diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 86f344eda49..b5a7c0e59e3 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -61,9 +61,10 @@ internal/
 **/.DS_Store
 .settings
 **/.vs
-**/.vscode
+**/.vscode/*
 !**/.vscode/tasks.json
-!**/.vscode/settings.json
+!**/.vscode/settings.template.json
+!**/.vscode/launch.template.json
 !**/.vscode/extensions.json
 !tests/cases/projects/projectOption/**/node_modules
 !tests/cases/projects/NodeModulesSearch/**/*
diff --git a/.vscode/launch.template.json b/.vscode/launch.template.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4ba7f8ab880
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.template.json
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// Rename this file 'launch.json' or merge its
+// contents into your existing configurations.
+{
+  // Use IntelliSense to learn about possible attributes.
+  // Hover to view descriptions of existing attributes.
+  // For more information, visit: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=830387
+  "version": "0.2.0",
+  "configurations": [
+    {
+      "type": "node",
+      "protocol": "inspector",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Mocha Tests (currently opened test)",
+      "runtimeArgs": ["--nolazy"],
+      "program": "${workspaceRoot}/node_modules/mocha/bin/_mocha",
+      "args": [
+        "-u",
+        "bdd",
+        "--no-timeouts",
+        "--colors",
+        "built/local/run.js",
+        "-f",
+        "${fileBasenameNoExtension}",
+        "--skip-percent",
+        "0"
+      ],
+      "env": {
+        "NODE_ENV": "testing"
+      },
+      "sourceMaps": true,
+      "smartStep": true,
+      "preLaunchTask": "tests",
+      "console": "integratedTerminal",
+      "outFiles": [
+        "${workspaceRoot}/built/local/run.js"
+      ]
+    }
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 14f7984e7e9..00000000000
--- a/.vscode/settings.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-{
-    "eslint.validate": [
-        {
-            "language": "typescript",
-            "autoFix": true
-        }
-    ],
-    "eslint.options": {
-        "rulePaths": ["./scripts/eslint/built/rules/"],
-        "ext": [".ts"]
-    }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.vscode/settings.template.json b/.vscode/settings.template.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1806a93ecbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/settings.template.json
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// Rename this file 'settings.json' or merge its
+// contents into your existing settings.
+{
+    "eslint.validate": [
+        {
+            "language": "typescript",
+            "autoFix": true
+        }
+    ],
+    "eslint.options": {
+        "rulePaths": ["./scripts/eslint/built/rules/"],
+        "ext": [".ts"]
+    },
+    // To use the last-known-good (LKG) compiler version:
+    // "typescript.tsdk": "lib"
+
+    // To use the locally built compiler, after 'npm run build':
+    // "typescript.tsdk": "built/local"
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 4b804414ab5..dda3ab28a7b 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -160,6 +160,8 @@ You can debug with VS Code or Node instead with `gulp runtests --inspect=true`:
 gulp runtests --tests=2dArrays --inspect=true
 ```
 
+You can also use the [provided VS Code launch configuration](./.vscode/launch.template.json) to launch a debug session for an open test file. Rename the file 'launch.json', open the test file of interest, and launch the debugger from the debug panel (or press F5).
+
 ## Adding a Test
 
 To add a new test case, simply place a `.ts` file in `tests\cases\compiler` containing code that exemplifies the bugfix or change you are making.