Could not load source file when Debugging

[gfcwfzkm]

Describe the bug
Starting a debug session (with either JLink or STLink, both were tested) results in VSCode being unable to open/find the source file. Adding the additional configuration "postLaunchCommands": ["set substitute-path / ./"] at least let VSCode find the source file with the main entry point, but it still keeps failing to display any other source file.

Only when I set the substitute path ./ to the absolute path on my drive with unix-style path seperator characters, it manages to successfully open the right source files where GDB is pointing to.

I don't think this is the right solution, as that would require me to hard-code the projects location into the launch.json. I did try ${workspaceFolder}, but due to it using the native windows path seperator, that too fails.

It wouldn't surprise me if something is broken on my end, but I can't figure out what it might be and I would be very thankful for any help or pointers.

To Reproduce

Simply starting any debug session on either my desktop or laptop.

Expected behavior

I expect it to correctly figure out which source file to display and open.

Screenshots

Without any postLaunchCommands:

With "postLaunchCommands": ["set substitute-path / ./"]:

Environment (please complete the following information):

• Cortex-Debug Version 1.12.1
• OS: Windows 11 Pro
• GDB Version: GNU gdb (GNU Tools for STM32 12.3.rel1.20240612-1315) 13.2.90.20230627-git
• Compiler Toolchain Version: (GNU Tools for STM32 12.3.rel1.20240612-1315) 12.3.1 20230626

Please include launch.json

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": [
		{
			// Quick Test using JLINK to make sure it's not a issue related to a specific debugger
			"name": "Build & Debug - JLink",
			"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
			"executable": "${command:cmake.launchTargetPath}",
			"request": "launch",
			"type": "cortex-debug",
			"runToEntryPoint": "main",
			"servertype": "jlink",
			"windows": {
				"serverpath": "C:/Program Files/SEGGER/JLink_V812g/JLinkGDBServerCL",
				"gdbPath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin/arm-none-eabi-gdb",
				"postLaunchCommands": [
					"set substitute-path / C:/Users/pasca/Music/kontron_spitfair"	// This works fully
					//"set substitute-path / \"${workspaceFolder}\""		// Doesn't work due to mixing linux and windows path separators
					//"set substitute-path / ./"	// Only works on the main.cpp file
				]
			},
			"linux": {
				"serverpath": "JLinkGDBServer",
				"gdbPath":"arm-none-eabi-gdb",
			},
			"serverArgs": ["-speed", "12000"],
			"device": "STM32G071RBTx",
			"interface": "swd",
			"svdFile": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STMicroelectronics_CMSIS_SVD/STM32G071.svd",
			"armToolchainPath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin",
			"showDevDebugOutput": "raw",
		},
		{
			"name": "Build & Debug - ST-Link",
			"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
			"type": "cortex-debug",
			"executable": "${command:cmake.launchTargetPath}",
			"request": "launch",
			"servertype": "stlink",
			"device": "STM32G071RBTx",	//MCU used
			"interface": "swd",
			"runToEntryPoint": "main",
			"v1": false,				//Change it depending on ST Link version
			"svdFile": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STMicroelectronics_CMSIS_SVD/STM32G071.svd",
			"serverpath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STLink-gdb-server/bin/ST-LINK_gdbserver",
			"stm32cubeprogrammer":"${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STM32CubeProgrammer/bin",
			"stlinkPath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STLink-gdb-server/bin/ST-LINK_gdbserver",
			"armToolchainPath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin",
			"gdbPath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin/arm-none-eabi-gdb",
			"showDevDebugOutput": "raw",
			"serverArgs": [
				"-m","0",
			],
			"postLaunchCommands": [
					//"set substitute-path / ./"	// Only helps for the "main.cpp" file
					"set substitute-path / C:/Users/pasca/Music/kontron_spitfair" // This finally "fixes" it?
			]
		},
		{
			"name": "Attach to MCU - ST-Link",
			"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
			"type": "cortex-debug",
			"executable": "${command:cmake.launchTargetPath}",
			"request": "attach",
			"servertype": "stlink",
			"device": "STM32G071RBTx", //MCU used
			"interface": "swd",
			"serialNumber": "",        //Set ST-Link ID if you use multiple at the same time
			"runToEntryPoint": "main",
			"v1": false,				//Change it depending on ST Link version
			"svdFile": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STMicroelectronics_CMSIS_SVD/STM32G071.svd",
			"serverpath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STLink-gdb-server/bin/ST-LINK_gdbserver",
			"stm32cubeprogrammer":"${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STM32CubeProgrammer/bin",
			"stlinkPath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/STLink-gdb-server/bin/ST-LINK_gdbserver",
			"armToolchainPath": "${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin",
			"gdbPath":"${env:STM32CLT_PATH}/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin/arm-none-eabi-gdb",
			"serverArgs": [
				"-m","0",
			],
			"showDevDebugOutput": "raw",
		}
	]
}

