Not Recognizing Used Code as Used Code Or Not Debugging Unused Code

[Krabbenhoft]

Environment

• OS and Version: Windows 11 Pro 23H2
• VS Code Version: 1.104.0
• C/C++ Extension Version: 1.26.5

Bug Summary and Steps to Reproduce

Bug Summary:

Steps to reproduce:
1.

Create a class with this these preprocessor commands.

Create a definition with these preprocessor commands. The extension doesn't debug due to thinking falsely that the code is unused.

Expected behavior:
It should properly recognize that the code is used and debug it or at least debug it despite thinking it is unused.

Configuration and Logs

Config:
{
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    // "window.zoomLevel": 1,
    // "workbench.startupEditor": "newUntitledFile",
    // "workbench.list.smoothScrolling": true,
    // "workbench.activityBar.location": "hidden", // comment if you want to hide activity bar
    
    
    // Symbol Config
    "symbols.hidesExplorerArrows": false,
    
    
    // Terminal Config
    "breadcrumbs.enabled": false,


    // Editor Config
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    "editor.fontFamily": "JetBrains Mono",
    "editor.lineHeight": 1.8,
    "editor.fontWeight": "normal",
    "editor.renderLineHighlight": "gutter",
    "editor.fontLigatures": true,
    "editor.semanticHighlighting.enabled": false,
    "editor.minimap.autohide": "mouseover",
    "editor.scrollbar.horizontal": "hidden",
    "editor.scrollbar.vertical": "hidden",
    // "editor.rulers": [80, 120], // uncomment if you want to add rulers in your editor
    
    
    // Explore File Config
    "explorer.compactFolders": false,
    "explorer.fileNesting.enabled": true,
    "explorer.fileNesting.patterns": {
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    "tailwind.config.js": "tailwind.config*, postcss.config*",
    "next.config.js": "next*",
    ".env.local": ".env*",
    ".env": ".env*"
    },
    "editor.fontSize": 15,

    
    // APC Pluggin Config
    // "apc.font.family": "JetBrains Mono", // uncomment if you want to use custom font
    "apc.header": {
      "height": 36,
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    "apc.listRow": {
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    "apc.stylesheet": {
      ".title-label > h2": "display: none",
      ".editor-actions": "display: none",
      ".pane-body": "padding: 5px"
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    // Terminal Config
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    "terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "JetBrainsMono Nerd Font",
    "terminal.external.windowsExec": "wt",
    "workbench.colorTheme": "JetBrains Darcula Theme",
    "makefile.configureOnOpen": true,
    "git.openRepositoryInParentFolders": "never",
    "workbench.editor.empty.hint": "hidden",

