Vscode As MCP Server

🚀 Using VSCode as an MCP Server

This is a VSCode extension that transforms your VSCode into an MCP server, supporting advanced coding assistance from clients like Claude Desktop.

Marketplace

✨ Features

Code Editing Support

• View code changes proposed by the LLM (via diff), allowing you to accept, reject, or provide feedback.
• Send real-time diagnostic information (e.g., type errors) to the LLM for immediate fixes.

Terminal Operations

• Execute commands in VSCode's integrated terminal (supports background/foreground execution with timeout settings).

Preview Tools

• Preview URLs directly in VSCode's built-in browser (e.g., automatically open the browser for preview after starting a Vite server).

Multi-Instance Switching

• Easily switch between multiple open VSCode windows for the MCP server (just click the status bar icon).

Relay Function (Experimental)

• Relay and expose the built-in MCP server introduced in VSCode version 1.99.
• Allow external access to tools provided by other MCP extensions, such as GitHub Copilot.

📦 Available Built-in Tools

• execute_command: Execute commands in VSCode's integrated terminal
• code_checker: Get diagnostic information for the current code
• focus_editor: Focus on a specific position in a file
• list_debug_sessions / start_debug_session / restart_debug_session / stop_debug_session: Manage debug sessions
• text_editor: File operations (view, replace, create, insert, undo)
• list_directory: List directory contents in a tree format
• get_terminal_output: Get the output of a specified terminal
• list_vscode_commands / execute_vscode_command: List and execute any VSCode command
• preview_url: Open a URL in VSCode's built-in browser

📦 Installation and Setup

1. Install the extension from the VSCode Marketplace.

2. Configure your MCP client:

   • Using mcp-installer: Simply instruct it to "install the VSCode-as-MCP server for VSCode".
   • Other clients like Claude Desktop: Add the following to the configuration file (claude_desktop_config.json):

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "vscode": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": ["vscode-as-mcp-server"]
       }
     }
   }
   

3. Check the MCP server status in the status bar at the bottom right of VSCode:

   • (Server icon): The server is running.
   • ∅: Click to start the server.

📚 Development Motivation

This extension aims to alleviate the high costs associated with pay-as-you-go coding tools like Roo Code and Cursor. It is an affordable and VSCode-native alternative.

Welcome to submit bug reports and feedback! 🙇

📚 Future Roadmap

• Optionally expose specific built-in MCP servers
• WebView-based approval interface (similar to Roo Code)
• Integrate VSCode's file history (timeline)
• Instantly switch between auto-approval and activation/deactivation of tools
• Customize server port configuration