"Dynamic" debug launch args in the UI

[GSThornton]

• VSCode Version: Code - Insiders 1.15.0-insider (56a5bf1, 2017-07-13T06:29:54.260Z)
• OS Version: Windows_NT ia32 6.1.7601
• Extensions:

It would be great if we could specify "args" for a debug configuration from a text entry box in the editor as well as setting them inside the launch.json entry. If you are working with many launch configurations then having to keep moving args around between them as you switch is a pain. A nice text entry box undernearth the config selector in the debug pane that injected its contents into the "args" field of the config as it was launched would be awesome.

Graeme

[weinand]

You can write an extension that provides that support.
There is a discussion about this here #9544
Another similar request is this #9297
mock-debug shows how a "text input box variable" can be implemented:
https://github.com/Microsoft/vscode-mock-debug/blob/master/src/extension.ts#L24

And finally there is already an extension that implements this approach: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=rozzzly-dev.vscode-prompt-debug

[vscodebot]

We try to keep VS Code lean and we think the functionality you're asking for is great for a VS Code extension. Maybe you can already find one that suits you in the VS Code Marketplace. Just in case, in a few simple steps you can get started writing your own extension. See also our issue reporting guidelines.

Happy Coding!

[weinand]

This feature will become available in the November release via #63987.

Example:

{
	"version": "0.2.0",
	"configurations": [
		{
			"type": "node",
			"request": "launch",
			"name": "Launch Program",
			"program": "${workspaceRoot}/${input:programName}",
		}
	],
	"inputs": [
		{
			"id": "programName",
			"type": "pickString",
			"default": "test.js",
			"description": "The program name"
		}
	]
}