[SOLVED] Visual studio code with cmake on Windows, how to set compiler and debug configuration

Issue

I have Windows 7 with few different versions of Visual Studio and MinGW. When I create a cmake project and open it in Visual Studio Code it get configured automatically to use Visual Studio 14 compiler, I also have Visual Studio 17 and 19 installed, version 17 have "Desktop development with C++" workload. installed.

I would like to know how to set which compiler to use when running initial configuration (when build folder is empty) and how to create a debug configuration. When I run plain debug button that do not require the configuration the break point do not trigger.

I have tried with these config files in launch.json

"version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "(gdb) Launch",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${command:cmake.launchTargetPath}",
            "args": [],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "${fileDirname}",
            "environment": [],
            "env": {
                "Path": "${env:Path};D:\\Installation\\oracClient 19\\instantclient_19_14\\" 
            },
            "externalConsole": false,
            "MIMode": "gdb",
            "miDebuggerPath": "c:\\Users\\marko.grujic.CHIP\\.vscode\\extensions\\ms-vscode.cpptools-1.8.4\\debugAdapters\\bin\\WindowsDebugLauncher.exe",
            "logging": {
                "engineLogging": true
            },
            "setupCommands": [
                {
                    "description": "Enable pretty-printing for gdb",
                    "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
                    "ignoreFailures": true
                },
                {
                    "description":  "Set Disassembly Flavor to Intel",
                    "text": "-gdb-set disassembly-flavor intel",
                    "ignoreFailures": true
                }
            ]
        },

        
        
        {
            "name": "(Windows) Launch",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${command:cmake.launchTargetPath}",
            "args": [],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}",
            "environment": [],
            "env": {
                "Path": "${env:Path};D:\\Installation\\oracClient 19\\instantclient_19_14\\" 
            },
            "MIMode": "gdb",
            "miDebuggerPath": "C:\\msys64\\mingw64\\bin\\gdb.exe",
            "logging": {
                "engineLogging": true
            },
            "console": "externalTerminal"
        }
    ]

Non of these work, (gdb) Launch config do not work because the code was compiled with Visual Studio compiler and I am trying to use MinGW debugger (This is assumption). (Windows) Launch also do not work but I have no idea why, it does run indefinitely but none of breakpoints work.

Solution

To change a compiler I recommend:

1. deleting the build folder.
2. From visual studio code press f1 and run: CMake: scan for kits.
3. f1 and run: CMake: select a kit.

On step number 3 you will be asked to select a compiler version.

Answered By - Tomislav Kordic

Answer Checked By - Timothy Miller (WPSolving Admin)