VS Code ​

VS Code is the world's most popular code editor, and since February 2025, GitHub Copilot Agent Mode has included production-ready MCP support. The Copilot agent autonomously reads files, runs terminal commands, edits code across multiple files, and calls MCP tools — all in a single workflow. Sub-agents delegate focused tasks, background agents handle long-running operations, and Plan Mode structures complex changes before executing them.

VS
VS Code
TRANSPORT
stdio · Streamable HTTP ✓
PLATFORM
Windows · macOS · Linux · Web
MCP VIA
Copilot Agent Mode

Copilot Agent Mode: Autonomous Coding with MCP ​

Agent Mode transforms Copilot from an autocomplete tool into an autonomous pair programmer. It reads your codebase, plans changes across multiple files, runs terminal commands, self-corrects when tests fail, and calls MCP tools when it needs external data. The agent sees MCP tools as part of its toolkit — if a tool is relevant to the task, it invokes it automatically.

The agentic architecture extends further:

  • Sub-agents — delegate focused tasks (test writing, documentation, code review) to specialized agents that run in parallel
  • Background agents — kick off long-running operations that continue even when VS Code is closed, notifying you when done
  • Plan Mode — review and refine an implementation plan before the agent executes any changes
  • Hooks — custom shell commands at agent lifecycle events (pre-tool, post-file-edit, etc.)
  • Agent Skills — workspace-defined .github/copilot-instructions.md files that teach the agent project-specific knowledge
  • Auto model selection — the agent picks the best model per task (Claude for code, GPT for docs, etc.)
  • Extensions view MCP — install MCP servers directly from the VS Code Extensions marketplace

How to Connect ​

1. Create a Token ​

In Vinkius Cloud, go to your server → Connection Tokens → Create. Copy the URL.

2. Add MCP Server in VS Code ​

Open Settings (⌘/Ctrl+,) → search "MCP" → click "Edit in settings.json" → add:

json
{
  "mcp": {
    "servers": {
      "vinkius": {
        "type": "http",
        "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/{TOKEN}/mcp"
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Use in Agent Mode ​

Open Copilot Chat → switch to Agent Mode (the agent icon). MCP tools appear automatically. Ask the agent to use them or let it discover them contextually.

FAQ ​

Where do I configure MCP servers in VS Code? Settings → search "MCP" → edit settings.json. Or add .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace for project-scoped servers.

Do sub-agents have access to MCP tools? Yes. Sub-agents inherit the MCP configuration from the parent agent.

Can background agents use MCP tools? Yes. Background agents run with full MCP access even when VS Code is closed.

Is VS Code Copilot open-source? The Copilot Chat extension has been MIT-licensed since June 2025. VS Code itself is also MIT.