I am using VS code v1.45 to debug a simple nodejs file.

I am testing out a simple node.js file.

var msg = 'Hello World';
console.log(msg);

When I press F5, I get prompted to choose the environment. See screenshot below.

This is a hassle. How do I make VS code choose Node.js environment by default without prompting?

My node.js is installed at C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe

I am using VS code v1.45 to debug a simple nodejs file.

I am testing out a simple node.js file.

var msg = 'Hello World';
console.log(msg);

When I press F5, I get prompted to choose the environment. See screenshot below.

This is a hassle. How do I make VS code choose Node.js environment by default without prompting?

My node.js is installed at C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe

• javascript
• node.js
• visual-studio-code
• vscode-debugger

2 Answers 2

I will build on answer by user3848207

Delete any existing launch.json file first. Otherwise, no effect when you click on "create a launch.json file" on the debug panel.

Now, click on "create a launch.json file" on the debug panel found on left-hand side. Then, click Node.js when prompted. Subsequently, Node.js will be the default environment.

Manually edit launch.json such that "program": "${file}". Otherwise, when you press F5, it will run on specific js file and not on actively open file.

launch.json should look like this.

This answer works on VS code v1.45

I will answer my own question.

Click on "create a launch.json file" on the debug panel found on left-hand side. Then, click Node.js when prompted. Subsequently, Node.js will be the default environment.

Credit goes to someone by the name of drunktimelord.