VS Code C Program Debug Console Not Working

Question

I am learning the C language on macOS using the VS Code IDE.

Below is the C code I am trying to run.

#include <stdio.h>

int main(void)
{
    int number_from_user;

    /* Get number from user */
    printf("Please enter month number: ");
    scanf("%d", &number_from_user);

    /* Print month name */
    switch (number_from_user)
    {
        case 1:
            printf("January");
            break;
        case 2:
            printf("February");
            break;
        case 3:
            printf("March");
            break;
        case 4:
            printf("April");
            break;
        case 5:
            printf("May");
            break;
        case 6:
            printf("June");
            break;
        case 7:
            printf("July");
            break;
        case 8:
            printf("August");
            break;
        case 9:
            printf("September");
            break;
        case 10:
            printf("October");
            break;
        case 11:
            printf("November");
            break;
        case 12:
            printf("December");
            break;
        default:
            printf("Not a month");
            printf("Please run the program again");
            break;
    }
}

Below is the launch.json file.

{
    // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
    // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
    // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "gcc - Build and debug active file",
            "type": "cppdbg",
            "request": "launch",
            "program": "${fileDirname}/${fileBasenameNoExtension}",
            "args": [],
            "stopAtEntry": false,
            "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
            "environment": [],
            "externalConsole": true,
            "MIMode": "lldb",
            "preLaunchTask": "C/C++: gcc build active file"
        }
    ]
}

The problem that I am facing is, to make the scanf function to work, I need to set externalConsole to true. Unfortunately, when I run the code, it does open the terminal but it opens a blank terminal and doesn't actually run the code.

What am I doing wrong and how do I fix this?

Answer 1

I installed the plugin code-Runner, normally if you get the gcc already installed and working would be working at the moment you install it.

https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=formulahendry.code-runner

You just click the play (or run) button, it will opens automatically a console inside the VS-Code and run the actual program.

If the problem is only with scanf persists, you can try this Go to File > Preferences -> User Settings and add custom settings:

{
    "code-runner.runInTerminal": true
}

Here's the source of the explanation: https://github.com/formulahendry/vscode-code-runner/issues/72

Ps: Be careful, only accepts single file programs, in the beginning is useful, but maybe later would change to others more complex.