Run custom commands as run configurations in Visual Studio Code

Question

I'm trying to figure out how to make a custom run configuration in Visual Studio Code, and am not succeeding in finding any documentation describing my use case.

I want to make a Run Configuration that runs arbitrary commands that I can set to run my code. This is neccecary because the language I am using doesn't have extensions providing run configurations.

I did find that this is possible with tasks, but I cannot figure out how to run a task by pressing F5 (like you would with a run configuration).

So, this is what I am looking to do: Define something that will run a command (run.exe ${currently selected VSCode file}) when I press F5.

Answer 1

Define this task and put it in .vscode/tasks.json:

{
  "label": "Run current",
  "type": "shell",
  "command": "run.exe ${file}"
}

Then add an F5 keybinding in keybindings.json

{ "key": "F5", "command": "-workbench.action.debug.start" },
{ "key": "F5", "command": "-workbench.action.debug.continue" },
{
  "key": "F5",
  "command": "workbench.action.tasks.runTask",
  "args": "Run current"
}