The task settings I use for cpp programming in vscode. Build with ctrl+shift+b and run with F8. Based on several tutorials out there when googling vscode c++ tasks.

task.json

{
    // See https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=733558
    // for the documentation about the tasks.json format
    "version": "0.1.0",
    "tasks": [
        {
            "taskName": "build",
            "command": "g++",
            "isShellCommand": true,
            "isBuildCommand": true,
            "args": ["working/working.cpp", "-std=c++11", "-W", "-Wall", "-pedantic", "-g"],
            "showOutput": "always"
        },
        {
            "taskName": "run",
            "command": "./a.out",
            "isShellCommand": true,
            "isBuildCommand": false,
            "args": [],
            "showOutput": "always"
        }    
    ]  
}