Claude Code in VS Code

Use the Claude Code extension’s own MCP configuration in Visual Studio Code (VS Code). Open the project workspace and install Node.js 22 or newer.

1. Install and sign in to the official Claude Code extension.
2. In its chat, enter /mcp to open server management.
3. Add a stdio server named owlmeans, using command npx and the arguments shown below.
4. Choose the intended project or user scope and save.
5. Start a new conversation and verify the connection.

Project configuration in .mcp.json is also supported:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "owlmeans": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@owlmeans/viable-mcp@latest", "--harness", "claude-code"]
    }
  }
}

Recent extension versions support adding servers in the /mcp dialog. If your installed version does not, create the supported project definition or use claude mcp add from the integrated terminal after installing the standalone CLI. The extension’s bundled executable does not guarantee that claude is available on your terminal PATH. See the official VS Code guide.

Configure this connection in the Claude Code surface. GitHub Copilot has its own MCP setup.

Check the connection

1. Complete OwlMeans browser sign-in when requested.
2. Ask the agent to call describe_platform and session_status.
3. Verify the intended project, workspace and inference mode.
4. Ask it to inspect or install the project harness.
5. Start a small generation or story workflow.

The examples use a local target. Add --target, cloud as separate arguments for a hosted project. Add --llm, local for delegated inference only when the connected coding agent will handle tasks. Mode selection explains the effects and costs.

Keep access tokens out of committed configuration. Restart the client after changing the server settings. If a tool is absent, inspect the connected server’s tool list and troubleshoot.

Referenced technology

Official mark, used unchanged to identify the technology. See the owner notice below.

Names and marks

GitHub and GitHub Copilot are brands of GitHub, Inc. Usage policy.

Visual Studio Code, VS Code, TypeScript and related Microsoft marks belong to Microsoft Corporation. Usage policy.

OpenAI, ChatGPT and related OpenAI marks belong to OpenAI; Codex is an OpenAI product. Usage policy.

Claude and Claude Code are Anthropic products; their names and marks remain with their respective owner. Usage policy.

Node.js, npx names and any associated marks remain with their respective owners or project maintainers. References identify products, standards or source examples. OwlMeans documentation does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by those owners.