VS Code + MATLAB ignoring breakpoints

I'm new to VS Code, but I installed the MATLAB extension and just did a test file of nothing but print statements. Not a function, but a script. I put a breakpoint into the third print statement, and when I click on the left 'Run and Debug' Button and click 'Start Debugging', it appears to start the debugger, but the step in/out/over buttons are disabled and only pause, restart and stop are enabled.

What's weird is that when I press F5, which I think should be doing the same thing (?) It does appear to run and stop at my breakpoint, and the terminal gives the K>> prompt, but no floating buttons appear. If I go to the menu and try to do Run->Step, all of them are also shaded out, and F10/F11 don't appear to do anything.

I watched videos on how to do this, and when I click the buttons they do, it doesn't do the same thing on my computer.

In status, it shows MATLAB: Connected, and everything else appears to be the same as on the videos.

I'm using R2024A and the latest VS Code (1.103.1), so I'm not sure if this is a versioning issue (?)

I'm wondering if maybe I don't have VS Code set up correctly? I've been using the MATLAB IDE for years, so I know how debuggers are supposed to work...

Answer 1

[Toby]

I had the same issue: when running a MATLAB script, it was ignoring my breakpoints. Below is how I solved it:

1. In VS Code, press Ctrl+Shift+P, and search for Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON).
2. Click on it and a file settings.json will open.
3. In this file add a line "MATLAB.startDebuggerAutomatically": true
4. Save the file and restart VS Code.
5. Run the MATLAB script. It should pause at your first breakpoint.

[Mike Ray]

This worked! Thanks so much!