How do I find my Alation API Access Token?

Log in to Alation, click on your user avatar, and go to **Account Settings** > **Authentication**. You can generate a Refresh Token there, which can then be used to obtain short-lived Access Tokens for the API.

Can I search for specific table types?

Yes! The `search_catalog` tool allows you to apply filters by object type (otype), such as `table`, `schema`, or `attribute`. This ensures your search results are highly relevant.

Does this support viewing data lineage?

Yes, the `get_lineage` tool retrieves technical metadata describing the relationships and data flow between different assets in your catalog.

Alation MCP Server for Cline 10 tools — connect in under 2 minutes

Name: Alation
Availability: InStock
Author: Vinkius

cline.bot/docs/mcp

Built by Vinkius GDPR 10 Tools IDE

Cline is an autonomous AI coding agent inside VS Code that plans, executes, and iterates on tasks. Wire Alation through Vinkius and Cline gains direct access to every tool. from data retrieval to workflow automation. without leaving the terminal.

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Classic Setup·json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "alation": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

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* Every MCP server runs on Vinkius-managed infrastructure inside AWS - a purpose-built runtime with per-request V8 isolates, Ed25519 signed audit chains, and sub-40ms cold starts optimized for native MCP execution. See our infrastructure

About Alation MCP Server

Connect your Alation instance to your AI agent to unlock enterprise-grade data intelligence and discovery. From searching for critical data assets across your catalog to auditing table schemas and retrieving saved SQL queries, your agent handles your data governance through natural conversation.

Cline operates autonomously inside VS Code. it reads your codebase, plans a strategy, and executes multi-step tasks including Alation tool calls without waiting for prompts between steps. Connect 10 tools through Vinkius and Cline can fetch data, generate code, and commit changes in a single autonomous run.

What you can do

Catalog Discovery — Search for schemas, tables, and data sources using keywords and advanced filters
Metadata Auditing — Retrieve detailed logical and physical metadata, including descriptions, stewards, and tags
Lineage Analysis — Trace data lineage to understand the provenance and impact of your data assets
Query Orchestration — List saved SQL queries and retrieve cached execution results from Alation Compose
Custom Field Management — List and audit custom governance fields associated with your catalog objects

The Alation MCP Server exposes 10 tools through the Vinkius. Connect it to Cline in under two minutes — no API keys to rotate, no infrastructure to provision, no vendor lock-in. Your configuration, your data, your control.

How to Connect Alation to Cline via MCP

Follow these steps to integrate the Alation MCP Server with Cline.

Open Cline MCP Settings

Click the MCP Servers icon in the Cline sidebar panel

Add remote server

Click "Add MCP Server" and paste the configuration above

Enable the server

Toggle the server switch to ON

Start using Alation

Ask Cline: "Using Alation, help me...". 10 tools available

Why Use Cline with the Alation MCP Server

Cline provides unique advantages when paired with Alation through the Model Context Protocol.

Cline operates autonomously. it reads your codebase, plans a strategy, and executes multi-step tasks including MCP tool calls without step-by-step prompts

Runs inside VS Code, so you get MCP tool access alongside your existing extensions, terminal, and version control in a single window

Cline can create, edit, and delete files based on MCP tool responses, enabling end-to-end automation from data retrieval to code generation

Transparent execution: every tool call and file change is shown in Cline's activity log for full visibility and approval before committing

Alation + Cline Use Cases

Practical scenarios where Cline combined with the Alation MCP Server delivers measurable value.

Autonomous feature building: tell Cline to fetch data from Alation and scaffold a complete module with types, handlers, and tests

Codebase refactoring: use Alation tools to validate live data while Cline restructures your code to match updated schemas

Automated testing: Cline fetches real responses from Alation and generates snapshot tests or mocks based on actual payloads

Incident response: query Alation for real-time status and let Cline generate hotfix patches based on the findings

Alation MCP Tools for Cline (10)

These 10 tools become available when you connect Alation to Cline via MCP:

get_lineage

Trace data lineage

get_object_metadata

Get object details

get_query_results

Get cached query results

list_columns

List columns in table

list_custom_fields

List governance fields

list_data_sources

List catalog data sources

list_saved_queries

List saved SQL queries

list_schemas

List schemas in data source

list_tables

List tables in schema

search_catalog

Search for data assets

Example Prompts for Alation in Cline

Ready-to-use prompts you can give your Cline agent to start working with Alation immediately.

"Search my Alation catalog for tables containing 'Customer ROI'."

"List the last 5 SQL queries I saved in Alation."

"Show the lineage for table 'Orders_Main' in the 'Production' schema."

Troubleshooting Alation MCP Server with Cline

Common issues when connecting Alation to Cline through the Vinkius, and how to resolve them.

Server shows error in sidebar

Click the server name to see logs. Verify the URL and token are correct.

Alation + Cline FAQ

Common questions about integrating Alation MCP Server with Cline.

How does Cline connect to MCP servers?

Cline reads MCP server configurations from its settings panel in VS Code. Add the server URL and Cline discovers all available tools on initialization.