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Batkillulu
Known Participant
August 9, 2025

VSCode ExtendScript Debugger Error: no host application found (2.1.0)

  • August 9, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 1114 views

Sooo I know the update was made just a few hours ago, but I already have an issue... I can't start a debug session nor run a script, it always gives me this message:

When I install the previous version, it works just fine, and I can't find anything in the change logs that would justify this new error... 

Can I please get some help on that one?

3 replies

sberic
sberic
Legend
August 13, 2025

This is from your first post:

 

{
    "compileroptions": {
        "module": "none",
        "target":
        "ES3",
        "nolib": true,
        "check]s": true
    }
}

 

That isn't a launch configuration. That is the contents of a tsconfig.json file. That wouldn't help you even in v2.0.3.

 

The difference between v2.0.3 and v2.1.0 comes down to the mechanism by which they identify installed applications. It's possible that some aspect of your installation is either corrupt or incorrectly registered. I would suggest trying to reinstall After Effects and see if that helps.

 

If not, then you might try installing a more recent version of After Effects and see if the debugger can recognize that application.

ErinF
Community Manager
ErinFCommunity Manager
Community Manager
August 11, 2025

🤔 🤔 Based on a hunch... did you try restarting your computer after installing the one?

    m1b
    Community Expert
    m1bCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 9, 2025

    @Batkillulu what does your launch.json look like?

    B
    BatkilluluAuthor
    Known Participant
    August 9, 2025

    It loosk like this, i honestly don't remember how i got it, but it was working perfectly fine for the past 2 years or so

     

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 9, 2025

    Hi @Batkillulu , The error makes it seem like you need a hostAppSpecifier. There are lots of ways to set up the launch json—I use something like this:

     

    {
	"version": "0.2.0",
	"configurations": [
		{
			"name": "Main", 
			"type": "extendscript-debug",
			"request": "launch", 
			"hostAppSpecifier": "indesign",
			"engineName": "main"
		}
	]
}
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