    //Greyed out code
    //"C_Cpp.dimInactiveRegions": false

}
Build logs:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may only use the C/C++ Extension for Visual Studio Code with Visual Studio
Code, Visual Studio or Visual Studio for Mac software to help you develop and
test your applications.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
main.exe (15376): Loaded 'C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\recreate\main.exe'. Symbols loaded.
main.exe (15376): Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\ntdll.dll'. 
main.exe (15376): Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\kernel32.dll'. 
main.exe (15376): Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\KernelBase.dll'. 
main.exe (15376): Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\kernel.appcore.dll'. 
main.exe (15376): Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\msvcrt.dll'. 
The program '[15376] main.exe' has exited with code 0 (0x0).
C/C++ Diagnostics:
-------- Diagnostics - 9/13/2025, 11:05:16 AM
Version: 1.26.5
Current Configuration:
{
    "name": "Win32",
    "includePath": [
        "c:/Users/Isaac Krabbenhoft/C315/lab06/**",
        "c:/Users/Isaac Krabbenhoft/C315/lab06/../doctest/"
    ],
    "defines": [
        "_DEBUG",
        "UNICODE",
        "_UNICODE"
    ],
    "windowsSdkVersion": "10.0.26100.0",
    "compilerPath": "cl.exe",
    "cStandard": "c17",
    "cppStandard": "c++17",
    "intelliSenseMode": "windows-msvc-x64",
    "compilerPathIsExplicit": true,
    "cStandardIsExplicit": true,
    "cppStandardIsExplicit": true,
    "intelliSenseModeIsExplicit": true,
    "recursiveIncludesReduceIsExplicit": false,
    "recursiveIncludesPriorityIsExplicit": false,
    "recursiveIncludesOrderIsExplicit": false,
    "compilerPathInCppPropertiesJson": "cl.exe",
    "mergeConfigurations": false,
    "recursiveIncludes": {},
    "browse": {
        "limitSymbolsToIncludedHeaders": true
    }
}
Additional Tracked Settings:
{
    "editorTabSize": 4,
    "editorInsertSpaces": true,
    "editorAutoClosingBrackets": "languageDefined",
    "filesEncoding": "utf8",
    "filesAssociations": {
        "algorithm": "cpp",
        "atomic": "cpp",
        "bit": "cpp",
        "cctype": "cpp",
        "charconv": "cpp",
        "clocale": "cpp",
        "cmath": "cpp",
        "compare": "cpp",
        "concepts": "cpp",
        "csignal": "cpp",
        "cstddef": "cpp",
        "cstdint": "cpp",
        "cstdio": "cpp",
        "cstdlib": "cpp",
        "cstring": "cpp",
        "ctime": "cpp",
        "cwchar": "cpp",
        "exception": "cpp",
        "format": "cpp",
        "fstream": "cpp",
        "initializer_list": "cpp",
        "iomanip": "cpp",
        "ios": "cpp",
        "iosfwd": "cpp",
        "iostream": "cpp",
        "istream": "cpp",
        "iterator": "cpp",
        "limits": "cpp",
        "list": "cpp",
        "locale": "cpp",
        "map": "cpp",
        "memory": "cpp",
        "mutex": "cpp",
        "new": "cpp",
        "optional": "cpp",
        "ostream": "cpp",
        "random": "cpp",
        "ratio": "cpp",
        "set": "cpp",
        "sstream": "cpp",
        "stdexcept": "cpp",
        "stop_token": "cpp",
        "streambuf": "cpp",
        "string": "cpp",
        "system_error": "cpp",
        "thread": "cpp",
        "tuple": "cpp",
        "type_traits": "cpp",
        "typeinfo": "cpp",
        "unordered_set": "cpp",
        "utility": "cpp",
        "vector": "cpp",
        "xfacet": "cpp",
        "xhash": "cpp",
        "xiosbase": "cpp",
        "xlocale": "cpp",
        "xlocbuf": "cpp",
        "xlocinfo": "cpp",
        "xlocmes": "cpp",
        "xlocmon": "cpp",
        "xlocnum": "cpp",
        "xloctime": "cpp",
        "xmemory": "cpp",
        "xstring": "cpp",
        "xtr1common": "cpp",
        "xtree": "cpp",
        "xutility": "cpp"
    },
    "filesExclude": {
        "**/.git": true,
        "**/.svn": true,
        "**/.hg": true,
        "**/.DS_Store": true,
        "**/Thumbs.db": true
    },
    "filesAutoSaveAfterDelay": false,
    "editorInlayHintsEnabled": true,
    "editorParameterHintsEnabled": true,
    "searchExclude": {
        "**/node_modules": true,
        "**/bower_components": true,
        "**/*.code-search": true
    },
    "workbenchSettingsEditor": "ui"
}
cpptools version (native): 1.26.4.0
Current database path: C:\USERS\ISAAC KRABBENHOFT\APPDATA\LOCAL\MICROSOFT\VSCODE-CPPTOOLS\94648832C3E68CE4EB4240514780D492\.BROWSE.VC.DB
Translation Unit Mappings:
[ C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\src\Array.cpp - source TU]:
[ C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\src\main.cpp - source TU]:
    C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\src\Array.hpp
    C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\src\static.hpp
[ C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\test\constructor-test.cpp - source TU]:
Translation Unit Configurations:
[ C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\src\Array.cpp ]
    Process ID: 13696
    Memory Usage: 59 MB
    Compiler Path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\bin\Hostx64\x64\cl.exe
    Include paths:
        include: C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\doctest
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\include
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\atlmfc\include
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Auxiliary\VS\include
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\ucrt
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\um
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\shared
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\winrt
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\cppwinrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\um
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\ucrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\shared
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\winrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\cppwinrt
    Defines:
        _DEBUG
        UNICODE
        _UNICODE
    Standard Version: ms_c++17
    IntelliSense Mode: windows-msvc-x64
    Other Flags:
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\ATLMFC\lib\x64
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\lib\x64
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\lib\x86\store\references
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\UnionMetadata\10.0.26100.0
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\References\10.0.26100.0
        --using_directory
        C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319
[ C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\src\main.cpp ]
    Process ID: 12780
    Memory Usage: 170 MB
    Compiler Path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\bin\Hostx64\x64\cl.exe
    Include paths:
        include: C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\doctest
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\include
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\atlmfc\include
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Auxiliary\VS\include
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\ucrt
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\um
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\shared
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\winrt
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\cppwinrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\um
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\ucrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\shared
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\winrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\cppwinrt
    Defines:
        _DEBUG
        UNICODE
        _UNICODE
    Standard Version: ms_c++17
    IntelliSense Mode: windows-msvc-x64
    Other Flags:
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\ATLMFC\lib\x64
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\lib\x64
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\lib\x86\store\references
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\UnionMetadata\10.0.26100.0
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\References\10.0.26100.0
        --using_directory
        C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319
[ C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\test\constructor-test.cpp ]
    Process ID: 6084
    Memory Usage: 274 MB
    Compiler Path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\bin\Hostx64\x64\cl.exe
    Include paths:
        include: C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\doctest
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\include
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\atlmfc\include
        include: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Auxiliary\VS\include
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\ucrt
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\um
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\shared
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\winrt
        include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\cppwinrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\um
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\ucrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\shared
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\winrt
        system include: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\Include\10.0.26100.0\cppwinrt
        include (recursive): C:\Users\Isaac Krabbenhoft\C315\lab06\src
    Defines:
        _DEBUG
        UNICODE
        _UNICODE
    Standard Version: ms_c++17
    IntelliSense Mode: windows-msvc-x64
    Other Flags:
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\ATLMFC\lib\x64
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\lib\x64
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\VC\Tools\MSVC\14.44.35207\lib\x86\store\references
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\UnionMetadata\10.0.26100.0
        --using_directory
        C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\References\10.0.26100.0
        --using_directory
        C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319
Total Memory Usage: 504 MB

------- Workspace parsing diagnostics -------
Number of files discovered (not excluded): 5193

Other Extensions

No response

Additional context

Repository to recreate the bug.

[sean-mcmanus]

How are your TUs setup when compiling? The TU needs to have TEMPLATED_CLASS defined. For IntelliSense, any .cpp will be default get created in it's own TU and not the TU that has the TEMPLATED_CLASS defined.