Visual Studio Code

Visual Studio Code is a free cross-platform code editor by Microsoft (not to be confused with Visual Studio).

Importing the project

Make sure the C/C++ extension is installed. You can find instructions in the official documentation. Alternatively, clangd can be used instead.
When using the clangd extension, run scons compiledb=yes.
From the Visual Studio Code's main screen open the Godot root folder with File > Open Folder....
Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the command prompt window and enter Configure Task.

../../../_images/vscode_configure_task.png

Select the Create tasks.json file from template option.

../../../_images/vscode_create_tasksjson.png

Then select Others.

../../../_images/vscode_create_tasksjson_others.png

If there is no such option as Create tasks.json file from template available, either delete the file if it already exists in your folder or create a .vscode/tasks.json file manually. See Tasks in Visual Studio Code for more details on tasks.

Within the tasks.json file find the "tasks" array and add a new section to it:

.vscode/tasks.json

{
  "label": "build",
  "group": "build",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "scons",
  "args": [
    // enable for debugging with breakpoints
    "dev_build=yes",
  ],
  "problemMatcher": "$msCompile"
}

../../../_images/vscode_3_tasks.json.png — An example of a filled out `tasks.json`.

Arguments can be different based on your own setup and needs. See Introduction to the buildsystem for a full list of arguments.

Debugging the project

To run and debug the project you need to create a new configuration in the launch.json file.

Press Ctrl + Shift + D to open the Run panel.
If launch.json file is missing you will be prompted to create a new one.

../../../_images/vscode_1_create_launch.json.png

Select C++ (GDB/LLDB). There may be another platform-specific option here. If selected, adjust the configuration example provided accordingly.
Within the launch.json file find the "configurations" array and add a new section to it:

{
  "name": "Launch Project",
  "type": "lldb",
  "request": "launch",
  // Change to godot.linuxbsd.editor.dev.x86_64.llvm for llvm-based builds.
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}/bin/godot.linuxbsd.editor.dev.x86_64",
  // Change the arguments below for the project you want to test with.
  // To run the project instead of editing it, remove the "--editor" argument.
  "args": [ "--editor", "--path", "path-to-your-godot-project-folder" ],
  "stopAtEntry": false,
  "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
  "environment": [],
  "externalConsole": false,
  "preLaunchTask": "build"
}

{
  "name": "Launch Project",
  "type": "cppdbg",
  "request": "launch",
  // Change to godot.linuxbsd.editor.dev.x86_64.llvm for llvm-based builds.
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}/bin/godot.linuxbsd.editor.dev.x86_64",
  // Change the arguments below for the project you want to test with.
  // To run the project instead of editing it, remove the "--editor" argument.
  "args": [ "--editor", "--path", "path-to-your-godot-project-folder" ],
  "stopAtEntry": false,
  "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
  "environment": [],
  "externalConsole": false,
  "setupCommands":
  [
    {
      "description": "Enable pretty-printing for gdb",
      "text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
      "ignoreFailures": true
    },
    {
        "description": "Load custom pretty-printers for Godot types.",
        "text": "source ${workspaceRoot}/misc/utility/godot_gdb_pretty_print.py"
    }
  ],
  "preLaunchTask": "build"
}

{
  "name": "Launch Project",
  "type": "cppvsdbg",
  "request": "launch",
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}/bin/godot.windows.editor.dev.x86_64.exe",
  // Change the arguments below for the project you want to test with.
  // To run the project instead of editing it, remove the "--editor" argument.
  "args": [ "--editor", "--path", "path-to-your-godot-project-folder" ],
  "stopAtEntry": false,
  "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
  "environment": [],
  "console": "internalConsole",
  "visualizerFile": "${workspaceFolder}/platform/windows/godot.natvis",
  "preLaunchTask": "build"
}

{
  "name": "Launch Project",
  "type": "lldb",
  "request": "custom",
  "targetCreateCommands": [
    "target create ${workspaceFolder}/bin/godot.macos.editor.dev.x86_64"
  ],
  // Change the arguments below for the project you want to test with.
  // To run the project instead of editing it, remove the "--editor" argument.
  "processCreateCommands": [
    "process launch -- --editor --path path-to-your-godot-project-folder"
  ]
}

../../../_images/vscode_2_launch.json.png — An example of a filled out `launch.json`.

Note

Due to sporadic performance issues, it is recommended to use LLDB over GDB on Unix-based systems. Make sure that the CodeLLDB extension is installed.

If you encounter issues with lldb, you may consider using gdb (see the LinuxBSD_gdb configuration).

Do note that lldb may work better with LLVM-based builds. See Compiling for Linux, *BSD for further information.

The name under program depends on your build configuration, e.g. godot.linuxbsd.editor.dev.x86_64 for 64-bit LinuxBSD platform with target=editor and dev_build=yes.

Configuring Intellisense

For the C/C++ extension:

To fix include errors you may be having, you need to configure some settings in the c_cpp_properties.json file.

First, make sure to build the project since some files need to be generated.
Edit the C/C++ Configuration file either with the UI or with text:

../../../_images/vscode_edit_configurations.webp

Add an include path for your platform, for example, ${workspaceFolder}/platform/windows.
Add defines for the editor TOOLS_ENABLED, debug builds DEBUG_ENABLED, and tests TESTS_ENABLED.
Make sure the compiler path is configured correctly to the compiler you are using. See Introduction to the buildsystem for further information on your platform.

The c_cpp_properties.json file should look similar to this for Windows:

.vscode/c_cpp_properties.json

{
  "configurations": [
    {
      "name": "Win32",
      "includePath": [
        "${workspaceFolder}/**",
        "${workspaceFolder}/platform/windows"
      ],
      "defines": [
        "_DEBUG",
        "UNICODE",
        "_UNICODE",
        "TOOLS_ENABLED",
        "DEBUG_ENABLED",
        "TESTS_ENABLED"
      ],
      "windowsSdkVersion": "10.0.22621.0",
      "compilerPath": "C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Community/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.39.33519/bin/Hostx64/x64/cl.exe",
      "cStandard": "c17",
      "cppStandard": "c++17",
      "intelliSenseMode": "windows-msvc-x64"
    }
  ],
  "version": 4
}

Alternatively, you can use the scons argument compiledb=yes and set the compile commands setting compileCommands to compile_commands.json, found in the advanced section of the C/C++ Configuration UI.
- This argument can be added to your build task in tasks.json since it will need to be run whenever files are added or moved.

If you run into any issues, ask for help in one of Godot's community channels.

Tip

To get linting on class reference XML files, install the vscode-xml extension.

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