Create extension that exposing MCP endpoints that CoPilot can see
10:01 09 Feb 2026

How do you create an extension that exposes an MCP endpont such that CoPilot can see and use them. I have createda Hello Worldish extension that exposes MCP endpoints. They show up in vscode commands but CoPilot does not have the ability to use them. I know it must be possible because when I install the Database Client JDBC, and MySql extensions, then CoPilot has access to db-client tools and in CoPilot chat I can to find information from my database ex "use db-client tools to show the tenants in the Tenant database table". Please help me figure out my missing steps. Below is my conversation with Claude Sonnet:

What I Can Still See:

I still only have access to the same system-level MCP tools as before:

  • dbclient-get-databases

  • dbclient-get-tables

  • dbclient-execute-query

  • File tools (read_filecreate_file, etc.)

  • Terminal tools (run_in_terminal, etc.)

What I Cannot See:

I cannot see your custom tools:

  • ❌ hello-world

  • ❌ get-time

  • ❌ echo-message

  • ❌ get-extension-info

The Missing Connection

Even though:

  • ✅ Your MCP server is running (Terminal ID: 8cd62921-25ef-4825-be10-18e92e7c510f)

  • ✅ Your VS Code extension is installed

  • ✅ The tools work when tested directly

There's no connection between your running MCP server and this AI environment. Your MCP server is running in isolation - it can receive requests, but this AI system doesn't know how to find or connect to it.

What This Demonstrates

This perfectly illustrates the MCP architecture challenge:

  1. MCP Servers (your demo tools) can run independently

  2. MCP Clients (AI systems like me) need explicit configuration to connect

  3. MCP Hosts (like VS Code) act as bridges between servers and clients

Your demo successfully shows MCP server implementation, but we'd need additional configuration or a different AI environment that's specifically configured to discover and connect to your running MCP server.

vscode-extensions model-context-protocol vscode-copilot