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I am facing an issue with VS code debugger while trying to debug some angular typescript source code, and I think the reason is that some of those VS Code Variables have the wrong value - as suggested here.

I'd like to follow that advice, but I see no way how to query the VS code variables (e.g. display the current values of these variables for my project).

One of these variables is

${workspaceFolder}

They are used in VS code's config files, for this example in the launch.json file.

Do you know if there is a way to display those values? For example, log the values or show them in an alert window would just be sufficient for me to troubleshoot it.

Matt
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1 Answers1

28

There may be a better way but you could run a 

//  "preLaunchTask": "Echo vars" in your debug launch like:

{
    "name": "Chrome : Launch with sourcemaps",
    "type": "chrome",
    "request": "launch",
    "url": "http://localhost:3000",
    "webRoot": "${workspaceRoot}",
    "sourceMaps": true,
    "runtimeArgs": [
    "--remote-debugging-port=9222"
    ],
    "preLaunchTask": "Echo vars"
},

in your launch task and then in tasks.json add:

{
   "label": "Echo vars",
   "command": "echo",
   "args": [
     "${env:USERNAME}",
     "workspaceFolder = ${workspaceFolder}"
   ],
   "type": "shell"
},

Those values will be echoed to the terminal.

EDIT: Because a later version of vscode now supports sending variables to the terminal this simpler keybinding will print out values in the terminal:

{
  "key":  "alt+q",
  "command": "workbench.action.terminal.sendSequence",
  "args": {
    // "text": "${env:USERNAME}",  // this works
     "text" : "file = ${file};  workspaceFolder = ${workspaceFolder}"
  }  
},

then Alt-q prints out the values.

Mark
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    That sounds good. Could you show me how to setup that launch task, please? Do you mean
    **Terminal -> Configure Tasks...** ?     – Matt Nov 26 '18 at 17:26
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    Yep, that worked, thank you. After adding it to the tasks.json config, I ran Terminal -> Run Task... -> "Echo vars" and then "Never scan..." and it got displayed inside the terminal window. – Matt Nov 26 '18 at 17:40
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    I just meant you could add the task as a preLaunchTask right in your debug launch.json file. Just in case some variable values change when called through the debug launch rather than a straight task as you did. But both work. – Mark Nov 26 '18 at 17:51
  • I see, didn't think of that. Thank you for the hint! – Matt Nov 26 '18 at 17:53
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    Regarding the Edit: **Excellent hint, Mark!** For those who had difficulties finding it (like me): To **configure keyboard shortcuts** the way you want, open Keyboard Shortcuts editor (**File -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts**) and click on the **{}** button on the right of the editor title bar. See [here](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/getstarted/keybindings#_advanced-customization) – Matt Jul 02 '19 at 07:52