Bring Data Catalog
to VS Code Copilot
Create your Vinkius account to connect Alation to VS Code Copilot and start using all 10 AI tools in minutes. Fully managed, enterprise secure, and ready to use without writing a single line of code. No hosting, no server setup — just connect and start using.
GDPR Free for SubscribersCompatible with every major AI agent and IDE
Gemini
What is the Alation MCP Server?
Connect your Alation instance to your AI agent to unlock enterprise-grade data intelligence and discovery. From searching for critical data assets across your catalog to auditing table schemas and retrieving saved SQL queries, your agent handles your data governance through natural conversation.
What you can do
- Catalog Discovery — Search for schemas, tables, and data sources using keywords and advanced filters
- Metadata Auditing — Retrieve detailed logical and physical metadata, including descriptions, stewards, and tags
- Lineage Analysis — Trace data lineage to understand the provenance and impact of your data assets
- Query Orchestration — List saved SQL queries and retrieve cached execution results from Alation Compose
- Custom Field Management — List and audit custom governance fields associated with your catalog objects
How it works
- Subscribe to this server
- Enter your Alation Instance URL and API Access Token
- Start discovering and managing your data assets through Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client
Who is this for?
- Data Analysts — quickly find relevant tables and schemas for reporting and analysis
- Data Governors — audit metadata completion and manage custom field values across the catalog
- Engineers — trace data lineage and inspect column definitions using simple commands
- Business Intelligence Leads — retrieve saved queries and monitor data asset endorsements
Built-in capabilities (10)
Trace data lineage
Get object details
Get cached query results
List columns in table
List governance fields
List catalog data sources
List saved SQL queries
List schemas in data source
List tables in schema
Search for data assets
Why VS Code Copilot?
GitHub Copilot Agent mode brings Alation data directly into your VS Code workflow. With a project-scoped config, the entire team shares access to 10 tools. Copilot queries live data, generates typed code, and writes tests from actual API responses, all without leaving the editor.
- —
VS Code is used by over 70% of developers. adding MCP tools to Copilot means your team can leverage external data without leaving their primary editor
- —
Project-scoped MCP configs (
.vscode/mcp.json) let you commit server configurations to your repository, ensuring the entire team shares the same tool access - —
Copilot's Agent mode integrates MCP tools seamlessly with file editing, terminal commands, and workspace search in a single agentic loop
- —
GitHub's enterprise compliance and audit features extend to MCP tool usage, providing visibility into how AI interacts with external services
Alation in VS Code Copilot
Why run Alation with Vinkius?
The Alation connection runs on our fully managed, secure cloud infrastructure. We handle the hosting, maintenance, and security so you don't have to deal with servers or code. All 10 tools are ready to work instantly without any complex setup.
You stay in complete control of your data. Your AI only accesses the information you approve, keeping your sensitive passwords and private details completely safe. Plus, with automatic optimizations, your AI works faster and more efficiently.
* Every connection is hosted and maintained by Vinkius. We handle the security, updates, and infrastructure so you don't have to write code or manage servers. See our infrastructure
Over 4,000 integrations ready for AI agents
Explore a vast library of pre-built integrations, optimized and ready to deploy.
Connect securely in under 30 seconds
Generate tokens to authenticate and link external services in a single step.
Complete visibility into every agent action
Audit live requests, latency, success rates, and active security compliance policies.
Optimize spending and track token ROI
Analyze real-time token consumption and cost metrics detailed by connection.
Explore our live AI Agents Analytics dashboard to see it all working
This dashboard is included when you connect Alation using Vinkius. You will never be left in the dark about what your AI agents are doing with your tools.
Alation and 4,000+ other AI tools. No hosting, no code, ready to use.
Professionals who connect Alation to VS Code Copilot through Vinkius don't need to write code, manage servers, or worry about security. Everything is pre-configured, secure, and runs automatically in the background.
Raw MCP | Vinkius | |
|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-use MCPs | Find and configure each manually | 4,000+ MCPs ready to use |
| Connection Setup | Manual coding & server setup | 1-click instant connection |
| Server Hosting | You host it yourself (needs 24/7 uptime) | 100% hosted & managed by Vinkius |
| Security & Privacy | Stored in plaintext config files | Bank-grade encrypted vault |
| Activity Visibility | Blind execution (no logs or tracking) | Live dashboard with real-time logs |
| Cost Control | Runaway AI token spend risk | Automatic budget limits |
| Revoking Access | Must delete files or code to stop | 1-click disconnect button |
How Vinkius secures
Alation for VS Code Copilot
Every request between VS Code Copilot and Alation is protected by our secure gateway. We automatically keep your sensitive data private, prevent unauthorized access, and let you disconnect instantly at any time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my Alation API Access Token?
Log in to Alation, click on your user avatar, and go to Account Settings > Authentication. You can generate a Refresh Token there, which can then be used to obtain short-lived Access Tokens for the API.
Can I search for specific table types?
Yes! The search_catalog tool allows you to apply filters by object type (otype), such as table, schema, or attribute. This ensures your search results are highly relevant.
Does this support viewing data lineage?
Yes, the get_lineage tool retrieves technical metadata describing the relationships and data flow between different assets in your catalog.
Which VS Code version supports MCP?
MCP support requires VS Code 1.99 or later with the GitHub Copilot extension. Ensure both are updated to the latest version. Older versions of Copilot may not expose the Agent mode toggle.
How do I switch to Agent mode?
Open the Copilot Chat panel and look for two mode options: "Ask" and "Agent". Click "Agent" to enable autonomous tool calling. In Ask mode, Copilot provides conversational answers but cannot invoke MCP tools.
Can I restrict which MCP tools Copilot can access?
Yes. VS Code shows a tool consent dialog before any MCP tool is invoked for the first time. You can also configure tool access policies at the organization level through GitHub Copilot settings.
Does MCP work in VS Code Remote or Codespaces?
Yes. MCP servers configured via .vscode/mcp.json work in Remote SSH, WSL, and GitHub Codespaces environments. The MCP connection is established from the remote host, so ensure the server URL is accessible from that environment.
MCP tools not available
Ensure you are in Agent mode in Copilot Chat. MCP tools only appear in Agent mode.
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