How to run a command in Visual Studio Code with launch.json

Question

Is there a way to execute an ssh command when debugging a project with .vscode/launch.json?

For example: ssh -i xxxxx.

Or is it possible to create a command that you can run from the F1 command palette pop-up? Something like RunCustomCommandxx.

Answer 1

You can define a task in your tasks.json file and specify that as the preLaunchTask in your launch.json and the task will be executed before debugging begins.

Example:

In tasks.json:

For version 0.1.0:

{     "version": "0.1.0",     "tasks": [{         "taskName": "echotest",         "command": "echo", // Could be any other shell command         "args": ["test"],         "isShellCommand": true     }] } 

For version 2.0.0 (newer and recommended):

{     "version": "2.0.0",     "tasks": [{         "label": "echotest",         "command": "echo", // Could be any other shell command         "args": ["test"],         "type": "shell"     }] } 

In launch.json:

{     "configurations": [         {             // ...             "preLaunchTask": "echotest", // The name of the task defined above             // ...         }     ]    } 

Tasks documentation: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/tasks

Launch configuration: https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/debugging#_launch-configurations

Answer 2

The format changed. Visual Studio Code can create the tasks.json file for you. Inside your launch.json file and inside any configurations object, just define preLaunchTask to force auto-creation of the tasks.json template file:

{   "version": "0.2.0",   "configurations": [       {         "type": "node",         "request": "launch",         "name": "launch program",         "skipFiles": [ "<node_internals>/**"],         "preLaunchTask": "myShellCommand",         "program": "${workspaceFolder}/test.js"       }   ] } 

If you do not have file tasks.json configured:

• launch the debugger. Visual Studio Code will inform you: "could not find the task myShellCommand"
• select Configure Task → Create tasks.json file from template → Others

Your tasks.json template file will then be created for you. Add your command to command and the name you put in preLaunchTask to label:

{   "version": "2.0.0",   "tasks": [     {       "label": "myShellCommand",       "type": "shell",       "command": "echo goodfood"     }   ] }