VS Code C Program Debug Console Not Working

Question

I am learning the C language on macOS using the VS Code IDE.

Below is the C code I am trying to run.

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    int number_from_user;

    /* Get number from user */
    printf("Please enter month number: ");
    scanf("%d", &number_from_user);

    /* Print month name */
    switch (number_from_user)
    {
        case 1:
            printf("January");
            break;
        case 2:
            printf("February");
            break;
        case 3:
            printf("March");
            break;
        case 4:
            printf("April");
            break;
        case 5:
            printf("May");
            break;
        case 6:
            printf("June");
            break;
        case 7:
            printf("July");
            break;
        case 8:
            printf("August");
            break;
        case 9:
            printf("September");
            break;
        case 10:
            printf("October");
            break;
        case 11:
            printf("November");
            break;
        case 12:
            printf("December");
            break;
        default:
            printf("Not a month");
            printf("Please run the program again");
            break;
    }
}

Below is the launch.json file.

{
    // 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 - Build and debug active file",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}",
            "args": [],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
            "environment": [],
            "externalConsole": true,
            "MIMode": "lldb",
            "preLaunchTask": "C/C++: gcc build active file"
        }
    ]
}

The problem that I am facing is, to make the scanf function to work, I need to set externalConsole to true. Unfortunately, when I run the code, it does open the terminal but it opens a blank terminal and doesn't actually run the code.

What am I doing wrong and how do I fix this?

The code itself is fine although a bit awkward an naive. Try to replace printf("Please enter month number: ") with printf("Please enter month number:\n"). It this works, then it's a line buffering issue. If not, the problem is within your environment. — Jabberwocky
– Jabberwocky, Commented Jan 21, 2021 at 9:24
Adding \n doesn't fix it. Definitely a problem with my environment. — SidS
– SidS, Commented Jan 21, 2021 at 9:27
When I set externalConsole to false, printf works fine but scanf doesn't apparently because VSCode's debug console cant take in user inputs. So I set externalConsole to true, and when I do this nothing works. — SidS
– SidS, Commented Jan 21, 2021 at 9:39
As the actual C code is not relevant to the question, your question is more likely to be answered if you simplify your code in order to have a minimal reproducible example. — Jabberwocky
– Jabberwocky, Commented Jan 21, 2021 at 9:42

Jabberwocky · Accepted Answer · 2021-01-21 11:42:52Z

1

I installed the plugin code-Runner, normally if you get the gcc already installed and working would be working at the moment you install it.

https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=formulahendry.code-runner

You just click the play (or run) button, it will opens automatically a console inside the VS-Code and run the actual program.

If the problem is only with scanf persists, you can try this Go to File > Preferences -> User Settings and add custom settings:

{
    "code-runner.runInTerminal": true
}

Here's the source of the explanation: https://github.com/formulahendry/vscode-code-runner/issues/72

Ps: Be careful, only accepts single file programs, in the beginning is useful, but maybe later would change to others more complex.

edited Jan 21, 2021 at 11:42

Jabberwocky

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answered Jan 21, 2021 at 9:49

Eloi Sasal i Renom

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3 Comments

Eloi Sasal i Renom Over a year ago

@Jabberwocky thx for the edit! Still need some "sense of style"

SidS Over a year ago

Thanks for this answer, unfortunately, this doesn't work for me. When I press the run button, code runner states that the code is running, but no terminals open. Settings up VSCode for C is a bit of a nightmare, I think I might just use Xcode as it fully supports C

Eloi Sasal i Renom Over a year ago

platzi.com/tutoriales/1469-algoritmos/… @SidS try to follow this guide, is the one that I used to install it time ago, and the console just open normally. If the problem still goes, I'm sorry I can't help you without the PC in the hand.

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