How to Use the Balena MCP in VS Code Copilot

Give your engineering team direct access to Balena IoT fleets inside VS Code Copilot.

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Connect Balena MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect Balena to VS Code Copilot and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Balena with VS Code Copilot

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`list_organizations` and `whoami` verify your current access level before you interact with the fleet. You commit a .vscode/mcp.json file to your repository, giving every developer on your team the exact same tools. Copilot Chat reads this configuration and connects to the managed MCP server. Your entire engineering department can now query edge infrastructure without managing individual API scripts.

Query infrastructure in VS Code Copilot

`list_fleets` and `list_devices` pull live OData queries straight into your editor. A developer asks Copilot to find all offline nodes in a specific application, and the agent returns a formatted list instantly. Engineers never have to leave the IDE to check a device's UUID. The AI client formats the API response into markdown tables right next to the code you are writing.

Manage edge variables and tags

`create_device_env_var` and `create_device_tag` let you push configuration updates through Copilot. When a developer needs to toggle a debug flag on a remote device, they just tell the agent to do it. This tool hits the API and confirms the change. You get immediate feedback on the mutation without switching windows or opening a terminal.

Setup guide

Set up Balena MCP in VS Code Copilot

Prerequisites

VS Code 1.99 or later with GitHub Copilot extension
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Open the Command Palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P) and run "MCP: Add Server". Select HTTP (Streamable) as the server type. VS Code will create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.
2

Add the Balena MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into your .vscode/mcp.json. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Switch to Agent mode

Open Copilot Chat (Cmd+Shift+I / Ctrl+Shift+I) and switch to Agent mode using the dropdown. MCP tools are only available in Agent mode — they do not appear in Edit or Ask modes.
4

Verify the connection

In the Copilot Chat input, type # to list available tools. You should see the Balena tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent Balena transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

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

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Balena. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Balena MCP in VS Code Copilot

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your workspace. Add the managed MCP server details, and Copilot will pick up the tools automatically.

Yes. By committing the configuration file to your Git repository, everyone gets access to the same fleet management capabilities.

The agent fetches organizations, fleets, devices, and OS releases. It uses OData queries to filter exactly what you ask for.

No. As long as you run VS Code 1.96 or higher, Copilot natively supports MCP servers.

We handle your device UUIDs and API keys in a strictly ephemeral environment. Vinkius terminates the isolated process the moment Copilot gets its response, ensuring no data rests on our systems.

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