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Enhance MCP server setup instructions in documentation #10977

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43 changes: 11 additions & 32 deletions docs/ide/mcp-servers.md
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Expand Up @@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ monikerRange: '>= vs-2022'
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that enables AI models to interact with external tools and services through a unified interface. In Visual Studio, MCP support enhances GitHub Copilot's agent mode by allowing you to connect any MCP-compatible server to your agentic coding workflow. This article guides you through setting up MCP servers and using tools with agent mode in Visual Studio.

## Prerequisites
+ [Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14](/visualstudio/releases/2022/release-history) or later.
+ [Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14](/visualstudio/releases/2022/release-history) or later. The latest servicing release of 17.14 is highly recommended as MCP features are actively being added with each release.

## How do MCP and Visual Studio extend GitHub Copilot's agent?

Expand All @@ -29,54 +29,33 @@ By standardizing this interaction, MCP eliminates the need for custom integratio

## Configuration example with GitHub MCP server

1. Create a new file: `<SOLUTIONDIR>\.mcp.json`. Using Visual Studio to edit this file is recommended so its JSON schema is automatically applied.
The following walkthrough requires 17.14.9 or later.

1. Create a new file: `<SOLUTIONDIR>\.mcp.json` or `%USERPROFILE%\.mcp.json`. Using Visual Studio to edit this file is recommended so its JSON schema is automatically applied.
2. Paste the following contents into the `.mcp.json` file

```json
{
"inputs": [
{
"id": "github_pat",
"description": "GitHub personal access token",
"type": "promptString",
"password": true
}
],
"servers": {
"github": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-e",
"GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
"ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${input:github_pat}"
}
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
}
}
}
```

3. Get a Personal Access Token for your [GitHub Account](https://github.com/settings/personal-access-tokens)
4. In Visual Studio, click the `Ask` dropdown in the GitHub Copilot Chat window, and then select `Agent`.
3. Save the file, then activate the CodeLens that appears over the new server to authenticate to this server using a GitHub account.

:::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/copilot-agent-mode/copilot-agent-dropdown.png" alt-text="Screenshot that shows Copilot agent mode selector." lightbox="media/vs-2022/copilot-agent-mode/copilot-agent-dropdown.png":::
5. In Visual Studio, click the `Ask` dropdown in the GitHub Copilot Chat window, and then select `Agent`.

5. When prompted, paste your personal access token into the dialog.

:::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/mcp-servers/model-context-protocol-personal-access-token.png" alt-text="Screenshot that shows entering the personal access token." lightbox="media/vs-2022/mcp-servers/model-context-protocol-personal-access-token.png":::
:::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/copilot-agent-mode/copilot-agent-dropdown.png" alt-text="Screenshot that shows Copilot agent mode selector." lightbox="media/vs-2022/copilot-agent-mode/copilot-agent-dropdown.png":::

6. Select the tools you'd like to use, for example, `list_issues`
7. Select the tools you'd like to use, for example, `list_issues`

:::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/mcp-servers/model-context-protocol-github-tools-list.png" alt-text="Screenshot that shows MCP GitHub tools." lightbox="media/vs-2022/mcp-servers/model-context-protocol-github-tools-list.png":::

7. Try a sample prompt: `list issues assigned to me on GitHub`
8. Copilot asks for permission to use a tool made available to it by the MCP server, select **Allow** with the scope you wish to proceed with.
8. Try a sample prompt: `list issues assigned to me on GitHub`
9. Copilot asks for permission to use a tool made available to it by the MCP server, select **Allow** with the scope you wish to proceed with.

:::image type="content" source="media/vs-2022/copilot-agent-mode/copilot-agent-tool-approval.png" alt-text="Screenshot that shows the agent tools confirmation options." lightbox="media/vs-2022/copilot-agent-mode/copilot-agent-tool-approval.png":::

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