diff --git a/.vscode/launch.json b/.vscode/launch.json
index 5d855e1..ea127f6 100644
--- a/.vscode/launch.json
+++ b/.vscode/launch.json
@@ -7,24 +7,14 @@
             "request": "launch",
             "program": "",
             "linux": {
-                "program": "make",
-                "args": [
-                    "run"
-                ],
-                "env": {
-                    "ARCH": "linux-x86_64",
-                    "DEBUG": "1",
-                },
+                "preLaunchTask": "(dbg) compile linux-x86_64",
+                "program": "bin/linux-x86_64/${workspaceFolderBasename}",
+                "cwd": "bin/linux-x86_64/"
             },
             "windows": {
-                "program": "make",
-                "args": [
-                    "run"
-                ],
-                "env": {
-                    "ARCH": "win-x86_64",
-                    "DEBUG": "1",
-                },
+                "preLaunchTask": "(dbg) compile win-x86_64",
+                "program": "bin/win-x86_64/${workspaceFolderBasename}.exe",
+                "cwd": "bin/win-x86_64/"
             },
         }
     ]
diff --git a/.vscode/tasks.json b/.vscode/tasks.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21aff10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/tasks.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+    "version": "2.0.0",
+    "tasks": [
+        {
+            "label": "(dbg) compile linux-x86_64",
+            "type": "shell",
+            "command": "DEBUG=1 make linux-x86_64",
+        },
+        {
+            "label": "(dbg) compile win-x86_64",
+            "type": "shell",
+            "command": "DEBUG=1 make win-x86_64",
+        }
+    ]
+}
diff --git a/makefile b/makefile
index 3f2eb6f..e2c7f00 100644
--- a/makefile
+++ b/makefile
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-NAME := sdl_template
+NAME := $(shell basename $(PWD))
 
 # compiler settings
 CC := clang
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ CFLAGS := $(shell pkg-config --cflags sdl2) -Wall -Wextra -Wpedantic -Wno-pointe
 LDFLAGS := $(shell pkg-config --libs sdl2) -lm
 
 ifeq ($(DEBUG),1)
-CFLAGS += -Og -g
+CFLAGS += -DDEBUG -Og -g
 else
 REL_FLAGS += -O3
 endif
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ DEP := $(OBJ:.o=.d)
 ASSETS := $(patsubst assets/%,$(DIR_BUILD)/%,$(SRC_ASSETS))
 TARGET := $(DIR_BUILD)/$(NAME)$(EXT)
 
+define wr_colour
+	@echo -e "\033[$(2)m$(1)\033[0m"
+endef
 
 # sets the variables for the different targets
 linux-x86_64:
@@ -38,18 +41,14 @@ win-x86_64:
 web:
 	@$(MAKE) _build ARCH=web CC=emcc EXT=".html"
 
-# execute the binary
-run: $(ARCH)
-	cd $(DIR_BUILD) && ./$(NAME)$(EXT)
-
 all: linux-x86_64 win-x86_64 web
-_build: $(DIR) $(TARGET) $(ASSETS) compile_commands.json
+_build: compile_commands.json $(DIR) $(TARGET) $(ASSETS)
 clean:
-	rm -rf $(DIR_BIN) $(DIR_OBJ)
+	rm -rf $(DIR_BIN) $(DIR_OBJ) compile_commands.json
 
 # create the binary
 $(TARGET): $(OBJ)
-	@echo "using arguments: $(CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS)"
+	@$(call wr_colour,"using arguments: $(CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS)",94)
 	@$(CC) -o $(TARGET) $^ $(CFLAGS) $(LDFLAGS)
 
 # create .o and .d files
@@ -69,11 +68,15 @@ $(DIR):
 # update compile commands if the makefile has been updated (for linting)
 ifeq ($(DEBUG),1)
 compile_commands.json: makefile
+	@$(call wr_colour,"compiling in debug mode",93)
+	$(MAKE) clean
+	@touch compile_commands.json
+	bear -- make
 else
 compile_commands.json: makefile
-	@touch compile_commands.json
+	@$(call wr_colour,"compiling in non-debug mode",93)
 	$(MAKE) clean
-	bear -- make
+	@touch compile_commands.json
 endif
 
 # include the dependencies