diff --git a/news/3 Code Health/983.md b/news/3 Code Health/983.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bd0250359c96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/news/3 Code Health/983.md	
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Launch the unit tests in debug mode as opposed to running and attaching the debugger.
diff --git a/pythonFiles/PythonTools/testlauncher.py b/pythonFiles/PythonTools/testlauncher.py
index 397a841eb4e0..943173cd8b40 100644
--- a/pythonFiles/PythonTools/testlauncher.py
+++ b/pythonFiles/PythonTools/testlauncher.py
@@ -2,24 +2,15 @@ def main():
     import os
     import sys
     from ptvsd.visualstudio_py_debugger import DONT_DEBUG, DEBUG_ENTRYPOINTS, get_code
-    from ptvsd.attach_server import DEFAULT_PORT, enable_attach, wait_for_attach
     
     sys.path[0] = os.getcwd()
     os.chdir(sys.argv[1])
-    secret = sys.argv[2]
-    port = int(sys.argv[3])
-    testFx = sys.argv[4]
-    args = sys.argv[5:]    
+    testFx = sys.argv[2]
+    args = sys.argv[3:]
 
     DONT_DEBUG.append(os.path.normcase(__file__))
     DEBUG_ENTRYPOINTS.add(get_code(main))
 
-    enable_attach(secret, ('127.0.0.1', port), redirect_output = False)
-    sys.stdout.flush()
-    print('READY')
-    sys.stdout.flush()
-    wait_for_attach()
-
     try:
         if testFx == 'pytest':
             import pytest
@@ -32,4 +23,4 @@ def main():
         pass
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    main()
\ No newline at end of file
+    main()
diff --git a/pythonFiles/PythonTools/visualstudio_py_testlauncher.py b/pythonFiles/PythonTools/visualstudio_py_testlauncher.py
index b0780fe51274..9464afddc6f1 100644
--- a/pythonFiles/PythonTools/visualstudio_py_testlauncher.py
+++ b/pythonFiles/PythonTools/visualstudio_py_testlauncher.py
@@ -199,8 +199,7 @@ def main():
     global _channel
 
     parser = OptionParser(prog = 'visualstudio_py_testlauncher', usage = 'Usage: %prog [<option>] <test names>... ')
-    parser.add_option('-s', '--secret', metavar='<secret>', help='restrict server to only allow clients that specify <secret> when connecting')
-    parser.add_option('-p', '--port', type='int', metavar='<port>', help='listen for debugger connections on <port>')
+    parser.add_option('--debug', action='store_true', help='Whether debugging the unit tests')
     parser.add_option('-x', '--mixed-mode', action='store_true', help='wait for mixed-mode debugger to attach')
     parser.add_option('-t', '--test', type='str', dest='tests', action='append', help='specifies a test to run')
     parser.add_option('--testFile', type='str', help='Fully qualitified path to file name')
@@ -214,9 +213,8 @@ def main():
     parser.add_option('--uc', '--catch', type='str', help='Catch control-C and display results')
     (opts, _) = parser.parse_args()
 
-    if opts.secret and opts.port:
+    if opts.debug:
         from ptvsd.visualstudio_py_debugger import DONT_DEBUG, DEBUG_ENTRYPOINTS, get_code
-        from ptvsd.attach_server import DEFAULT_PORT, enable_attach, wait_for_attach
     
     sys.path[0] = os.getcwd()
     if opts.result_port:
@@ -231,15 +229,11 @@ def main():
         sys.stdout = _TestOutput(sys.stdout, is_stdout = True)
         sys.stderr = _TestOutput(sys.stderr, is_stdout = False)
 
-    if opts.secret and opts.port:
+    if opts.debug:
         DONT_DEBUG.append(os.path.normcase(__file__))
         DEBUG_ENTRYPOINTS.add(get_code(main))
 
