---
ContentId: EC8DC085-A0E4-4401-B41F-6497EDD49352
DateApproved: 7/25/2019
MetaDescription: How to enable logging in the Visual Studio Code C/C++ extension
Keywords:
- C++
---
# C/C++ extension logging

Logging information is available for the language server and the debug adapter. If you are experiencing a problem that we are unable to diagnose based on information in your issue report, we might ask you to enable logging and send us your logs.

Logging information is delivered directly to the Output panel for the language server and to the Debug Console for the debug adapter.

## Enable logging for the language server

To turn on full logging for the language server, follow these steps:

1. Open the **Command Palette** and choose **Preferences: Workspace settings**.
1. Search for "logging" in the search box.
1. Find **C_Cpp: Logging Level** and change the level to **Debug**.

   ![Logging level](images/cpp/logging-level.png)

1. From the main menu, open the Output panel by choosing **View** > **Output**.

1. Select the **C/C++** option in the log filter selector:

   ![Log filter selector](images/cpp/log-filter-selector.png)

## Enable logging for the debug adapter

Enabling logging for the debug adapter will show communication information between VS Code and our extension and between our extension and the debug adapter.

Logging configuration for the debug adapter is configured in `launch.json`.

### Logging for LLDB-MI debuggers

The logging block for macOS LLDB-MI debuggers, along with its default configuration, is in `launch.json`:

```json
"logging": {
    "trace": false,
    "traceResponse": false,
    "engineLogging": false
}
```

## VS Code and the CppTools extension

The logging here is called `trace` logging and can be enabled by setting `trace` and `traceResponse` to `true` in the logging block inside `launch.json`. This will help diagnose issues related to VS Code's communication to our extension and our responses.

### CppTools extension and the debugger

The logging between CppTools and the debugger is called `engineLogging`. When using an MI debugger such as `gdb` or `lldb`, this will show the request, response, and events using the `mi` interpreter. This logging will help us determine whether the debugger is receiving the right commands and generating the correct responses.

## Logging for Visual C++ debugger

The logging block for the Visual C++ debugger with its default configuration in `launch.json` is as follows:

```json
"logging": {
    "engineLogging": false
}
```

The Visual C++ debugger logging will show only the communication to and from VS Code as all communication to the debugger is done internally to the process and is not visible through logging.