How to Use the CARTO MCP in Windsurf

Q: Can Windsurf run spatial SQL queries against my CARTO data?

Yes, the agent executes synchronous queries using the executesqlquery tool for fast data exploration. It handles PostGIS and BigQuery spatial functions natively. The results come back as JSON rows straight to your editor.

Windsurf Cascade runs heavy spatial queries and builds map layers directly from your CARTO warehouse via this MCP Server.

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Map Layer Discovery via MCP Server

The `list_map_datasets` tool lets your agent read your entire CARTO organization catalog instantly. Cascade scans your existing visualization datasets to find the exact table names and row counts needed for your current project. You ask for the store locations, and Windsurf pulls the metadata without you opening a browser. If the data is missing, Cascade pivots to the `import_external_file` tool. It grabs a remote CSV or GeoJSON URL, loads it into your warehouse, and checks the progress using `get_import_status`. The agent chains these steps autonomously, setting up your spatial environment before writing a single line of frontend code.

Asynchronous Spatial SQL Processing

Using the `create_async_sql_job` tool, Windsurf kicks off massive spatial joins that exceed standard timeouts through the MCP connection. You tell Cascade to calculate overlapping service areas across a million records. The agent submits the query to your Snowflake or BigQuery backend and gets a job ID back. Instead of hanging the session, Cascade tracks the execution state via `poll_async_job_status`. It waits for the data warehouse to finish the heavy lifting. Once the status hits "done", Windsurf fetches the resulting table schema and immediately starts drafting the map component for your React application.

Autonomous Routing and Catchment Zones

Windsurf calls the `calculate_isoline` tool to generate reachable area polygons based on drive times. You need a 15-minute delivery zone for a new ghost kitchen. Cascade hits the CARTO LDS API, gets the GeoJSON contour, and embeds it directly into your local mapping configuration. When you need point-to-point logistics, the agent switches to `calculate_route`. It calculates the optimal driving path between two coordinates, returning the exact distance in meters. If you drop a list of 50 raw addresses into your workspace, Windsurf uses `geocode_batch_addresses` to convert them all into usable coordinates in one shot.

Setup guide

Set up CARTO MCP in Windsurf

Prerequisites

Windsurf IDE installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Click the Cascade assistant icon in the sidebar, then click the hammer icon (🔨) at the top of the panel. Select "Configure" to open ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
2

Add the CARTO MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Refresh MCPs

Go back to the hammer icon (🔨) in Cascade and click "Refresh". Windsurf will detect the new server. No full restart is needed — the connection is hot-reloaded.
4

Verify in Cascade

Start a new Cascade conversation and ask something like "Show my CARTO payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the CARTO tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.

mcp_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "carto-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 CARTO. 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 CARTO MCP in Windsurf

Open your Settings menu and navigate to the Cascade MCP Servers UI. Add the Vinkius endpoint URL and your access token. Click Refresh in the panel, and Cascade will immediately discover the spatial tools.

Yes, the agent executes synchronous queries using the `execute_sql_query` tool for fast data exploration. It handles PostGIS and BigQuery spatial functions natively. The results come back as JSON rows straight to your editor.

Cascade automatically switches to batch processing for anything over 60 seconds. It fires off the query, tracks the job ID, and polls the status. You keep working on other files while the data warehouse crunches the geometry.

Your agent handles large customer lists by passing them to the batch geocoding endpoint. It consumes LDS credits efficiently instead of making individual API calls. The output includes match quality indicators for every address.

Your proprietary store coordinates and customer addresses never touch persistent storage on our end. The server executes inside an ephemeral V8 Isolate Sandbox that destroys itself after the request. Zero-trust architecture guarantees the memory state vanishes the second the connection drops.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

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