Use input (stdin) in debug console VScode

Question

I try to debug some code in vs code. Everything works fine, but when I trying input something in console nothing happens.

my code:

#include <stdio.h>
#define SIZE 20
int main()
{
 char arr[SIZE];
 
 fgets(arr, SIZE, stdin);
 puts(arr);
 return 0;
}

As you can see, I use fgets() to read string from console, but when the debug reaches the function everything stops and I can't enter anything.

enter image description here

Just black window.

But, when I use gets(), like in this exemple:

#include <stdio.h>
#define SIZE 20
int main()
{
 char arr[SIZE];
 
 gets(arr);
 puts(arr);
 return 0;
}

Everything works properly.

enter image description here

Where is the problem? Maybe debug console can't read anything? How can I input anything using fgets()?

Here is my launch.json:

{
 // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
 // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
 // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
 "version": "0.2.0",
 "configurations": [
 {
 "name": "gcc.exe - Build and debug active file",
 "type": "cppdbg",
 "request": "launch",
 "program": "${fileDirname}\\${fileBasenameNoExtension}.exe",
 "args": [],
 "stopAtEntry": false,
 "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
 "externalConsole": true,
 "environment": [],
 "MIMode": "gdb",
 "miDebuggerPath": "C:\\Users\\Svyatoslav\\gcc\\bin\\gdb.exe",
 "setupCommands": [
 {
 "description": "Enable pretty-printing for gdb",
 "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
 "ignoreFailures": true
 }
 ],
 "preLaunchTask": "C/C++: gcc.exe build active file"
 }
 ]
}

and tasks.json:

{
 "tasks": [
 {
 "type": "cppbuild",
 "label": "C/C++: gcc.exe build active file",
 "command": "C:\\Users\\Svyatoslav\\gcc\\bin\\gcc.exe",
 "args": [
 "-g",
 "${file}",
 "-o",
 "${fileDirname}\\${fileBasenameNoExtension}.exe"
 ],
 "options": {
 "cwd": "C:\\Users\\Svyatoslav\\gcc\\bin"
 },
 "problemMatcher": [
 "$gcc"
 ],
 "group": {
 "kind": "build",
 "isDefault": true
 },
 "detail": "Generated task by Debugger"
 }
 ],
 "version": "2.0.0"
}

• Cyclonecode: The problem seems to be piping input to stdin. Not sure if this link might help: github.com/microsoft/vscode-go/issues/219
• senoron: @Cyclonecode thank you, but it didn't help me and I have found another answer.

Answer 1

In launch.json, you can specify a file to connect to stdin via:

"args": ["<", "/path/to/your/stdin/file"]

• ikhvjs: Thanks. I also use ${workspaceFolder} in "args": ["<", "${workspaceFolder}/myfile"]
• Matt Faus: If you use this technique with mkfifo I am curious about your experience. I think it is possible to debug with interactive input, e.g. echo interactive input >> namedpipe but I haven't tried it.
• starball: Related docs: code.visualstudio.com/docs/editor/…
• AbuNassar: This doesn't seem to work on Windows, although it was probably foolish of me to think that it would, since it's Unix shell syntax.

Answer 2

Another approach (at least using VSCode 1.87.2) is to specify the console option.

"console": "integratedTerminal"

This will output your program in the terminal rather than Debug Output, which should allow user interaction while debugging.