ranjanbinwani/mcp-server-extension

MCP Server Extension

Simple VS Code extension that automatically starts an MCP server for GitHub Copilot tool discovery.

Features

• Auto-starts MCP server when extension loads
• Three built-in tools for GitHub Copilot
• No configuration required

Available Tools

• add_numbers - Add two numbers together
• get_weather - Get weather forecast (simulated)
• list_files - List files in a directory

Installation

Option 1: Download Pre-built Extension

1. Download the latest .vsix file from the releases or directly from this repository
2. Open VS Code
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac) to open the Command Palette
4. Type "Extensions: Install from VSIX..." and select it
5. Browse and select the downloaded .vsix file
6. Restart VS Code if prompted

Option 2: Build from Source

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/ranjanbinwani/mcp-server-extension.git
   cd mcp-server-extension
   

2. Install VS Code Extension Manager (if not already installed):

   npm install -g vsce
   

3. Package the extension:

   vsce package
   

4. Install the generated .vsix file using the steps from Option 1

Usage

1. Install the extension - The extension automatically configures itself when VS Code loads
2. Restart VS Code after installation to ensure proper configuration
3. Open GitHub Copilot Chat
4. Ask questions like:
   • "Add 15 and 27"
   • "What's the weather forecast for New York for 3 days?"
   • "List files in the current directory"

GitHub Copilot will automatically discover and use the tools through the MCP protocol.

How It Works

The extension automatically:

• Installs the required Python dependencies (fastmcp)
• Configures the MCP server for GitHub Copilot discovery
• Sets up the proper MCP configuration files
• Makes the tools available through the stdio protocol

Troubleshooting

If GitHub Copilot doesn't discover the tools:

1. Restart VS Code completely
2. Check Python installation - Ensure Python 3.x is available in your PATH
3. Manual configuration - The extension creates configuration files at:
   • %USERPROFILE%\.vscode\mcp_servers.json
   • %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
4. Test the server independently:

   python mcp_server.py
   

   The server should start and wait for stdio input.

Requirements

• Python 3.x (in PATH)
• VS Code 1.80.0+
• GitHub Copilot extension
• For building: Node.js and npm

Development & Building

Making Changes to the Extension

1. Modify the code - Edit extension.js, mcp_server.py, or other files as needed
2. Test your changes:
   • Press F5 in VS Code to open an Extension Development Host window
   • Test the extension functionality in the new window
3. Update version numbers:
   • Increment the version field in package.json
   • Update server_version in mcp_server.py if you modified the server
4. Build the extension:

   vsce package
   

   This creates a new .vsix file with your changes
5. Install and test the new .vsix file using the installation steps above

Adding New Tools

Edit mcp_server.py to add your own tools:

@server.tool()
def my_custom_tool(param: str) -> str:
    """Description of what your tool does."""
    return f"Processed: {param}"

After adding tools:

1. Save the file
2. Test the Python server independently: python mcp_server.py
3. Rebuild the extension: vsce package
4. Reinstall the updated .vsix file
5. Restart VS Code to reload the MCP configuration

Publishing Changes

1. Update the repository:

   git add .
   git commit -m "Description of your changes"
   git push origin main
   

2. Include the .vsix file in your commits so users can download the latest version
3. Create a release (optional) for major updates:
   • Go to your GitHub repository
   • Click "Releases" → "Create a new release"
   • Upload the .vsix file as a release asset

License

MIT