How to Use the Kong Gateway MCP in VS Code Copilot

Q: How do we share the Kong Gateway MCP Server config in VS Code Copilot?

Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your repository root and add the server configuration. When team members open the workspace in VS Code, Copilot automatically detects the server and enables tools like listroutes.

Q: How does VS Code Copilot handle certificate management on Kong Gateway?

Your agent uses createcertificate and createsni to bind SSL certificates to specific domain routing rules. You can upload and configure certificates directly by passing the file paths to Copilot in your chat.

Share your API Gateway configuration tools across your entire team using VS Code Copilot and committed workspace settings.

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Connect Kong Gateway MCP to VS Code Copilot

Create your Vinkius account to connect Kong Gateway 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 Kong Gateway with VS Code Copilot

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Team-Wide Gateway Management

`create_service` registers backend targets directly from VS Code Copilot, allowing your team to use shared workspace configurations. By committing the server settings to git, every developer gets instant access to configure routes. You can list existing configurations using `list_services` to prevent duplicate backend definitions across your microservices. This keeps your gateway clean and aligned across the entire engineering group.

Automated Upstream Configuration

`create_upstream` configures load balancing pools directly within your VS Code Copilot chat window. Your agent determines the optimal balancing algorithm and adds endpoints using `create_target` based on your workspace context. You can update upstream settings on the fly using `update_upstream` to adjust weights during local testing. This lets you simulate traffic distribution scenarios without leaving your primary IDE.

Secure Plugin Provisioning via MCP Server

`create_plugin` applies security policies like rate limiting or OAuth directly from VS Code Copilot. Your agent inspects your workspace code, identifies security gaps, and applies the corresponding gateway plugins. You can query active security rules using `list_plugins` to verify compliance before committing your code. This ensures all team members deploy endpoints that match your corporate security standards.

Setup guide

Set up Kong Gateway 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 Kong Gateway 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 Kong Gateway tools listed. Try asking: "List my recent Kong Gateway transactions" and Copilot will invoke them automatically.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kong-gateway-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 Kong Gateway. 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 Kong Gateway MCP in VS Code Copilot

Create a `.vscode/mcp.json` file in your repository root and add the server configuration. When team members open the workspace in VS Code, Copilot automatically detects the server and enables tools like `list_routes`.

Yes, if you configure the server with production admin credentials, Copilot can call `update_route` to alter live traffic paths. We recommend restricting this toolset to staging or development environments in your workspace settings.

Your agent uses `create_certificate` and `create_sni` to bind SSL certificates to specific domain routing rules. You can upload and configure certificates directly by passing the file paths to Copilot in your chat.

You need VS Code version 1.96 or higher along with the GitHub Copilot extension. This setup allows the editor to parse the `.vscode/mcp.json` file and map tools like `get_status` natively.

All gateway schemas, route rules, and certificate files are handled strictly within VS Code's local secure context. This local execution ensures that your routing architecture and private keys are never transmitted to third-party servers.

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