The updated Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration in Visual Studio Code allows GitHub Copilot Chat to connect with a range of external resources through a unified, open standard interface. As MCP support is in preview, now is an ideal time to discover how it can significantly enhance your development workflow.
What is MCP and Why Does It Matter?
MCP standardizes the way AI models, like Copilot Chat, interact with tools and services. When using agent mode, Copilot can seamlessly execute tasks such as file management, database queries, and API calls through MCP servers. This eliminates the need for bespoke integrations, expanding Copilot’s capabilities simply by adding new servers to your workspace.
- MCP clients (like VS Code) request tasks for the AI to perform.
- MCP servers expose tools via a consistent API, handling everything from files to external databases.
- Unified protocol ensures smooth discovery, invocation, and response, and supports both local and remote servers.
As the MCP ecosystem grows, an increasing number of official and community-built servers are becoming available, multiplying integration options for developers.
Getting Started with MCP in VS Code
Start by updating to the latest Visual Studio Code and ensuring access to GitHub Copilot. Enable MCP support by toggling chat.mcp.enabled in settings. Organizational policies can also centrally manage these settings to maintain consistency across teams.
How to Configure MCP Servers
You can add MCP servers at either the workspace level (shared with your team) or user level (available across all your projects). Configuration typically happens in a .vscode/mcp.json file or directly in user settings. VS Code streamlines this process with IntelliSense for editing and secure prompts for sensitive data, ensuring you don’t need to hardcode credentials.
- Workspace settings: Use
.vscode/mcp.jsonto distribute server configurations with your project.- User settings: Enable the same server everywhere using
settings.json.- Automatic discovery: VS Code can detect servers registered by other applications, such as Claude Desktop.
Always add servers from trusted sources and carefully review configurations for security.
Example MCP Configuration
Server configurations are expressed as JSON, specifying the server type, command, arguments, and environmental variables. For sensitive details like API keys, you can use secure input placeholders, VS Code safely stores these after the first use. Utilize naming conventions and variable references to keep things organized and reusable.
Leveraging MCP Tools and Resources in Agent Mode
After adding an MCP server, switch to agent mode in the Chat view to use its tools:
- Select and activate tools using the Tools button.
- Reference tools in chat prompts by typing
#toolname.- Attach files or database tables to chat sessions for richer context.
- Confirm actions before execution and edit input parameters as needed for control and safety.
MCP servers can also supply resources and prebuilt prompts, enabling you to quickly initiate or automate common tasks. Browse available resources, save them to your workspace, and trigger prompts directly from the chat interface.
Organizing and Managing Tools
As your collection of tools expands, group related ones into tool sets to streamline management. This helps you tailor chat prompts and workflows for specific project needs or team preferences.
Server Management and Troubleshooting
VS Code offers robust controls for MCP servers: start, stop, restart, view logs, and access configurations with ease. You can add servers via the command line or install them from URLs. For debugging, development mode supports hot reload and step-through debugging for Node.js and Python servers, while logs and output views help you resolve issues efficiently.
Build Your Own MCP Server
Need something custom? Develop your own MCP server using official SDKs in TypeScript, Python, Java, Kotlin, or C#. This flexibility empowers you to tailor Copilot Chat’s capabilities to your exact project or business requirements.
Elevate Your Development Experience
Integrating MCP servers with GitHub Copilot Chat transforms your workflow in Visual Studio Code. Whether connecting to databases, invoking APIs, or managing files, MCP provides a secure, extensible framework for extending your AI assistant’s reach. Start experimenting today to unlock new efficiencies in your daily development tasks.
MCP Servers Supercharge Copilot Chat in VS Code