How to Use the ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How does ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) handle large schemas in VS Code Copilot?

The agent uses postshape to define a specific subset of Postgres data, ensuring it only syncs relevant rows. This avoids overloading VS Code Copilot with unnecessary schema metadata.

Sync live Postgres shapes to VS Code Copilot to give your engineering team real-time database context.

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Connect ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) 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 ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) with VS Code Copilot

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Pull Postgres shapes directly into VS Code Copilot

The `get_shape` tool fetches real-time Postgres shapes using the ElectricSQL HTTP Sync API and feeds them to VS Code Copilot. By calling this tool with offset=-1, the agent pulls the initial snapshot of any table directly into your team's shared workspace. This allows engineers to query database state without leaving VS Code. Copilot uses the live JSON payloads to write accurate SQL queries or debug application logic based on the actual state of the database.

Request database subsets using this MCP Server

The `post_shape` tool lets VS Code Copilot request targeted Postgres subsets by sending shape definitions to the ElectricSQL sync engine. The agent specifies the exact columns and rows required for the current task. This MCP Server integration prevents token waste during collaborative coding sessions. Instead of pulling entire tables, Copilot requests precise shapes, keeping team-wide AI reasoning fast and cost-effective.

Track Postgres mutations in VS Code Copilot

The `get_shape` tool allows VS Code Copilot to monitor database updates by fetching deltas from ElectricSQL. The agent tracks the sync engine's offsets to keep its understanding of your Postgres data fresh. When debugging complex backend workflows, your team can ask Copilot to inspect the live database state. The agent reads the stream and highlights exactly which rows changed during execution.

Setup guide

Set up ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) 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 ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) 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 ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

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

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Common questions about ElectricSQL (Sync Engine) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root and commit it to your Git repository. Every developer on the team with VS Code 1.96+ and Copilot will automatically get access to the MCP Server tools.

No, this server does not support raw SQL execution. Copilot must use `get_shape` and `post_shape` to fetch pre-defined Postgres shapes, which protects your database from unauthorized queries.

The agent uses `post_shape` to define a specific subset of Postgres data, ensuring it only syncs relevant rows. This avoids overloading VS Code Copilot with unnecessary schema metadata.

The MCP Server will return an error to VS Code Copilot if the ElectricSQL HTTP Sync API is unreachable. Once the connection is restored, the agent can call `get_shape` again to resume fetching Postgres updates.

All Postgres shapes are processed locally by the server running on your machine or in your secure network. VS Code Copilot only receives the resulting JSON data shapes, ensuring your raw database credentials never leave your environment.

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