How to Use the FOSSA (License Compliance) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How do we deploy FOSSA (License Compliance) to our team in VS Code Copilot?

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your repository root and add the FOSSA MCP Server configuration. Once committed, any team member using VS Code Copilot (version 1.96 or higher) will automatically have access to the compliance tools.

Q: Can VS Code Copilot check transitive dependencies using FOSSA (License Compliance)?

Yes, Copilot calls getrevisiondependencies to retrieve the entire dependency tree, including deep nested packages. This allows the agent to analyze licenses that do not appear directly in your top-level package files.

Q: How do we find which projects use a vulnerable package?

You can ask VS Code Copilot to run getparentprojects with the package locator. The agent will return a list of all registered projects in your organization that contain that specific dependency.

Share FOSSA compliance checks across your whole team with VS Code Copilot and this dedicated MCP Server.

See Vinkius in Action

Works with every AI agent you already use

…and any MCP-compatible client

MCP Servers - Free for Subscribers

Connect FOSSA (License Compliance) MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect FOSSA (License Compliance) 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.

GDPR Free for Subscribers

Setup FOSSA (License Compliance) with VS Code Copilot

Ask AI about this MCP

ChatGPT

Claude

Perplexity

Team-Wide Compliance Audits in Copilot

The `list_projects` tool pulls your entire organization's compliance catalog directly into VS Code Copilot. By committing the MCP Server config to `.vscode/mcp.json`, every developer on your team instantly gains access to these shared project lists. Your team can use Copilot Chat to query `list_revisions` and verify that their current branch matches the approved release candidates. It removes the friction of managing compliance settings across multiple developer machines.

Deep Dependency Traversal in VS Code

The `get_revision_dependencies` tool extracts the complete tree of open-source packages for any target build. VS Code Copilot uses this data to let developers audit transitive licenses during code reviews. When a developer asks about a specific package, Copilot uses `get_parent_projects` to show which other internal repositories depend on it. This makes it easy to assess the blast radius of a newly discovered licensing issue.

Instant Vulnerability Auditing via VS Code Copilot

The `check_vulnerabilities` tool runs dependency locators through FOSSA's vulnerability database to find active security flaws. VS Code Copilot displays these findings inline, allowing your team to patch security holes before merging pull requests using the MCP Server integration. You can use `get_revision` to double-check the security posture of a specific release. This ensures that your production builds are clean of high-severity CVEs before deployment.

Setup guide

Set up FOSSA (License Compliance) 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 FOSSA (License Compliance) 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 FOSSA (License Compliance) tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent FOSSA (License Compliance) transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

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

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by FOSSA. 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.

Why Choose Vinkius

Vinkius connects your tools to AI with real-time monitoring and automatic cost savings — all from one dashboard.

Connect FOSSA (License Compliance) now

Real-time monitoring

Live

visibility into every interaction

Connect your favorite tools to your AI and see exactly what's happening — every request, every response, in real time.

Built-in savings

60%

lower AI costs

Vinkius compresses data between your apps and your AI automatically. Lower bills every month — no configuration required.

Single dashboard

One

place for every integration

Every tool your AI connects to, managed from a single screen. One account, complete control.

Common questions about FOSSA (License Compliance) MCP in VS Code Copilot

Create a `.vscode/mcp.json` file in your repository root and add the FOSSA MCP Server configuration. Once committed, any team member using VS Code Copilot (version 1.96 or higher) will automatically have access to the compliance tools.

Yes, Copilot calls `get_revision_dependencies` to retrieve the entire dependency tree, including deep nested packages. This allows the agent to analyze licenses that do not appear directly in your top-level package files.

No, the MCP Server requires an active internet connection to query the FOSSA API for vulnerability and project data. However, the server itself runs locally on your machine, managing the API calls securely.

You can ask VS Code Copilot to run `get_parent_projects` with the package locator. The agent will return a list of all registered projects in your organization that contain that specific dependency.

Your API key is loaded as a local environment variable on each developer's machine and is never committed to git. The MCP Server uses this local credential to make direct, encrypted HTTPS requests to FOSSA, keeping your organization's project list secure.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.

OpenAI Agents SDK sdk-python

Google ADK sdk-python

Pydantic AI sdk-python

Vercel AI SDK sdk-typescript