> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kataven.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Kataven MCP to VS Code (GitHub Copilot agent mode)

> Add the Kataven MCP server to VS Code's Copilot agent mode. Different filename + key shape than other MCP clients — the exact details to copy-paste.

VS Code's MCP support is built into **GitHub Copilot agent mode**. Two things to note up front:

* VS Code uses `mcp.json` as the filename (not `claude_desktop_config.json` or similar).
* The top-level key is `servers` (not `mcpServers`!) — pasting the universal entry verbatim won't work here.
* MCP tools work in **Agent mode only**. Ask and Edit modes ignore them.

<Note>
  Already done [Install](/sdks/mcp/install)? Skip to step 2.
</Note>

## 1. Mint an API key + install the binary

`pip install kataven-mcp`, then mint a key at [hub.kataven.ai/settings](https://hub.kataven.ai/settings) → **API Keys** tab. Full walkthrough: [Install](/sdks/mcp/install).

## 2. Open the VS Code MCP config

Cmd+Shift+P (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux) → **`MCP: Open User Configuration`**.

This opens (or creates) `mcp.json` in your VS Code user-config directory.

## 3. Paste the VS Code-specific shape

```json theme={null}
{
  "servers": {
    "kataven": {
      "command": "kataven-mcp",
      "env": {
        "KATAVEN_API_KEY": "sk_live_acme_..."
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Note: `servers`, not `mcpServers`. Save.

## 4. Switch Copilot to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I or the chat icon in the sidebar). At the top of the chat panel, switch the mode picker to **Agent**. The `kataven_*` tools are now callable.

> List all my Kataven agents.

<Note>
  **VS Code's MCP is stdio-only.** Servers requiring SSE or Streamable HTTP transport won't work here today (`kataven-mcp` is stdio, so no issue). MCP tools also don't surface in Ask or Edit modes — only Agent mode invokes them.
</Note>

## 5. Verify in the dashboard

| What changed         | Open in Hub UI                                                       |
| -------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Agents               | [hub.kataven.ai/agents](https://hub.kataven.ai/agents)               |
| Phone numbers        | [hub.kataven.ai/phone-numbers](https://hub.kataven.ai/phone-numbers) |
| Live or recent calls | [hub.kataven.ai/conversations](https://hub.kataven.ai/conversations) |
| Campaigns            | [hub.kataven.ai/campaigns](https://hub.kataven.ai/campaigns)         |

## See also

* [VS Code MCP docs](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/mcp-servers) — official.
* [JetBrains setup](/sdks/mcp/clients/jetbrains) — same protocol from a different IDE.
* [Troubleshooting](/sdks/mcp/troubleshooting).