-        enable_attach(opts.secret, ('127.0.0.1', getattr(opts, 'port', DEFAULT_PORT)), redirect_output = True)
-        sys.stdout.flush()
-        print('READY')
-        sys.stdout.flush()
-        wait_for_attach()
+        pass
     elif opts.mixed_mode:
         # For mixed-mode attach, there's no ptvsd and hence no wait_for_attach(), 
         # so we have to use Win32 API in a loop to do the same thing.
@@ -340,4 +334,4 @@ def main():
             pass
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    main()
\ No newline at end of file
+    main()
diff --git a/src/client/unittests/common/debugLauncher.ts b/src/client/unittests/common/debugLauncher.ts
index 4fe28a99c516..6b2a513d4502 100644
--- a/src/client/unittests/common/debugLauncher.ts
+++ b/src/client/unittests/common/debugLauncher.ts
@@ -1,90 +1,33 @@
-import * as getFreePort from 'get-port';
-import { inject, injectable } from 'inversify';
-import * as os from 'os';
+import { injectable } from 'inversify';
 import { debug, Uri, workspace } from 'vscode';
-import { PythonSettings } from '../../common/configSettings';
-import { IPythonExecutionFactory } from '../../common/process/types';
-import { createDeferred } from './../../common/helpers';
 import { ITestDebugLauncher, launchOptions } from './types';
 
-const HAND_SHAKE = `READY${os.EOL}`;
-
 @injectable()
 export class DebugLauncher implements ITestDebugLauncher {
-    constructor( @inject(IPythonExecutionFactory) private pythonExecutionFactory: IPythonExecutionFactory) { }
-    public async getLaunchOptions(resource?: Uri): Promise<{ port: number, host: string }> {
-        const pythonSettings = PythonSettings.getInstance(resource);
-        const port = await getFreePort({ host: 'localhost', port: pythonSettings.unitTest.debugPort });
-        const host = typeof pythonSettings.unitTest.debugHost === 'string' && pythonSettings.unitTest.debugHost.trim().length > 0 ? pythonSettings.unitTest.debugHost.trim() : 'localhost';
-        return { port, host };
-    }
     public async launchDebugger(options: launchOptions) {
+        if (options.token && options.token!.isCancellationRequested) {
+            return;
+        }
         const cwdUri = options.cwd ? Uri.file(options.cwd) : undefined;
-        return this.pythonExecutionFactory.create(cwdUri)
-            .then(executionService => {
-                // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
-                const def = createDeferred<void>();
-                // tslint:disable-next-line:no-any
-                const launchDef = createDeferred<void>();
-
-                let outputChannelShown = false;
-                let accumulatedData: string = '';
-                const result = executionService.execObservable(options.args, { cwd: options.cwd, mergeStdOutErr: true, token: options.token });
-                result.out.subscribe(output => {
-                    let data = output.out;
-                    if (!launchDef.resolved) {
-                        accumulatedData += output.out;
-                        if (!accumulatedData.startsWith(HAND_SHAKE)) {
-                            return;
-                        }
-                        // Socket server has started, lets start the vs debugger.
-                        launchDef.resolve();
-                        data = accumulatedData.substring(HAND_SHAKE.length);
-                    }
-
-                    if (!outputChannelShown) {
-                        outputChannelShown = true;
-                        options.outChannel!.show();
-                    }
-                    options.outChannel!.append(data);
-                }, error => {
-                    if (!def.completed) {
-                        def.reject(error);
-                    }
-                }, () => {
-                    // Complete only when the process has completed.
-                    if (!def.completed) {
-                        def.resolve();
-                    }
-                });
-
-                launchDef.promise
-                    .then(() => {
-                        if (!Array.isArray(workspace.workspaceFolders) || workspace.workspaceFolders.length === 0) {
-                            throw new Error('Please open a workspace');
-                        }
-                        let workspaceFolder = workspace.getWorkspaceFolder(cwdUri!);
-                        if (!workspaceFolder) {
-                            workspaceFolder = workspace.workspaceFolders[0];
-                        }
-                        return debug.startDebugging(workspaceFolder, {
-                            name: 'Debug Unit Test',
-                            type: 'python',
-                            request: 'attach',
-                            localRoot: options.cwd,
-                            remoteRoot: options.cwd,
-                            port: options.port,
-                            secret: 'my_secret',
-                            host: options.host
-                        });
-                    })
-                    .catch(reason => {
-                        if (!def.completed) {
-                            def.reject(reason);
-                        }
-                    });
 
