.NET Container Debug Wizard

Automatically prepare and maintain a streamlined Docker-based debugging experience for .NET microservice projects in Visual Studio Code.

Overview

.NET Container Debug Wizard helps developers quickly enable remote debugging for containerized .NET services without manually wiring Docker, VS Code, and compose configuration together.

It scans your workspace, identifies compatible .NET services, and generates or updates the supporting debug configuration needed to launch, attach, and maintain a consistent debugging workflow across your project.

Designed for multi-service environments, the extension reduces repetitive setup, keeps debug configuration aligned with project changes, and simplifies day-to-day container debugging operations.

Key Features

• Automatic service discovery
  Detects compatible .NET services from your Docker Compose configuration and project structure.

• Debug environment generation
  Creates and maintains dedicated debug configuration for supported services.

• VS Code integration
  Adds and manages launch and task configurations for container debugging while preserving user-defined entries.

• Configuration sync & drift detection
  Identifies when project changes impact debug setup and helps keep configurations aligned.

• Optional auto-sync
  Can automatically refresh managed debug configuration when supported project files change.

• Workspace visibility tools
  Provides quick insight into detected services and debug state directly inside VS Code.

Why Use It?

Manual Docker debugging setup for distributed .NET projects can be repetitive, error-prone, and difficult to maintain as services evolve.

.NET Container Debug Wizard helps by:

• Reducing setup time
• Standardizing debugging workflows
• Minimizing configuration drift
• Improving onboarding for existing projects
• Keeping generated debug infrastructure easier to manage

Requirements

• Docker + Docker Compose v2
• Visual Studio Code
• .NET SDK
• A workspace containing Docker Compose configuration

Quick Start

1. Make sure Docker is running before proceeding
2. Open your containerized .NET workspace in Visual Studio Code
3. Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P on macOS / Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux) and run ".NET Container Debug Wizard: Sync"
4. Review the generated debug assets (launch configurations and tasks added to your workspace)
5. Open the Run and Debug panel (Cmd+Shift+D / Ctrl+Shift+D) — you will see a green play button to launch all services
6. Click the green button to start the debug environment and attach to your running containers

   A notification may appear saying "Waiting for preLaunchTask 'docker-compose-debug-up'…" — this is normal. Do not click anything; just wait for your containers to start and it will disappear automatically.

Privacy & Security

• Runs entirely within your local workspace
• Does not transmit source code or project configuration externally
• No external service dependency for core functionality
• Designed to preserve user-owned configuration outside managed sections

Best For

• .NET microservice solutions
• Docker Compose-based development environments
• Teams standardizing container debugging workflows
• Developers maintaining multiple containerized services

License

MIT