp) { return EXIT_FAILURE; } fprintf(fp, "%ld\n", (long) getpid()); fclose(fp); while (1) { puts("Hello"); sleep(3); } return EXIT_SUCCESS; } -
Compile and run:
gcc -g main.c -o main./main -
Run - Start Debugging
We need the "attach" mode because the actual program need a special way to launch.
But in "attach" mode, the terminal "cppdbg: main" is useless (and distracting). It will always be empty, because the program prints and reads at its own terminal.
Maybe vscode-cpptools should not launch a terminal when using attach mode, or we need an option at launch.json to make vscode-cpptools not to launch a terminal.
Debugger Configurations
{
"version": "0.2.0",
"configurations": [
{
"name": "(gdb) Attach",
"type": "cppdbg",
"request": "attach",
"program": "${workspaceFolder}/main",
"processId": "${input:processID}",
"MIMode": "gdb"
}
],
"inputs": [
{
"id": "processID",
"type": "command",
"command": "shellCommand.execute",
"args": {
"command": "cat ${workspaceFolder}/main.pid",
"useFirstResult": true
}
}
]
}
Debugger Logs
N/A
Other Extensions
Tasks Shell Input (augustocdias.tasks-shell-input)
Additional Information
No response
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
Reproduce the issue using the provided launch.json, main.c, attach configuration, and GDB setup on Windows 10 with the remote RHEL environment if available. Start by tracing the attach-mode debugging flow and terminal creation; done means attaching to the process without opening the empty cppdbg terminal, with existing debugging behavior preserved.
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
- 35/100