"Run C/C++ File" fails in PowerShell if path has spaces (missing & call operator)

[Lextyle92]

Type: Bug

Environment

• OS: Windows 10
• VS Code Version: 1.128.0 / 1.129.0
• C/C++ Extension Version: v1.32.2
• Integrated Terminal Shell: PowerShell

Bug Description

A recent VS Code update introduced a regression in how paths containing spaces are sent to the integrated PowerShell terminal when using the "Run C/C++ File" button.

Instead of prepending the PowerShell call operator (&), the command is sent as a raw quoted string literal. As a result, PowerShell just echoes back the path as a string instead of executing the compiled binary.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Create a workspace folder with spaces in its name (e.g., 00 - Test).
2. Open the folder in VS Code and create a basic C file (main.c).
3. Set PowerShell as the default integrated terminal profile.
4. Click the "Run C/C++ File" play button in the top right corner.

Actual Behavior (Terminal Output)

PowerShell receives the quoted path without the & operator and evaluates it as a string literal:

PS C:\Users\Username\Documents\Development\Workspaces\C\00 - Test> "C:\Users\Username\Documents\Development\Workspaces\C\00 - Test\main.exe"
C:\Users\Username\Documents\Development\Workspaces\C\00 - Test\main.exe
PS C:\Users\Username\Documents\Development\Workspaces\C\00 - Test> 

The program is never executed.

Expected Behavior

The command sent to PowerShell should include the call operator (&) to evaluate the path as an executable command:

& "C:\Users\Username\Documents\Development\Workspaces\C\00 - Test\main.exe"

Additional Context

• Workspaces without spaces in their path work perfectly.
• Debug mode works perfectly because the extension correctly structures the arguments using the & operator to launch WindowsDebugLauncher.exe.

Extension version: 1.32.2
VS Code version: Code 1.129.0 (125df4672b8a6a34975303c6b0baa124e560a4f7, 2026-07-15T00:08:44Z)
OS version: Windows_NT x64 10.0.19045
Modes:

System Info

Item	Value
CPUs	Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6600 CPU @ 3.30GHz (4 x 3312)
GPU Status	2d_canvas: enabled GPU0: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x1401 [NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960], DRIVER_VENDOR=NVIDIA, DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.15.8228 ACTIVE GPU1: VENDOR= 0x8086, DEVICE=0x1912 [Intel(R) HD Graphics 530], DRIVER_VERSION=31.0.101.2111 GPU2: VENDOR= 0x10de, DEVICE=0x1401 [NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960], DRIVER_VERSION=32.0.15.8228 GPU3: VENDOR= 0x1414, DEVICE=0x008c [Microsoft Basic Render Driver], DRIVER_VERSION=10.0.19041.5794 Machine model name: Machine model version: direct_rendering_display_compositor: disabled_off_ok gpu_compositing: enabled multiple_raster_threads: enabled_on opengl: enabled_on rasterization: enabled raw_draw: disabled_off_ok skia_graphite: disabled_off trees_in_viz: disabled_off video_decode: enabled video_encode: enabled webgl: enabled webgpu: enabled webnn: disabled_off
Load (avg)	undefined
Memory (System)	23.89GB (19.37GB free)
Process Argv	--crash-reporter-id b87b55e4-8836-49c4-baf6-faa406b533ce
Screen Reader	no
VM	0%

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[github-actions]

Thank you for reporting this issue. We’ll let you know if we need more information to investigate it. Additionally, if you're working with GDB/LLDB, please note that the code is open source at https://github.com/microsoft/MIEngine/wiki/Contributing-Code . Your contributions are always welcome and appreciated.