### Author:  [@DenisMtfl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/DenisMtfl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 07:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/1 "2021-03-11T07:23:22Z")
Hey i have started a debug session with vscode.
My launch.json look likes the following. And when i start to debug it cannot found the settings file. But why there is an settings next to red.js !?
```auto
{
"version": "0.2.0",
"configurations": [
{
"type": "node",
"request": "launch",
"name": "Launch Program",
"skipFiles": [
"/**"
],
"env": { "NODE_ENV": "development" },
"preLaunchTask": "npm: build-dev",
"program": "${workspaceFolder}\\packages\\node_modules\\node-red\\red.js"
}
]
}
```
> [nodemon] 2.0.6
> Gruntfile.js:537
> [nodemon] to restart at any time, enter `rs`
> Gruntfile.js:537
> [nodemon] watching path(s): packages\node\_modules\*\*\*
> Gruntfile.js:537
> [nodemon] watching extensions: js,html,json
> Gruntfile.js:537
> [nodemon] starting `node packages/node_modules/node-red/red.js -V`
> Gruntfile.js:537
> **\> Error loading settings file: \Users\denis.node-red\settings.js**
> packages/node\_modules/node-red/red.js:139
> [nodemon] clean exit - waiting for changes before restart
> Gruntfile.js:537
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 07:55 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/2 "2021-03-11T07:55:59Z")
Are you running from SRC or NPM install?
---
### Author:  [@DenisMtfl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/DenisMtfl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 08:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/3 "2021-03-11T08:03:45Z")
from git src
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 08:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/4 "2021-03-11T08:11:35Z")
Ok, so I initially installed from NPM & ran `node-red` which creates `c:\users\user\.node-red` (though I am sure that should work running from src)
I note you have preLaunchTask set (so you probably got your original vscode settings from one of my earlier posts) but did you also add the entry to tasks.json?
```auto
{
"version": "2.0.0",
"tasks": [
{
"type": "npm",
"script": "build-dev",
"group": "build",
"problemMatcher": [],
"label": "npm: build-dev",
"detail": "build-dev"
}
]
}
```
And when you hit F5 does it run the build pre-task?
Lastly, paste a copy of the debug output (from Pressing F5 to running)
---
### Author:  [@DenisMtfl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/DenisMtfl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 08:24 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/5 "2021-03-11T08:24:44Z")
So i have this launch.json and now its running, but is it okay?
```auto
{
"version": "0.2.0",
"configurations": [
{
"type": "node",
"request": "launch",
"name": "Launch Node-red",
"program": "${workspaceFolder}\\packages\\node_modules\\node-red\\red.js",
"runtimeArgs": ["--preserve-symlinks", "--experimental-modules"],
"env": {
"NO_UPDATE_NOTIFIER": "1"
},
"args": ["-s", "${workspaceFolder}\\packages\\node_modules\\node-red\\settings.js"]
},
{
"type": "node",
"request": "launch",
"name": "Debug Current File",
"program": "${file}"
},
{ "type": "node", "request": "attach", "name": "Attach to Process", "processId": "${command:PickProcess}" }
]
}
```
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 08:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/6 "2021-03-11T08:32:15Z")
Not really. That is using the SRC `settings.js` - that shouldnt be used or modified.
What you need to understand is, when node-red is ran for the first time, it creates `c:\users\user\.node-red` folder with a flows file and settings file etc.
Also, that version of `launch.json` doesnt build node-red src so you'd have to run `npm: build-dev` every time manually before hitting F5.
If you use the first version and answer my prev questions I will try to help.
> [@Steve-Mcl](#):
>
> And when you hit F5 does it run the build pre-task?
>
> Lastly, paste a copy of the debug output (from Pressing F5 to running)
Also, can i ask, what is your intent? is this for modifying node-red core or for debugging function nodes you have written in node-red editor or for debugging own custom node development?
---
### Author:  [@DenisMtfl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/DenisMtfl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 08:45 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/7 "2021-03-11T08:45:49Z")
hm okay i will try.
my intent is to develop an new node - btw. is there an extension in vscode that will intellisense the "customnode.js" from my newly created node ?
**Example:**
in the example node if creating a new node there is a line like
`msg.payload = msg.payload.toUpperCase();`
Here i find its very exhausting to know every method? But its complicated because payload is "any" !?
So i'm searching for an intellisense extension?!
---
### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 08:57 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/8 "2021-03-11T08:57:38Z")
> [@DenisMtfl](#):
>
> So i'm searching for an intellisense extension?!
There is not. payload can be anything by design.
however, if you mean inteliisense for things like `node` and `javascript` function then use jsdoc to instruct vscode of the type...
```auto
/** @type {string} */ var payload = msg.payload */
```
* * *
> [@DenisMtfl](#):
>
> my intent is to develop an new node
Ok, so you dont need to run node-red from src.
all you need to do is...
- follow the normal NPM install from node-red docs
- run node-red once (i.e. `node-red`) to generate the flows and settings files
- use [this guide](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/how-to-proper-debug-custom-node/9308/13) to run node-red in vscode
---
### Author:  [@DenisMtfl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/DenisMtfl)
#### Post date: [11 March 2021 09:03 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/9 "2021-03-11T09:03:31Z")
Okay thanks!
---
### Author:  [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)
#### Post date: [10 May 2021 09:04 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/settings-file-not-found-on-debugging-with-vscode/42447/10 "2021-05-10T09:04:11Z")
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