VS Code
FreeNot checkedEnables direct interaction with VS Code through bidirectional communication, providing tools for file diffing, project navigation, shell command execution, and
About
Enables direct interaction with VS Code through bidirectional communication, providing tools for file diffing, project navigation, shell command execution, and editor information retrieval for seamless coding assistance.
README
This monorepo contains the VSCode MCP Server and its companion VSCode Extension, which together enable AI agents and assistants, like Goose or Claude, to interact with VSCode through the Model Context Protocol.
Project Structure
vscode-mcp/
├── server/ # MCP server implementation
└── extension/ # VS Code extension
Quick Start
- Install the MCP Server
npx vscode-mcp-server install
- Install the MCP Extension
Configuration
Goose Desktop Setup

- ID:
code-mcp - Name:
VS Code - Description:
Allows interaction with VS Code through the Model Context Protocol - Command:
npx vscode-mcp-server
Claude Desktop Setup
Add this to your Claude Desktop config file (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json):
{
"mcpServers": {
"vscode-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["vscode-mcp-server"],
"env": {}
}
}
}
Available Tools
The Code MCP server provides the following tools for AI agents to interact with VS Code:
create_diff
Creates and shows a diff for modifying existing files:
- Shows changes preview before applying
- Requires user approval
- Only works with existing files
open_file
Opens files in the VS Code editor:
- Used for viewing new or modified files
open_project
Opens a project folder in VS Code:
- Sets up working directory for AI agent
check_extension_status
Checks if extension is installed and responding
get_extension_port
Gets the port number for VS Code MCP Extension
list_available_projects
Shows projects from port registry file
License
This project is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.
Copyright 2025 Block, Inc.
This product includes software developed at Block, Inc.
Installing VS Code
This server has no published package — it is built from source. Open the repository and follow its README.
▸ github.com/block/vscode-mcpFAQ
Is VS Code MCP free?
Yes, VS Code MCP is free — one-click install via Unyly at no cost.
Does VS Code need an API key?
No, VS Code runs without API keys or environment variables.
Is VS Code hosted or self-hosted?
Self-hosted: the server runs locally on your machine via the install command above.
How do I install VS Code in Claude Desktop, Claude Code or Cursor?
Open VS Code on unyly.org, pick your client tab (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor) and press Install — the config is generated automatically, no JSON editing.
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