Vscode: GDB C/C++ debugger won't start, giving error

[jonahcwest]

Version: 1.30.0
Commit: c6e592b2b5770e40a98cb9c2715a8ef89aec3d74
Date: 2018-12-11T22:21:33.585Z
Electron: 2.0.12
Chrome: 61.0.3163.100
Node.js: 8.9.3
V8: 6.1.534.41
OS: Linux x64 4.18.0-3-amd64

Steps to Reproduce:

1. Create a C/C++ project.
2. Add a debug configuration with GDB.
3. Launch with or without debugging.

What happens:

The Debug Console displays:

Stopping due to fatal error: NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

The program does not start and the external console stays empty.

• I have been able to reproduce this issue on Debian and Ubuntu. (Other platforms unknown.)
• I have only seen this happen with C/C++ debugging. (The only other configuration I have tried is Node.js. Could someone please try other configurations?)
• This began to occur after updating to 1.30.0, although this may be present in prior versions.

The C/C++ Extension must be enabled to use C/C++ debugging.

Screenshot:

[Gaolious]

It works good with previous version, but I got a same error after updating the code.

OS : Ubuntu 14.04.5 x64

Version: 1.30.0
Commit: c6e592b2b5770e40a98cb9c2715a8ef89aec3d74
Date: 2018-12-11T22:21:33.585Z
Electron: 2.0.12
Chrome: 61.0.3163.100
Node.js: 8.9.3
V8: 6.1.534.41
OS: Linux x64 4.4.0-134-generic

[Gaolious]

It works fine with 1.29.1 . (I've downgrade to 1.29.1)

url : https://code.visualstudio.com/updates/v1_29

[jonahcwest]

So this seems to be an issue in 1.30.0 only? I’ve tried the latest insider version and the bug is still present.

[converk]

In version 1.29, I can debug normally. I ran into a problem in version 1.30.

[isidorn]

I have tried reproducing this and could not. I tried with Ubuntu 16 and Mac OS X.
Here's my sample program and my launch.json

I believe this is an issue with the C++ extension thus I am moving it to the C++ repository.
If it turns out to be an issue with VSCode please let us know and we will look into a candidate fix.
Also if it is an issue with vscode please give us an reproducable repository so we can investigate more.

#include <stdio.h>

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
    for (int i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
        fprintf(stdout, "argv[%d]: %s\n", i, argv[i]);
    }
    return 0;
}

{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "C++ Launch",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${workspaceRoot}/a.out",
            "args": [
                "hello", "world", "!"
            ],
            "stopAtEntry": true,
            "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}",
            "linux": {
                "MIMode": "gdb",
                "miDebuggerPath": "/usr/bin/gdb"
            },
            "osx": {
                "MIMode": "lldb"
            },
            "windows": {
                "MIMode": "gdb",
                "miDebuggerPath": "C:\\MinGw\\bin\\gdb.exe"
            },
            "externalConsole": false
        }
    ]
}

[isidorn]

Created issue in C++ extension repository. Follow the issue there for more details
https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode-cpptools/issues/2922

[newfla]

use "externalConsole": false to solve the issue in launch.json

[weinand]

Yep, a crash deep inside the C++ debug adapter occurs if "externalConsole" is true.
The C++ team needs to investigate why this happens.
Workaround: set "externalConsole" to false (as pointed out by @newfla)

[Gaolious]

@jonahcwest

apt-get purge code
rm -rf ~/.vscode
rm -rf /tmp/MS*

and
install the prior version

[weinand]

I was sending a RunInTerminalResponse without a body (which is a violation of the spec).
Sorry about that. I have pushed a fix.

I broke that 24 days ago but I wonder why nobody noticed this in Insiders.

[marcocrio]

use "externalConsole": false to solve the issue in launch.json

I was having the same issue and this solved the problem, plus is less annoying than opening a new terminal all the time you want to debug

[seclog]

maybe you should add gcc option '-g' to compile before you debug it. and "externalConsole": false,