VS Code Code Runner takes several seconds to run simple C programs on Windows

Question

I am facing a delay when running simple C programs in Visual Studio Code on Windows.

My setup:

• Operating System: Windows 11
• Editor: Visual Studio Code
• Language: C
• Compiler: GCC (MinGW)
• Laptop: MSI Katana 15, Intel Core i7 13th Gen, 16 GB RAM
• I use the Code Runner extension to run my C programs.

Problem:

When I click the "Run Code" button in VS Code, there is a noticeable delay before my program starts producing output. This happens even with simple programs, such as a program that only prints "Hello Bhai!" to the terminal.

I measured the compilation time using PowerShell's Measure-Command command. Compiling my C program took approximately 0.21 seconds.

I also uninstalled and freshly reinstalled VS Code, but I still notice a delay when running programs.

I would like to understand whether the delay is caused by Code Runner, terminal startup, the GCC execution process, or another configuration issue.

What troubleshooting steps can I use to identify the exact cause of this delay?

Thank you.