Is it possible to debug a mex function in VS Code with MINGW 8.1?

I'm trying to debug a mex function in VS Code with MINGW 8.1 and MATLAB R2025a on Windows. I followed the directions in this blog post: https://blogs.mathworks.com/developer/2018/06/19/mex-debugging-vscode. But VS Code refuses to load the symbols and detect the break point. I tried this procedure in several different MATLAB versions, and I believe the difference is related to the `gdb` version that's included with MINGW and how it interacts with VS Code.

• Using MATLAB R2023b, I can successfully debug a mex function using MINGW 6.3, but the procedure no longer works when using MINGW 8.1. Both MINGW 6.3 and 8.1 are supported by this version of MATLAB. https://www.mathworks.com/content/dam/mathworks/mathworks-dot-com/support/sysreq/files/system-requirements-release-2023b-supported-compilers.pdf
• Using MATLAB R2025a, I cannot debug a mex function using MINGW 8.1 through VS Code. The debugging symbols do not appear to load. I tried the troubleshooting steps below.
• I verified that I attached to the right PID by using Process Explorer to verify the mex function was loaded under that PID.
• I double-checked that I called mex with the `-g` option.
• I ran `gdb` from the command prompt, and I was able to attach to the process, set a breakpoint, and stop when calling the mex function. So the symbols are definitely in the dll.
• I tried both my mex function, and the 'explore.c' example included with MATLAB. I get the same results for both cases.
• I tried a stand-alone installation of MINGW 8.1, and a copy of MINGW 8.1 installed as a MATLAB add-on.
• Using MATLAB R2025a, I can compile the mex function using MINGW 8.1, and successfully debug using MINGW 6.3. I can also debug successfully using MINGW 15.1.

While there are other workarounds, I'm hoping for a solution entirely within the MATLAB MINGW addon.

[Meet]

Hi @btmy87, could you please try the following steps as mentioned in this MathWorks Article: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/460148-how-can-i-debug-a-c-mex-file-on-microsoft-windows-platforms-with-microsoft-visual-studio

[btmy87]

No issues debugging in Visual Studio directly, or when using MSVC compilers and VS Code. I'm trying to get this to work on a system that only has MINGW 8.1 installed as a MATLAB Add On.

[Daewon]

I have the same problem. I have also tried ming 6.3 and I was not able to get this work for me either.

I have not tried debuging with min 15.1, which I can try next.