How to configure a JSP development environment in VSCode?

1 year ago
Jackson Davis
2 minutes

To set up a JSP development environment in VSCode, you need to follow these steps:

  1. Install the Java Development Kit (JDK): Make sure that JDK is installed on your computer. You can download and install the latest version of JDK from the Oracle website.
  2. To install the Tomcat server: JSP needs to run on a Java Web server, such as Tomcat. You can download and install the latest version of Tomcat from the Apache Tomcat official website.
  3. Install VSCode plugin: In VSCode, you can support JSP development by installing the appropriate plugin. Search and install suitable plugins, such as “JSP” or “Java Server Pages”, from the VSCode extension marketplace.
  4. Create a JSP project: In VSCode, create a new folder as the root directory for your JSP project and open it using VSCode.
  5. Setting up project settings: Create a folder named “.vscode” in the root directory of your JSP project, and create a file named “settings.json” inside it. In this file, add the following configurations:
{
    "tomcat": {
        "command": "tomcat/bin/catalina.sh",
        "args": ["run"],
        "port": 8080,
        "serverStartupTimeout": 5000
    },
    "java.configuration.updateBuildConfiguration": "off"
}

Replace the “command” configuration with the actual path to the “catalina.sh” file under your Tomcat directory. If you are using a Windows system, it should be replaced with “catalina.bat”.

  1. To start the Tomcat server: press “Ctrl + ` ” to open the terminal window, then run the following command to start the Tomcat server:
./path/to/tomcat/bin/catalina.sh run

Replace “/path/to/tomcat” in the above command with the actual directory path where you have installed Tomcat.

  1. Configure debugger: In VSCode, press “F5” to open the debug view, then click on the “gear” icon on the left to open the “launch.json” file. In this file, add the following configuration:
{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "type": "java",
            "name": "Debug (Attach)",
            "request": "attach",
            "hostName": "localhost",
            "port": 8000
        }
    ]
}

In the above configuration, set the “port” value to the debugging port of the Tomcat server (default is 8000). If your Tomcat is configured with a different debugging port, make the corresponding change.

  1. Activate debug mode: In VSCode, press “F5” to activate debug mode. VSCode will connect to the Tomcat server and set breakpoints in your JSP project for debugging purposes.

Now you have successfully set up a JSP development environment and can start developing and debugging JSP applications in VSCode.

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