VScode debug mode shows "Could not find the specified task" - visual-studio-code

Question

When trying to start a Debug session in vscode, it throws an error about not finding a specified task. I've already tried the solutions of other SO questions like this but without success.
launch.json:
{
// 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": [
{
...
},
{
"name": "MSEventHubs_Audit",
"type": "python",
"request": "launch",
"program": "${workspaceFolder}/audit-events.py",
"console": "integratedTerminal",
"args": [
"config/config.ini",
],
"envFile": "${workspaceFolder}/.env",
"env": {"PYTHONPATH": "${workspaceRoot}"},
"justMyCode": false,
"preLaunchTask": {
"task": "audit_tunnel"
}
},
{
...
},
]
}
tasks.json:
{
// See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558
// for the documentation about the tasks.json format
"version": "2.0.0",
"command": "",
"args": [],
"tasks": [
{
"label": "activate_key",
"type": "shell",
"command": "smartOS_card_pin.sh",
"args": [
"${inputs:cardos_pass}"
],
"group": "build",
},
{
"label": "audit_tunnel",
"type": "shell",
"group": "build",
"command": "ssh",
"args": [
"-NL",
"port1:127.0.0.1:port2",
"my_host"
],
"dependsOn": "activate_key"
},
{
...
}
],
"inputs": [
{
"id": "cardos_pass",
"type": "promptString",
"password": true
}
]
}
I've been looking at it for a while and cannot figure out what I'm doing wrong. The proof my task is known by vscode is when the pop-up message appears
I click 'Configure Task', the 'audit_tunnel' appears as an option to edit.
What am I missing?

Answer 1

Change:
"preLaunchTask": {
"task": "audit_tunnel"
}
To:
"preLaunchTask": "audit_tunnel"