Attach text from Debug Console

Debug Console (postLaunchCommands empty)

Cortex-Debug: VSCode debugger extension version 1.12.1 git(652d042). Usage info: https://github.com/Marus/cortex-debug#usage
"configuration": {
    "name": "Build & Debug - ST-Link",
    "cwd": "C:\\Users\\pasca\\Music\\kontron_spitfair",
    "type": "cortex-debug",
    "executable": "C:/Users/pasca/Downloads/cmake_builds/kontron_spitfair/debug/src/spitfair.elf",
    "request": "launch",
    "servertype": "stlink",
    "device": "STM32G071RBTx",
    "interface": "swd",
    "runToEntryPoint": "main",
    "v1": false,
    "svdFile": "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/STMicroelectronics_CMSIS_SVD/STM32G071.svd",
    "serverpath": "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/STLink-gdb-server/bin/ST-LINK_gdbserver",
    "stm32cubeprogrammer": "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/STM32CubeProgrammer/bin",
    "stlinkPath": "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/STLink-gdb-server/bin/ST-LINK_gdbserver",
    "armToolchainPath": "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin",
    "gdbPath": "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin/arm-none-eabi-gdb",
    "showDevDebugOutput": "raw",
    "serverArgs": [
        "-m",
        "0"
    ],
    "postLaunchCommands": [],
    "__configurationTarget": 6,
    "gdbServerConsolePort": 55878,
    "pvtAvoidPorts": [],
    "chainedConfigurations": {
        "enabled": false
    },
    "debuggerArgs": [],
    "swoConfig": {
        "enabled": false,
        "decoders": [],
        "cpuFrequency": 0,
        "swoFrequency": 0,
        "source": "probe"
    },
    "rttConfig": {
        "enabled": false,
        "decoders": []
    },
    "graphConfig": [],
    "preLaunchCommands": [],
    "preAttachCommands": [],
    "postAttachCommands": [],
    "preRestartCommands": [],
    "postRestartCommands": [],
    "preResetCommands": [],
    "postResetCommands": [],
    "toolchainPath": "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin",
    "toolchainPrefix": "arm-none-eabi",
    "extensionPath": "c:/Users/pasca/.vscode/extensions/marus25.cortex-debug-1.12.1",
    "registerUseNaturalFormat": true,
    "variableUseNaturalFormat": false,
    "pvtVersion": "1.12.1",
    "__sessionId": "d4de9845-6425-4452-b01a-7dbd98b00054",
    "pvtShowDevDebugOutput": "raw"
}
Reading symbols from C:/ST/STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin/arm-none-eabi-objdump.exe --syms -C -h -w C:/Users/pasca/Downloads/cmake_builds/kontron_spitfair/debug/src/spitfair.elf
Reading symbols from c:/st/stm32cubeclt_1.16.0/gnu-tools-for-stm32/bin/arm-none-eabi-nm.exe --defined-only -S -l -C -p C:/Users/pasca/Downloads/cmake_builds/kontron_spitfair/debug/src/spitfair.elf
Launching GDB: "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/GNU-tools-for-STM32/bin/arm-none-eabi-gdb" -q --interpreter=mi2
1-gdb-version
Setting GDB-Server CWD: C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/STLink-gdb-server/bin
Launching gdb-server: "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/STLink-gdb-server/bin/ST-LINK_gdbserver" -p 50000 -cp "C:\\ST\\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/STM32CubeProgrammer/bin" --swd --halt -m 0
    Please check TERMINAL tab (gdb-server) for output from C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0/STLink-gdb-server/bin/ST-LINK_gdbserver
Finished reading symbols from objdump: Time: 32 ms
Finished reading symbols from nm: Time: 36 ms
-> =thread-group-added,id="i1"
-> ~"GNU gdb (GNU Tools for STM32 12.3.rel1.20240612-1315) 13.2.90.20230627-git\n"
-> ~"Copyright (C) 2023 Free Software Foundation, Inc.\n"
-> ~"License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>\nThis is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.\nThere is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law."
-> ~"\nType \"show copying\" and \"show warranty\" for details.\n"
-> ~"This GDB was configured as \"--host=x86_64-w64-mingw32 --target=arm-none-eabi\".\n"
-> ~"Type \"show configuration\" for configuration details.\n"
-> ~"For bug reporting instructions, please see:\n"
-> ~"<https://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/>.\n"
-> ~"Find the GDB manual and other documentation resources online at:\n    <"
