[java] Debug/run standard java in Visual Studio Code IDE and OS X?

Love the light-weight Visual Studio Code in OS X. Have always wanted the ability to write, debug and run standard java (NOT javascript) from VSC in OS X. Found the following extension which allows you to debug and run java from VSC:

https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=donjayamanne.javadebugger

Followed the directions as best as I could. Trying to run my java app, and I am getting a bunch of "error: cannot find symbol" errors in the debug-console window when I run my java app in VSC from OS X. App runs great in eclipse. What am I missing in either VSC or somewhere in OS X so I can properly run java code from VSC in OS X?

I can tell you for Windows.

1. Install Java Extension Pack and Code Runner Extension from VS Code Extensions.

2. Edit your java home location in VS Code settings, "java.home": "C:\\Program Files\\Java\\jdk-9.0.4".

3. Check if javac is recognized in VS Code internal terminal. If this check fails, try opening VS Code as administrator.

4. Create a simple Java program in Main.java file as:

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello world");     
    }
}

Note: Do not add package in your main class.

5. Right click anywhere on the java file and select run code.

6. Check the output in the console.

Done, hope this helps.

There is a much easier way to run Java, no configuration needed:

1. Install the Code Runner Extension
2. Open your Java code file in Text Editor, then use shortcut Ctrl+Alt+N, or press F1 and then select/type Run Code, or right click the Text Editor and then click Run Code in context menu, the code will be compiled and run, and the output will be shown in the Output Window.

Code Runner Extension will only let you "run" java files.

To truly debug 'Java' files follow the quick one-time setup:

• Install Java Debugger Extension in VS Code and reload.
• open an empty folder/project in VS code.
• create your java file (s).
• create a folder .vscode in the same folder.
• create 2 files inside .vscode folder: tasks.json and launch.json
• copy paste below config in tasks.json:

{
    "version": "2.0.0",
    "type": "shell",
    "presentation": {
        "echo": true,
        "reveal": "always",
        "focus": false,
        "panel": "shared"
    },
    "isBackground": true,
    "tasks": [
        {
            "taskName": "build",
            "args": ["-g", "${file}"],
            "command": "javac"
        }
    ]
}

• copy paste below config in launch.json:

{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Debug Java",
            "type": "java",
            "request": "launch",
            "externalConsole": true,                //user input dosen't work if set it to false :(
            "stopOnEntry": true,
            "preLaunchTask": "build",                 // Runs the task created above before running this configuration
            "jdkPath": "${env:JAVA_HOME}/bin",        // You need to set JAVA_HOME enviroment variable
            "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}",
            "startupClass": "${workspaceRoot}${file}",
            "sourcePath": ["${workspaceRoot}"],   // Indicates where your source (.java) files are
            "classpath": ["${workspaceRoot}"],    // Indicates the location of your .class files
            "options": [],                             // Additional options to pass to the java executable
            "args": []                                // Command line arguments to pass to the startup class
        }

    ],
    "compounds": []
}

You are all set to debug java files, open any java file and press F5 (Debug->Start Debugging).

Tip: *To hide .class files in the side explorer of VS code, open settings of VS code and paste the below config:

"files.exclude": {
        "*.class": true
    }