diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..79da9b212
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+{
+  // 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",
+      "request": "launch",
+      "name": "Debug AVA test file",
+      "runtimeExecutable": "${workspaceFolder}/node_modules/.bin/ava",
+      "runtimeArgs": [
+        "${file}",
+        "--break",
+        "--serial",
+        "--timeout=20m"
+      ],
+      "port": 9229,
+      "outputCapture": "std",
+      "skipFiles": [
+        "<node_internals>/**/*.js"
+      ]
+    }
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 8bc3efb31..f3aadf61e 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ Before you start, ensure that you have a recent version of node installed. You c
 * Run tests: `npm run test`.  You’ll need to ensure that the JavaScript files are up-to-date first by running the command above.
 * Run the linter: `npm run lint`.
 
+This project also includes configuration to run tests from VSCode (with support for breakpoints) - open the test file you wish to run and choose "Debug AVA test file" from the Run menu in the Run panel.
+
 ### Running the action
 
 To see the effect of your changes and to test them, push your changes in a branch and then look at the [Actions output](https://github.com/github/codeql-action/actions) for that branch.  You can also exercise the code locally by running the automated tests.