-> ~"http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/documentation/>.\n\n"
-> ~"For help, type \"help\".\n"
-> ~"Type \"apropos word\" to search for commands related to \"word\".\n"
-> 1^done
2-gdb-set mi-async on
-> 2^done
3-interpreter-exec console "set print demangle on"
-> 3^done
4-interpreter-exec console "set print asm-demangle on"
-> =cmd-param-changed,param="print asm-demangle",value="on"
-> 4^done
5-enable-pretty-printing
-> 5^done
6-interpreter-exec console "source c:/Users/pasca/.vscode/extensions/marus25.cortex-debug-1.12.1/support/gdbsupport.init"
-> 6^done
7-interpreter-exec console "source c:/Users/pasca/.vscode/extensions/marus25.cortex-debug-1.12.1/support/gdb-swo.init"
-> =cmd-param-changed,param="language",value="c"
-> =cmd-param-changed,param="language",value="auto"
-> 7^done
8-interpreter-exec console "set output-radix 0x10"
-> ~"Output radix now set to decimal 16, hex 10, octal 20.\n"
Output radix now set to decimal 16, hex 10, octal 20.
-> =cmd-param-changed,param="output-radix",value="16"
-> 8^done
9-interpreter-exec console "set input-radix 0xa"
-> ~"Input radix now set to decimal 10, hex a, octal 12.\n"
Input radix now set to decimal 10, hex a, octal 12.
-> 9^done
10-file-exec-and-symbols "C:/Users/pasca/Downloads/cmake_builds/kontron_spitfair/debug/src/spitfair.elf"
-> 10^done
11-target-select extended-remote localhost:50000
-> =thread-group-started,id="i1",pid="42000"
-> =thread-created,id="1",group-id="i1"
-> ~"Reset_Handler () at C:/Users/pasca/Music/kontron_spitfair/lib/stm32cubemx\\startup_stm32g071xx.s:60\n"
Reset_Handler () at C:/Users/pasca/Music/kontron_spitfair/lib/stm32cubemx\startup_stm32g071xx.s:60
-> ~"60\t  ldr   r0, =_estack\n"
60	  ldr   r0, =_estack
-> *stopped,frame={addr="0x08001198",func="Reset_Handler",args=[],file="C:/Users/pasca/Music/kontron_spitfair/lib/stm32cubemx\\startup_stm32g071xx.s",fullname="C:\\Users\\pasca\\Music\\kontron_spitfair\\lib\\stm32cubemx\\startup_stm32g071xx.s",line="60",arch="armv6s-m"},thread-id="1",stopped-threads="all",core="0"
mi2.status = stopped
Program stopped, probably due to a reset and/or halt issued by debugger
-> 11^connected
12-interpreter-exec console "monitor reset"
-> @"STM32 Successfully completed reset operation (System reset)\n"
STM32 Successfully completed reset operation (System reset)
-> 12^done
13-target-download
-> 13+download,{section=".isr_vector",section-size="188",total-size="511779"}
-> 13+download,{section=".isr_vector",section-sent="188",section-size="188",total-sent="188",total-size="511779"}
-> 13+download,{section=".text",section-size="4512",total-size="511779"}
-> 13+download,{section=".rodata",section-size="144",total-size="511779"}
-> 13+download,{section=".init_array",section-size="4",total-size="511779"}
-> 13+download,{section=".fini_array",section-size="4",total-size="511779"}
-> 13+download,{section=".data",section-size="4",total-size="511779"}
-> 13^done,address="0x08001198",load-size="4856",transfer-rate="88288",write-rate="809"
14-interpreter-exec console "monitor reset"
-> @"STM32 Successfully completed reset operation (System reset)\n"
STM32 Successfully completed reset operation (System reset)
-> 14^done
15-interpreter-exec console "monitor halt"
-> @"Trying to halt core...\n"
Trying to halt core...
-> 15^done
Returning dummy thread-id to workaround VSCode issue with pause button not working
Returning dummy stack frame to workaround VSCode issue with pause button not working: {"threadId":1,"startFrame":0,"levels":20}
16-break-insert -t --function main
-> ~"Note: automatically using hardware breakpoints for read-only addresses.\n"
Note: automatically using hardware breakpoints for read-only addresses.
-> 16^done,bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",addr="0x0800024e",func="main()",file="/src/main.cpp",fullname="/src/main.cpp",line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",original-location="-function main"}
17-exec-continue --all
-> 17^running
-> *running,thread-id="all"
mi2.status = running
-> =breakpoint-modified,bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",addr="0x0800024e",func="main()",file="/src/main.cpp",fullname="/src/main.cpp",line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],times="1",original-location="-function main"}
-> ~"\n"

