C++: Why can't I open a file with a relative path? - c++

Question

I used to use Visual Studio 2019 for developing C and C++ programs, now I have moved to VS Code, and I find that I can't open a file with a relative path when debugging, only with absolute path it can work.
here's my launch.json and tasks.json files:
launch.json:
{
// 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.exe - Build and debug active file",
"type": "cppdbg",
"request": "launch",
"program": "${fileDirname}\\${fileBasenameNoExtension}.exe",
"args": [],
"stopAtEntry": false,
"cwd": "C:\\mingw64\\bin",
"environment": [],
"externalConsole": false,
"MIMode": "gdb",
"miDebuggerPath": "C:\\mingw64\\bin\\gdb.exe",
"setupCommands": [
{
"description": "Enable pretty-printing for gdb",
"text": "-enable-pretty-printing",
"ignoreFailures": true
}
],
"preLaunchTask": "C/C++: gcc.exe build active file"
}
]
}
tasks.json:
{
"tasks": [
{
"type": "cppbuild",
"label": "C/C++: gcc.exe build active file",
"command": "C:\\mingw64\\bin\\gcc.exe",
"args": [
"-g",
"${file}",
"-o",
"${fileDirname}\\${fileBasenameNoExtension}.exe"
],
"options": {
"cwd": "C:\\mingw64\\bin"
},
"problemMatcher": [
"$gcc"
],
"group": {
"kind": "build",
"isDefault": true
},
"detail": "Task generated by Debugger."
}
],
"version": "2.0.0"
}
Thank you so much for solving my problem.

Answer 1

Relative paths are encountered from the current working directory of the application, and you've provided
"cwd": "C:\\mingw64\\bin",
if you want to run from the current project root directory set it to like this (or set it to where your prefer)
"cwd": "${workspaceRoot}"
Edit: if you set it in that way to be able to run gcc consider adding C:\\mingw64\\bin in your PATH variable.