-                return def.promise;
-            });
+        if (!Array.isArray(workspace.workspaceFolders) || workspace.workspaceFolders.length === 0) {
+            throw new Error('Please open a workspace');
+        }
+        let workspaceFolder = workspace.getWorkspaceFolder(cwdUri!);
+        if (!workspaceFolder) {
+            workspaceFolder = workspace.workspaceFolders[0];
+        }
+        const args = options.args.slice();
+        const program = args.shift();
+        return debug.startDebugging(workspaceFolder, {
+            name: 'Debug Unit Test',
+            type: 'python',
+            request: 'launch',
+            program,
+            cwd: cwdUri ? cwdUri.fsPath : workspaceFolder.uri.fsPath,
+            args,
+            console: 'none',
+            debugOptions: ['RedirectOutput']
+        }).then(() => void (0));
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/client/unittests/common/types.ts b/src/client/unittests/common/types.ts
index 11b41183fa51..67dff3bb1427 100644
--- a/src/client/unittests/common/types.ts
+++ b/src/client/unittests/common/types.ts
@@ -190,14 +190,11 @@ export type launchOptions = {
     args: string[];
     token?: CancellationToken;
     outChannel?: OutputChannel;
-    port: number;
-    host: string;
 };
 
 export const ITestDebugLauncher = Symbol('ITestDebugLauncher');
 
