Not sure if this is the correct place to ask, but how do I use something like the node_modules/.bin/babel-node executable instead of node?

I've tried all the combinations I can think of for runtimeExecutable and all I get are messages like Attribute 'runtimeExecutable' does not exist (when it's a Windows path), and Cannot find runtime '...../node_modules/.bin/babel-node' on PATH (when it's a WSL path).

I could install babel-node globally so it's in my PATH, but that's not recommended and is a pain to remember to update.

Edit: Actually it looks like this might be to do with the fact that babel-node is a symlink (I'm using yarn if it matters) not recognized properly by Windows.

Edit 2: If I turn it into a proper file I get a little further, however a new issue crops up:

Debugging with inspector protocol because a runtime executable is set.
c:\Dev\Projects\my-project/node_modules/.bin/babel-node --inspect=19380 --debug-brk src\server\index.js 
Node process error: Error: spawn c:\Dev\Projects\my-project\node_modules\.bin\babel-node ENOENT

That shouldn't have a Windows path should it? But using a WSL path in for runtimeExecutable just gives the other error I already mentioned.

If I run the equivalent with a relative path within a WSL terminal like:

$ node_modules/.bin/babel-node --inspect=19380 --debug-brk src\server\index.js
Debugger listening on ws://127.0.0.1:19380/4e50a4f8-39e7-4a8c-bd2a-ab513e0c91c4
...

you can see it works fine.

launch.json config:

{
  "type": "node",
  "request": "launch",
  "name": "Launch Server",
  "useWSL": true,
  "runtimeExecutable": "${workspaceFolder}/node_modules/.bin/babel-node",
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/server/index.js"
}

@noinkling try this:

{
  "type": "node",
  "request": "launch",
  "name": "Launch Program",
  "useWSL": true,
  "program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/server/index.js",
  "protocol": "legacy",
  "runtimeExecutable": "./node_modules/.bin/babel-node"
}

When you specify runtimeExecutable, the inspector protocol will be used. It does not support WSL just yet, it is still WIP, so you have to explicitly use legacy protocol.

The ${workspaceFolder} will contain Windows-like path separator. This was fixed recently, see microsoft/vscode#35249.

Thanks, it seems I missed the

for this milestone "legacy" protocol only

disclaimer in the release notes (or maybe it was added later?). I'm using Node 8 so the legacy protocol isn't an option, guess I'll just have to wait a little longer.

YES! It's in the latest production release. Thank you!