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VS Code launch.json (Debug Config)

A .vscode/launch.json with debug configurations — launch a Node program, attach to a running process, and a compound that starts several at once — the file behind the VS Code Run and Debug panel.

vscodedebuglaunchnodeide

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{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "type": "node",
      "request": "launch",
      "name": "Launch Server",
      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/index.js",
      "env": {
        "NODE_ENV": "development"
      },
      "preLaunchTask": "build",
      "skipFiles": [
        "<node_internals>/**"
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "node",
      "request": "attach",
      "name": "Attach to Process",
      "port": 9229
    }
  ],
  "compounds": [
    {
      "name": "Full Stack",
      "configurations": [
        "Launch Server",
        "Attach to Process"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

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Documentation

Purpose

Define how VS Code starts or attaches a debugger — the configurations that populate the Run and Debug dropdown.

When to use

Debugging an app in VS Code: launching your server with breakpoints, attaching to a Node process, or debugging tests and the browser together.

Required fields

version — the launch schema version, "0.2.0"
configurations — the array of debug configurations
type / request / name — per configuration

Optional fields

program — the entry file for a launch configuration
env — environment variables for the debugee
preLaunchTask — a tasks.json task to run before launching
compounds — start multiple configurations together

Best practices

Use ${workspaceFolder} and ${file} variables instead of absolute paths.
Wire a preLaunchTask to build before launching compiled languages.
Group frontend + backend into a compound for full-stack debugging.

Security considerations

Do not hardcode secrets in env; use an envFile pointing at a git-ignored .env.
Avoid committing configs that attach to production ports or hosts.
Keep launch.json in .vscode and out of any published package.

Related templates

The VS Code launch.json Guide