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Connect VS Code + Copilot

GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code supports agent mode, where Copilot can call MCP servers. Connecting Stack Automation gives Copilot Chat the ability to manage your spaces, blueprints, and deployments while you stay in your editor.

Setup is: install the Stack Automation VS Code extension, add one MCP server entry to your mcp.json, and start the server.

Prerequisites​

  • Visual Studio Code with GitHub Copilot and Copilot Chat (agent mode).
  • A Stack Automation API token

Install​

  1. In the VS Code + Copilot panel, click Download stack-automation.vsix.

  2. Install the extension via the Command Palette (Extensions: Install from VSIX…) or from a terminal:

    code --install-extension stack-automation.vsix

  3. Open the Command Palette and run MCP: Open User Configuration, then merge the snippet below into your mcp.json. Replace the token with your own:

    {
      "servers": {
        "stack-automation": {
          "type": "http",
          "url": "https://stackautomation.cisco.com/mcp",
          "headers": {
            "Authorization": "Bearer <YOUR_STACK_AUTOMATION_TOKEN>"
          }
        }
      }
    }

    Use the exact url shown in your VS Code + Copilot panel — the MCP endpoint can differ per deployment.

  4. Click Start next to the server config in VS Code, open Copilot Chat in Agent mode, and try: "List my Stack Automation deployments."

When you're done, tick "I've completed the setup — mark as connected" in the panel.

Operate​

In Copilot Chat (agent mode), ask for Stack Automation actions in plain language. Copilot will call the stack-automation server and may ask you to confirm tool calls.

Verify the connection:

List my Stack Automation deployments.

Everyday examples:

  • "Launch the aws-eks-sandbox blueprint in the dev space."
  • "Show me the status and endpoints of my running deployments."
  • "Open the blueprint definition for terraform-vpc so I can edit it."
  • "Deploy the module in this repo as a Stack Automation blueprint."

Troubleshooting​

  • Server won't start. Re-check the mcp.json snippet for valid JSON and confirm the url matches your panel. Then click Start again.
  • 401 / unauthorized. The Authorization header must read Bearer <token> with a valid, current token. Regenerate in Stack Automation if needed and update mcp.json.
  • Copilot doesn't call the tool. Make sure you're in Agent mode (not Ask mode) and that the stack-automation server shows as running.