vestige/docs/integrations/vscode.md

VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

Give Copilot a brain that remembers between sessions.

VS Code supports MCP servers through GitHub Copilot's agent mode. Vestige plugs directly in, giving Copilot persistent memory across every coding session.

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Prerequisites

• VS Code 1.99+ (or latest stable)
• GitHub Copilot extension installed and active
• vestige-mcp binary installed (Installation guide)

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Setup

1. Create the config file

Workspace (recommended — shareable with team):

Create .vscode/mcp.json in your project root:

mkdir -p .vscode

User-level (all projects):

Open Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P) and run:

MCP: Open User Configuration

2. Add Vestige

Note: VS Code uses "servers" (not "mcpServers").

{
  "servers": {
    "vestige": {
      "command": "/usr/local/bin/vestige-mcp",
      "args": [],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Use absolute paths. Run which vestige-mcp to find your binary.

Windows:

{
  "servers": {
    "vestige": {
      "command": "C:\\Users\\you\\.cargo\\bin\\vestige-mcp.exe",
      "args": [],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

3. Verify

VS Code auto-detects config changes — no restart needed.

Open Copilot Chat (agent mode) and ask:

"What MCP tools do you have?"

Vestige's tools (search, smart_ingest, memory, etc.) should appear.

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First Use

In Copilot Chat:

"Remember that this project uses Express.js with PostgreSQL and follows REST conventions"

Start a new chat, then:

"What's the tech stack for this project?"

It remembers.

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Secure API Keys (Optional)

VS Code supports input variables to avoid hardcoding secrets:

{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "vestige-data-dir",
      "description": "Vestige data directory"
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "vestige": {
      "command": "/usr/local/bin/vestige-mcp",
      "args": ["--data-dir", "${input:vestige-data-dir}"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

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Share Memory Config With Your Team

Since .vscode/mcp.json lives in the project, you can commit it:

git add .vscode/mcp.json
git commit -m "Add Vestige memory server for Copilot"

Every team member with Vestige installed will automatically get memory-enabled Copilot.

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Troubleshooting

Vestige not showing in Copilot

1. Ensure you're using agent mode in Copilot Chat (not inline completions).
2. Verify VS Code version is 1.99+.
3. Check the config file is at .vscode/mcp.json (not .vscode/settings.json).
4. Verify the key is "servers" not "mcpServers".
5. Test the binary manually:

   which vestige-mcp && echo "Found" || echo "Not found"
   

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Also Works With

IDE	Guide
Xcode 26.3	Setup
Cursor	Setup
Codex	Setup
OpenCode	Setup
JetBrains	Setup
Windsurf	Setup
Claude Code	Setup
Claude Desktop	Setup

Your AI remembers everything, everywhere.