-> ~"Temporary breakpoint 1, main () at /src/main.cpp:4\n"
Temporary breakpoint 1, main () at /src/main.cpp:4
-> &"4\t/src/main.cpp: No such file or directory.\n"
4	/src/main.cpp: No such file or directory.
-> *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="del",bkptno="1",frame={addr="0x0800024e",func="main",args=[],file="/src/main.cpp",fullname="/src/main.cpp",line="4",arch="armv6s-m"},thread-id="1",stopped-threads="all",core="0"
mi2.status = stopped
-> =breakpoint-deleted,id="1"
18-thread-list-ids
-> 18^done,thread-ids={thread-id="1"},current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="1"
19-thread-info 1
-> 19^done,threads=[{id="1",target-id="Thread 1",name="main",frame={level="0",addr="0x0800024e",func="main",args=[],file="/src/main.cpp",fullname="/src/main.cpp",line="4",arch="armv6s-m"},state="stopped",core="0"}]
20-stack-list-frames --thread 1 0 19
-> 20^done,stack=[frame={level="0",addr="0x0800024e",func="main",file="/src/main.cpp",fullname="/src/main.cpp",line="4",arch="armv6s-m"}]
21-stack-info-frame --thread 1 --frame 0
-> 21^done,frame={level="0",addr="0x0800024e",func="main",file="/src/main.cpp",fullname="/src/main.cpp",line="4",arch="armv6s-m"}
22-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --simple-values
-> 22^done,variables=[]

Additional context

[haneefdm]

Hmmm. It is highly unusual that you need to substitute '/' with './'. In the Debug Console, what do you see if you run the command info sources with no path substitution?

For me, it shows me all the source files with full path names. But that really depends on how the project was compiled (I let ST compile my project and it seems to have used full path names during compilation)

Btw, I was thinking you can do path substitution in preLaunchCommands and this way, it also helps all actions right when gdb loads the executable rather than some time after. You can also do this in your .gdbinit file which gdb looks for in your cwd.

What could also help is to set the cwd to the same directory you used for compilation. Basically, your build system and your cwd need to be compatible to avoid all kinds of issues. Relative path names are good, but they still have to make sense relative to the workspaceFolder.

To reproduce your issue, I'd have to emulate your build system and how gcc is invoked. I am hoping we can figure this out without that.

[gfcwfzkm]

Thank you for your time and help! Trying out info sources resulted in the following output:

Output of [info sources]

