VS Code

VS Code can connect to Memside through MCP when GitHub Copilot Chat and MCP servers are enabled. The connection lets compatible agent tools read selected Memories, checkpoints, Operating Rules, and other saved project context.

The quickest setup is installation from the VS Code MCP gallery. Manual workspace configuration is available when gallery installation is not shown.

Before starting

The setup requires:

a current VS Code version with MCP support;
GitHub Copilot Chat when Memside will be used through Copilot;
a Memside API key from Settings > Developer & API.

Option 1: Install from the MCP gallery

Open the Extensions or MCP server view in VS Code.
Search for Memside.
Select Install MCP Server.
Choose VS Code or VS Code Insiders.
Open Copilot Chat and switch to Agent mode.
Open the tools menu and confirm that Memside tools appear.

If Memside does not appear in gallery search, use the manifest or manual setup below.

Option 2: Install from the manifest

Open the Command Palette.
Run the command for installing an MCP server from a manifest.
Enter this manifest URL:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/memside/memside/main/server.json

Run MCP: List Servers.
Select memside, then start or restart the server.

Option 3: Add Memside to a workspace

Use this option when Memside should be available only in one project.

Open the project in VS Code.
Create or open .vscode/mcp.json.
Add the following configuration.

{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "memside-api-key",
      "description": "Memside API key",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "memside": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.memside.com/mcp/",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:memside-api-key}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Save the file.
Enter the Memside API key when VS Code requests it.
Approve the server if VS Code asks whether it is trusted.
Open Copilot Chat in Agent mode.

The password input keeps the API key out of the workspace file. A shared .vscode/mcp.json file must never contain a real key.

Make Memside available across projects

Open the Command Palette.
Run MCP: Open User Configuration or MCP: Add Server.
Add the Memside server URL:

https://api.memside.com/mcp/

Add the bearer authorization header when requested.

Confirm the connection

Run MCP: List Servers.
Select memside.
Start or restart the server.
Confirm that it shows as running.
Confirm that tools were discovered.

Then run a read-only test in Copilot Chat:

Use Memside to find the active project checkpoint before starting work.

Troubleshooting

Update VS Code and the GitHub Copilot extension.
Confirm that the workspace is trusted.
Run MCP: List Servers and restart memside.
Check whether an organization policy restricts MCP servers.
Recreate the Memside API key if authentication continues to fail.