CCppToolsComplement

CCppToolsComplement is a Visual Studio Code extension that helps manage and debug C and C++ programs from a workspace-level .vscode/makefileConfig.json file.

It is designed for projects that generate build and debug configuration from that JSON file, then use VS Code and the C/C++ extension to launch the debugger.

Features

• Adds the command CCppToolsComplement: Generate and Debug Current File.
• Shows the command in the top-right corner of the editor when a c or cpp file is active :
• Reads program entries from .vscode/makefileConfig.json.
• Lets you create a new program entry from inside VS Code.
• Lets you update run arguments, compile flags, and link flags for an existing entry.
• Starts the debugger through ms-vscode.cpptools.

Menu Overview

Stage 1: pick an existing program entry or create a new launch.

Stage 2: manage the selected entry, including launch, arguments, and flags.

Prerequisites

Before using the extension, make sure the following are available:

1. Visual Studio Code 1.85.0 or later.
2. The Microsoft C/C++ extension: ms-vscode.cpptools.
3. A Python interpreter available as python3, or another executable configured through the ccppToolsComplement.pythonPath setting.
4. A folder opened as a VS Code workspace.

This extension works against the first workspace folder and expects project configuration files under that folder.

How To Use

1. Open your project folder in VS Code.
2. Open a .c or .cpp file.
3. Click the editor title button :
4. Pick an existing program entry, or choose Create new launch.

Create a New Launch

When you choose Create new launch, the extension asks for:

• Main path
• Program name
• Run arguments
• Binary name

It then creates a new entry in .vscode/makefileConfig.json, asks for build flags, and regenerates the related VS Code integration files.

Manage an Existing Entry

For each existing program entry, the extension offers:

• Launch program Build if needed, then start debugging.
• Launch re Force a rebuild, then start debugging.
• Set args Update the runtime argument string stored in .vscode/makefileConfig.json.
• Set compile flags Edit compile flags for each detected compile profile.
• Set link flags Edit linker flags.
• Delete entry Remove the selected program entry.

Extension Setting

ccppToolsComplement.pythonPath

Path or command name for the Python executable used to run the bundled backend scripts.

Default:

{
  "ccppToolsComplement.pythonPath": "python3"
}

Set this if your system uses a different Python command, such as python.

Notes

• The extension bundles its backend Python modules inside the published package.
• The debugger launch is delegated to the C/C++ extension.
• The extension validates .vscode/makefileConfig.json before reading program entries.

Release / Packaging

This README is intended to be the Marketplace-facing description for the extension. Packaging and publishing steps are documented separately in the repository.