C:\Users\pasca\Music\kontron_spitfair\lib\stm32cubemx\startup_stm32g071xx.s
 /src/main.cpp
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_gpio.h
 C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0\GNU-tools-for-STM32\arm-none-eabi\include\machine\_default_types.h
 C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0\GNU-tools-for-STM32\arm-none-eabi\include\sys\_stdint.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/CMSIS/Device/ST/STM32G0xx/Include/stm32g071xx.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/CMSIS/Device/ST/STM32G0xx/Include/stm32g0xx.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_dma.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_usart.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_utils.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Src/cube.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Core/Inc/main.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_rcc.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/CMSIS/Include/core_cm0plus.h
 C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0\GNU-tools-for-STM32\lib\gcc\arm-none-eabi\12.3.1\include\stdint.h
 C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0\GNU-tools-for-STM32\arm-none-eabi\include\stdint.h
 C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0\GNU-tools-for-STM32\arm-none-eabi\include\sys\features.h
 C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0\GNU-tools-for-STM32\arm-none-eabi\include\_newlib_version.h
 C:\ST\STM32CubeCLT_1.16.0\GNU-tools-for-STM32\arm-none-eabi\include\sys\_intsup.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/CMSIS/Include/cmsis_version.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/CMSIS/Include/cmsis_compiler.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/CMSIS/Include/cmsis_gcc.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/CMSIS/Include/mpu_armv7.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/CMSIS/Device/ST/STM32G0xx/Include/system_stm32g0xx.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_bus.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_system.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_exti.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_cortex.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_pwr.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Inc/stm32g0xx_ll_dmamux.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Core/Inc/gpio.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Core/Inc/usart.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Src/cube.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Core/Src/main.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Core/Src/gpio.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Core/Src/usart.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Core/Src/stm32g0xx_it.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/cmake/stm32cubemx/../../Core/Inc/stm32g0xx_it.h
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Src/stm32g0xx_ll_gpio.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Src/stm32g0xx_ll_usart.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Src/stm32g0xx_ll_rcc.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Drivers/STM32G0xx_HAL_Driver/Src/stm32g0xx_ll_utils.c
 /lib/stm32cubemx/Core/Src/system_stm32g0xx.c
 /build/gnu-tools-for-stm32_12.3.rel1.20240612-1315/src/newlib/newlib/libc/string/memset.c
 /build/gnu-tools-for-stm32_12.3.rel1.20240612-1315/install-native/lib/gcc/arm-none-eabi/12.3.1/include/stddef.h
 /build/gnu-tools-for-stm32_12.3.rel1.20240612-1315/src/newlib/newlib/libc/include/string.h
 /build/gnu-tools-for-stm32_12.3.rel1.20240612-1315/src/newlib/newlib/libc/misc/init.c

Already it seems suspicious that there are a lot of shortened path names. Curious about this, I used this trick to print preprocessor values during compile time, in order to see what the macro __FILE__ would return in my main.cpp - it printed the same, shortened path, even when applied other local library files!

Since my project is based on a CMake template provided by my professor, I decided to investigate the compiler.cmake file a little and found this:

-ffile-prefix-map=${CMAKE_SOURCE_DIR}/=/    # shorten `__FILE__`

Well, it seems like that using this flag absolutely breaks debugging paths! Simply commenting this flag out not only returns a full path in the preprocessor printing test, but also when running the VSCode debugger!

Problem found and solved! Thank you for your help!

I do wonder if there is a way to make it work? GDB doesn't seem too happy using set substitute-path with the windows-style path seperators, that VSCode's ${workspaceFolder} would return and I couldn't find a way to have ${workspaceFolder} with unix-style path seperators on Windows. Having to type in the absolute path manually with unix-style path seperators is not a good way.

Microsofts C/C++ plugin seems to support something to fix it on the editor's side, but it does not seem to work / be supported in this case. A low priority "issue" either way.

[haneefdm]

Something you could do as part of your build is to generate a file you can source into gdb (or create a .gdbinit file).

I have no idea what cpptools does with sourceFileMap. Not what I expected. People have better results with gdb's substitute-path when done right. Both gdb and vscode are happy.

And, why did your professor do that? Save disk space? At least that could have been './' instead of '/' the root of a file system.

[gfcwfzkm]

I will look into the gdb option and how well it can be automated to avoid hardcoded paths.

./ instead of / does not work, as it will now try to search for the file at the path location where the .ELF file is.

Probably did that to save space on microcontrollers and I can see why. No need to have the full path, just the filename would already be enough to trace things. If done with some assert macro and done often, I could see how this ends up into a lot of strings at the program flash.

[haneefdm]

Probably did that to save space on microcontrollers and I can see why.

I don't see why because debug info does not go into the MCU. Yes, it does affect asserts but strange to use them in a tiny MCU -- I use my own short version of assert instead with no strings involved. Especially because there is no stdout/stderr and even a file-name is not helpful.