Debug node js with Visual Studio Code

Question

I try to debug a Project in node JS with Visual Studio Code but i don't achieve. I have built a simple project with the next commands:

express myExpressApp
cd myExpressApp
npm install
npm start

My file launch.json:

I select the Option “Launch app.js” in Window “Debug”. The application run without problems. I put a breakpoint:

I give in Chrome the address: http://localhost:3000/

Visual Studio Code says: “Pause on breakpoint”, but I don't see anything, I can press Continue and the application continues...

Edited: I use OS X 10.10 (I tested it and it works perfectly in Ubuntu.)

Answer 1

VSCode 0.8.0 has problems with node versions older than 0.12.0. Upgrade to at least 0.12.0 or wait for the upcoming VSCode 0.9.0.

Answer 2

When debugging with Visual Studio Code, there are many things you can do when you hit a breakpoint.

In order to go to the "debugging" view, you can either click the "bug" icon on the left or hit Ctrl + Shift + D.

You see Paused on breakpoint. in the Call Stack window. That window includes the callstack and you can double-click the different frames to navigate through the corresponding source.

You can also see the Variables window here to see the values of the variables (local/global/closure/etc.).

One of the more used functionality parts of debugging in VS Code is the debug console. In the debugging view, there's a little icon right next to the configuration that you're using that looks like the CLI character. You can either click that or just do a command palette search (Ctrl + Shift + P) for Debug: open Console. This will bring up the debugging console for your ad hoc debugging commands.

The documentation on VS Code debugging is quite robust, too, so I recommend you take a look at this.