VSCode Context MCP

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides VSCode context and filesystem operations for AI assistants.

Overview

VSCode Context MCP creates a bridge between AI assistants and your VSCode environment. It enables AI models to:

1. Access the current VSCode context (active files, tabs, terminal output)
2. Perform filesystem operations with controls
3. Execute shell commands in a controlled environment

This allows AI assistants to provide more relevant and context-aware help for software development tasks.

Features

VSCode Context Access

- Get current project path - Retrieve active file contents and metadata - List open editor tabs - Access diagnostic problems (warnings/errors) - Retrieve terminal output - Access files attached to the workspace

Filesystem Operations

- Read/write files - Edit files with line-based changes - Create directories - List directory contents - Generate directory trees - Search for files - Get file metadata - Move/rename files

Command Execution

- Run shell commands with output capture - Controlled execution environment

⚠️ Security Warning

Be careful what you ask this server to run! In the Claude Desktop app, use Approve Once (not Allow for This Chat) so you can review each command, and use Deny if you don't trust the command. Permissions are dictated by the user running the server.

This tool does not yet implement comprehensive security measures, so treat it with caution.

Integration with AI Assistants

This MCP server is designed to work with Model Context Protocol-compatible AI assistants. It enhances their ability to:

- Understand your code context
- Make informed suggestions
- Provide relevant examples
- Help debug issues
- Perform file operations on your behalf

1. Install the VSCode Extension

> Note: Before installation, it's recommended to uninstall similar MCP servers such as filesystem MCP to avoid conflicts.

- Download the VSIX package from here
- Open VSCode
- Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) to open the command palette
- Type "Extensions: Install from VSIX..." and select it
- Navigate to the downloaded VSIX file and select it
- Restart VSCode after installation

For more information, visit the VSCode extension repository

2. Set Up and Run the MCP Server

First, clone or download this repository. Then, install the dependencies and build the project:

cd path/to/vscode-context-mcp
npm install
npm run build

Once built, update your Claude Desktop configuration to use the MCP server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vscode-context-mpc": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "C:\\path\\to\\vscode-context-mcp\\dist\\index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}

> Note: Make sure the file path in the args array matches your actual project location.

3. Test the Connection

To verify that everything is working correctly, try using this prompt in Claude:

Please check my current VSCode project and tell me what files I have open.

4. Add Files to Claude Context

You can add files to your Claude context in a few ways:

- Press Ctrl+L (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+L (macOS) to add the current file
- Press Ctrl+I or Cmd+I to add only the selected text
- Open the command palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P) and search for:
- "Add File to Context"
- "Add Selection to Context"

Tool Reference

| Tool Name | Description |
|----------------------|----------------------------------------------|
| get_vscode_context | Retrieve complete VSCode context information |
| get_attached_files | Retrieve a list of files attached to the workspace |
| get_project_path | Get current project root directory |
| get_current_file | Get details and content of the active file |
| get_open_tabs | List all open editor tabs |
| get_problems | Retrieve diagnostics (errors/warnings) |
| get_terminal_content | Get terminal output and history |
| run_command | Execute a shell command |
| read_file | Read contents of a file |
| read_multiple_files| Read multiple files at once |
| write_file | Create or overwrite a file |
| edit_file | Make line-based edits to a file |
| create_directory | Create directory structure |
| list_directory | List files and directories |
| directory_tree | Get recursive directory structure |
| move_file | Move or rename files and directories |
| search_files | Find files matching a pattern |
| get_file_info | Get detailed file metadata |

Roadmap

1. Make support for multiple VSCode projects
2. Accept/Revert functionality when writing or editing files
3. Redesign UI

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License – see the LICENSE file for details.