diff --git a/docs/developer-guide.md b/docs/developer-guide.md
index 404895106de97..f76429d3d4553 100644
--- a/docs/developer-guide.md
+++ b/docs/developer-guide.md
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ http://ecotrust-canada.github.io/markdown-toc/
   * [Configure system variables](#configure-system-variables)
   * [Start the playground with RiseDev](#start-the-playground-with-risedev)
   * [Start the playground with cargo](#start-the-playground-with-cargo)
+- [Debug playground using vscode](#debug-playground-using-vscode)
 - [Develop the dashboard](#develop-the-dashboard)
   * [Dashboard v1](#dashboard-v1)
   * [Dashboard v2](#dashboard-v2)
@@ -197,6 +198,10 @@ Then, connect to the playground instance via:
 psql -h localhost -p 4566 -d dev -U root
 ```
 
+## Debug playground using vscode 
+
+To step through risingwave locally with a debugger you can use the `launch.json` and the `tasks.json` provided in `vscode_suggestions`. After adding these files to your local `.vscode` folder you can debug and set breakpoints by launching `Launch 'risingwave p' debug`. 
+
 ## Develop the dashboard
 
 Currently, RisingWave has two versions of dashboards. You can use RiseDev config to select which version to use.
diff --git a/vscode_suggestions/launch.json b/vscode_suggestions/launch.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..0f1e7e2db9f76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vscode_suggestions/launch.json
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+{
+    "version": "0.2.0",
+    "configurations": [
+        {
+            // Use this if you want to debug risedev p locally
+            "name": "Launch playground debug",
+            "type": "lldb",
+            "request": "launch",
+            "program": "${workspaceRoot}/target/debug/risingwave",
+            "args": [
+                "playground"
+            ],
+            "cwd": "${workspaceRoot}",
+            "preLaunchTask": "build rw bin"
+        }
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/vscode_suggestions/tasks.json b/vscode_suggestions/tasks.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..8ff31f45f1c36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vscode_suggestions/tasks.json
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+{
+    "version": "2.0.0",
+    "tasks": [
+        {
+            "label": "build rw bin",
+            "type": "shell",
+            "command": "/bin/bash",
+            "args": [
+                "-c",
+                "risedev k ; cargo build --bin risingwave"
+            ]
+        }
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file