 export interface ITestDebugLauncher {
-    getLaunchOptions(resource?: Uri): Promise<{ port: number, host: string }>;
     launchDebugger(options: launchOptions): Promise<void>;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/client/unittests/nosetest/runner.ts b/src/client/unittests/nosetest/runner.ts
index e7c384f21af9..3627ea308dbc 100644
--- a/src/client/unittests/nosetest/runner.ts
+++ b/src/client/unittests/nosetest/runner.ts
@@ -59,15 +59,12 @@ export function runTest(serviceContainer: IServiceContainer, testResultsService:
     return promiseToGetXmlLogFile.then(() => {
         if (options.debug === true) {
             const debugLauncher = serviceContainer.get<ITestDebugLauncher>(ITestDebugLauncher);
-            return debugLauncher.getLaunchOptions(options.workspaceFolder)
-                .then(debugPortAndHost => {
-                    const testLauncherFile = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', '..', 'pythonFiles', 'PythonTools', 'testlauncher.py');
-                    const nosetestlauncherargs = [options.cwd, 'my_secret', debugPortAndHost.port.toString(), 'nose'];
-                    const debuggerArgs = [testLauncherFile].concat(nosetestlauncherargs).concat(noseTestArgs.concat(testPaths));
-                    const launchOptions = { cwd: options.cwd, args: debuggerArgs, token: options.token, outChannel: options.outChannel, port: debugPortAndHost.port, host: debugPortAndHost.host };
-                    // tslint:disable-next-line:prefer-type-cast no-any
-                    return debugLauncher.launchDebugger(launchOptions) as Promise<any>;
-                });
+            const testLauncherFile = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', '..', 'pythonFiles', 'PythonTools', 'testlauncher.py');
+            const nosetestlauncherargs = [options.cwd, 'nose'];
+            const debuggerArgs = [testLauncherFile].concat(nosetestlauncherargs).concat(noseTestArgs.concat(testPaths));
+            const launchOptions = { cwd: options.cwd, args: debuggerArgs, token: options.token, outChannel: options.outChannel };
+            // tslint:disable-next-line:prefer-type-cast no-any
+            return debugLauncher.launchDebugger(launchOptions) as Promise<any>;
         } else {
             // tslint:disable-next-line:prefer-type-cast no-any
             const runOptions: Options = {
diff --git a/src/client/unittests/pytest/runner.ts b/src/client/unittests/pytest/runner.ts
index 0bfe9ae8209d..4f7a5fd3053e 100644
--- a/src/client/unittests/pytest/runner.ts
+++ b/src/client/unittests/pytest/runner.ts
@@ -35,15 +35,12 @@ export function runTest(serviceContainer: IServiceContainer, testResultsService:
         const testArgs = testPaths.concat(args, [`--junitxml=${xmlLogFile}`]);
         if (options.debug) {
             const debugLauncher = serviceContainer.get<ITestDebugLauncher>(ITestDebugLauncher);
-            return debugLauncher.getLaunchOptions(options.workspaceFolder)
-                .then(debugPortAndHost => {
-                    const testLauncherFile = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', '..', 'pythonFiles', 'PythonTools', 'testlauncher.py');
-                    const pytestlauncherargs = [options.cwd, 'my_secret', debugPortAndHost.port.toString(), 'pytest'];
-                    const debuggerArgs = [testLauncherFile].concat(pytestlauncherargs).concat(testArgs);
-                    const launchOptions = { cwd: options.cwd, args: debuggerArgs, token: options.token, outChannel: options.outChannel, port: debugPortAndHost.port, host: debugPortAndHost.host };
-                    // tslint:disable-next-line:prefer-type-cast no-any
-                    return debugLauncher.launchDebugger(launchOptions) as Promise<any>;
-                });
+            const testLauncherFile = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', '..', '..', 'pythonFiles', 'PythonTools', 'testlauncher.py');
+            const pytestlauncherargs = [options.cwd, 'pytest'];
+            const debuggerArgs = [testLauncherFile].concat(pytestlauncherargs).concat(testArgs);
+            const launchOptions = { cwd: options.cwd, args: debuggerArgs, token: options.token, outChannel: options.outChannel };
+            // tslint:disable-next-line:prefer-type-cast no-any
+            return debugLauncher.launchDebugger(launchOptions) as Promise<any>;
         } else {
             const runOptions: Options = {
                 args: testArgs,
diff --git a/src/client/unittests/unittest/runner.ts b/src/client/unittests/unittest/runner.ts
index 671cdb4c2d53..d538d640229e 100644
--- a/src/client/unittests/unittest/runner.ts
+++ b/src/client/unittests/unittest/runner.ts
@@ -93,13 +93,10 @@ export async function runTest(serviceContainer: IServiceContainer, testManager:
             }
             if (options.debug === true) {
                 const debugLauncher = serviceContainer.get<ITestDebugLauncher>(ITestDebugLauncher);
-                return debugLauncher.getLaunchOptions(options.workspaceFolder)
-                    .then(debugPortAndHost => {
-                        testArgs.push(...['--secret=my_secret', `--port=${debugPortAndHost.port}`]);
-                        const launchOptions = { cwd: options.cwd, args: [testLauncherFile].concat(testArgs), token: options.token, outChannel: options.outChannel, port: debugPortAndHost.port, host: debugPortAndHost.host };
-                        // tslint:disable-next-line:prefer-type-cast no-any
-                        return debugLauncher.launchDebugger(launchOptions);
-                    });
+                testArgs.push(...['--debug']);
+                const launchOptions = { cwd: options.cwd, args: [testLauncherFile].concat(testArgs), token: options.token, outChannel: options.outChannel};
+                // tslint:disable-next-line:prefer-type-cast no-any
+                return debugLauncher.launchDebugger(launchOptions);
             } else {
                 // tslint:disable-next-line:prefer-type-cast no-any
                 const runOptions: Options = {