Thanks for your response, Max, and simplification of my platformio.ini but unfortunately the result is the similar.
Build and upload are successful but Run → Start Debugging results in:
Again, the debug panel shows the same; I can restart and stop but nothing else.
No breakpoints are hit.
I realise from the result screenshot that there is an issue with ‘Obsolete PIO Core v6.0.2’ but this doesn’t appear to be critical.
I’m new to the esp32 environment and debugging sounded to be a simple process. I’m really confused.
Have you any other suggestions?