This repo contains a sample TypeScript project with a Visual Studio Code launch.json that allows you run TypeScript code and Mocha tests without a separate build step.

It has been tested with Node 8.4 and VS Code 1.16 (the latest at time of writing!), your mileage with other versions may vary! :)

git clone https://github.com/EnterpriseJSTutorial/vscode-ts-node-debugging.git
npm install

This repo contains the following VS Code Debug tasks (accessible via the debug button on the left):

Current TS File - allows you to debug the currently open TypeScript file. Try it with src/index.ts:

Current TS Tests File - allows you to debug the currently open Mocha unit tests file. Try it with src/__tests__/person.tests.ts:

These tasks should allow you to hit breakpoints in your code, without needing to compile first.

Further details in a blog post here: https://medium.com/@dupski/debug-typescript-in-vs-code-without-compiling-using-ts-node-9d1f4f9a94a