Can't do a release build in visual Studio Code despite having a valid tasks.json configuration for it

I'm using Visual Studio Code (1.103.0) for Linux (ubuntu 24-04-2 LTS) with Qt qmake instead of cmake. I am having trouble getting the IDE to build and launch a release version of my code. No matter what I do, I get a debug build. I have tested all sorts of solutions and diagnostic tests with the assistance of Microsoft CoPilot, but we are unable to get it to work.

here is my launch.json file ...

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "name": "Launch Pegs (Debug)",
      "type": "cppdbg",
      "request": "launch",
      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/build/debug/Pegs",
      "preLaunchTask": "Build Debug",
      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
      "MIMode": "gdb",
      "stopAtEntry": false,
      "args": []
    },
    {
      "name": "Launch Pegs (Release)",
      "type": "cppdbg",
      "request": "launch",
      "program": "${workspaceFolder}/build/release/Pegs",
      "preLaunchTask": "Build Release",
      "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}",
      "MIMode": "gdb",
      "stopAtEntry": false,
      "args": []
    }
  ]
}

Here is my tasks.json file ...

{
  "version": "2.0.0",
  "tasks": [
    {
      "label": "Build Debug",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "echo Debug && sleep 1 && qmake Pegs.pro CONFIG+=debug && make",
      "options": {
        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
      },
      "group": {
        "kind": "build",
        "isDefault": true
      },
      "problemMatcher": []
    },
    {
      "label": "Build Release",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "echo Release && sleep 1 && qmake Pegs.pro CONFIG+=release && make",
      "options": {
        "cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
      },
      "group": {
        "kind": "build"
      },
      "problemMatcher": []
    },
    {
      "label": "releaseBuildRun",
      "type": "shell",
      "command": "${workspaceFolder}/releaseBuildRun.sh",
      "problemMatcher": [],
      "presentation": {
        "reveal": "always"
      },
      "group": {
        "kind": "none"
      }
    }
  ]
}

and here is my project.pro file ...

CONFIG += c++17

SOURCES += src/main.cpp

QT += core gui
greaterThan(QT_MAJOR_VERSION, 4): QT += widgets

CONFIG(debug, debug|release) {
    DESTDIR = build/debug
    OBJECTS_DIR = build/debug/obj
    MOC_DIR = build/debug/moc
    RCC_DIR = build/debug/rcc
    UI_DIR = build/debug/ui
} else {
    DESTDIR = build/release
    OBJECTS_DIR = build/release/obj
    MOC_DIR = build/release/moc
    RCC_DIR = build/release/rcc
    UI_DIR = build/release/ui
}

# Default to debug if no mode is specified
!CONFIG(release):!CONFIG(debug) {
    CONFIG += debug
}

I can select the desired configuration with <Ctrl><Shift>D and choosing the debug or release path. It does not matter what I choose - I always get the debug build/run. I also played with the isDefault attribute but that did not make any difference.

I wrote simple bash scripts thata execute the desired steps, namely "qmake Pegs.pro CONFIG+=release" and then "make". This works well, but I would like the IDE to respect my choice.

Thank you for your attention to this question. I hope someone out there has an answer.

Choose Ctrl-Shift-D, then choose debug or release, and then press F5. The system "remembers" the debug/release selection. Each time you subsequently press F5, you get a debug or release build that is remembered from the initial selection.