[BUG] Debug strings are truncated

[durandt]

Describe the Issue

I run VSCode on a M1 (ARM) mac and I have the C#, C# DevKit and MAUI extensions.

When I debug a MAUI app on the iPhone simulator and:
. hover over a variable, its value is truncated to 100 chars.
. type "variableName" in the Debug Console, the output is also truncated to 100 chars
. Add a watch for "variableName" and right-click it and use the "Copy Value" function, the copied value is also truncated to 100chars

Steps To Reproduce

Using VSCode for mac with C#, C# DevKit and MAUI extensions, create a string that has more than 100chars. (Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location should do it)

Try to get the value of that variable using the debugger.

Se that the value is truncated to 100 chars if you try to hover it, to add it as watch and copy value or print it in the debug console.

Expected Behavior

Display/copy the whole (untruncated) value.

Environment Information

• macOS M1 13.6.3 (22G436)
• VSCode 1.85.1
• C# extension v2.15.30
• C# DevKit v1.2.7
• .NET MAUI extension v0.7.10 (preview)
  | VS Bug 1975720

[durandt]

Related:

• Similar issue was fixed for C# extension: Debug strings are truncated dotnet/vscode-csharp#6496
• Other issues with debugging MAUI apps in VSCode (not showing variables): Variables (locals) not shown when debugging MAUI app #826

[JaneySprings]

Hi! I'm a .NET Meteor extension developer. I want to share my solution with Microsoft developers. I had the same problem and I moved all the settings from Mono debugger-libs to the VSCode extension settings:

This can be useful in some cases. Thanks!

[github-actions]

This issue has been marked as stale after 14 days of inactivity. @[ @mauroa @], could you please take a look?

[durandt]

Now running:

• .NET MAUI v0.11.34 (pre-release)
• C# v2.26.13 (pre-release)
• C# Dev Kit v1.4.29

Strings are now truncated at 1000+ chars when hovering and not at all in debug console, which is really handy!

I have noticed a few glitches though for strings with more than 1000 chars in Variables/Watches and when hovering the variable. The value shown is full of \0 chars. Printing the value in debug console works fine.

Code and debug console output:

Variables and watches:

Hovering will also show about 1000 \0 chars and then truncate (I think the truncation part is OK since you can get the full value in console or by copying value).

Copy value works fine by the way even with 1000+ strings.

[bnSonic]

I have noticed a few glitches though for strings with more than 1000 chars in Variables/Watches and when hovering the variable. The value shown is full of \0 chars. Printing the value in debug console works fine.

Hovering will also show about 1000 \0 chars and then truncate (I think the truncation part is OK since you can get the full value in console or by copying value).

Same Problem here (Mac, Visual Studio Code)
Version: 1.96.2 (Universal)
Commit: fabdb6a30b49f79a7aba0f2ad9df9b399473380f
Date: 2024-12-19T10:22:47.216Z
Electron: 32.2.6
ElectronBuildId: 10629634
Chromium: 128.0.6613.186
Node.js: 20.18.1
V8: 12.8.374.38-electron.0
OS: Darwin arm64 23.6.0

I've tried to serialize a class containing a List to a json and took me hours to realise, that it's only the inline view (either hovering the cursor over the string variable or using the "watch" tab) that is showing the "/0/0/0/0" string…

A Trace to the console shows the correct string.

Oh dear … Is there ANY workaround or extension available to somehow fix this? I really like it if i can trust a debugger ;)
Thank you :)

[Labraptor]

Same here, very annoying when debugging API reply with JSON, we should have a simple setting for chose the trunk size:

////////Visual Studio Code//////
Version: 1.96.4 (Universal)
Commit: cd4ee3b1c348a13bafd8f9ad8060705f6d4b9cba
Date: 2025-01-16T00:16:19.038Z (2 wks ago)
Electron: 32.2.6
ElectronBuildId: 10629634
Chromium: 128.0.6613.186
Node.js: 20.18.1
V8: 12.8.374.38-electron.0
OS: Darwin arm64 23.6.0

///////.NET MAUI Extention//////
1.6.16

//////C# Dev Kit Extention/////
1.15.34

////Maui version///
[maui]
Installation Source: SDK 8.0.200
Manifest Version: 8.0.83/8.0.100