How to debug Node.js applications in VS Code with WSL2

Debugging Node.js in VS Code

VS Code debugger connects to Node.js running inside WSL2 seamlessly. You set breakpoints in the editor, run the program, and execution pauses at the line you chose.

Create a launch configuration

Press Ctrl+Shift+D to open the Run and Debug panel, click create a launch.json file, and select Node.js:

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "type": "node",
      "request": "launch",
      "name": "Launch app",
      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/index.js",
      "console": "integratedTerminal"
    }
  ]
}

Debugging with nodemon

{
  "type": "node",
  "request": "launch",
  "name": "Launch with nodemon",
  "runtimeExecutable": "nodemon",
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/index.js",
  "restart": true,
  "console": "integratedTerminal"
}

Workflow

Click the gutter left of a line number to set a breakpoint. Press F5 to start debugging. Step through code with F10 (next line), F11 (step into), Shift+F11 (step out). Hover over variables to inspect values.