vscode-debug-mcp

MCP server that lets AI agents control the VS Code debugger — set breakpoints, launch/attach debug sessions, step through code, inspect call stacks and variables, and evaluate expressions in the paused frame.

Works as a pair with the Debug MCP Bridge VS Code extension:

AI Agent ──(stdio MCP)──> vscode-debug-mcp ──(HTTP 127.0.0.1:7779)──> VS Code extension ──> vscode.debug API

Setup

1. Install the Debug MCP Bridge extension in VS Code (Marketplace / Open VSX: laststance.vscode-debug-mcp-bridge). It auto-starts and binds 127.0.0.1:7779.
2. Register this server with your MCP client:

Claude Code (~/.claude.json or project .mcp.json) / Cursor (~/.cursor/mcp.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vscode-debugger": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "vscode-debug-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Codex (~/.codex/config.toml):

[mcp_servers.vscode-debugger]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "vscode-debug-mcp"]

If the bridge runs on a custom port, set VSCODE_DEBUG_PORT in the server's env.

Tools

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | set_breakpoint | Set a breakpoint (optional condition / hit count / logpoint) | | remove_breakpoint | Remove breakpoints at a file:line | | list_breakpoints | List all breakpoints | | launch_debug | Start a debug session (inline config or launch.json name) | | stop_debugging | Stop the active debug session | | debug_continue | Continue execution | | debug_step_over | Step over next statement | | debug_step_into | Step into function call | | debug_step_out | Step out of current function | | debug_pause | Pause execution | | get_debug_state | Get current state (inactive/running/stopped) | | get_call_stack | Get call stack frames | | get_variables | Get variables in scope | | evaluate_expression | Evaluate an expression in the paused frame | | expand_variable | Expand object/array children by variablesReference | | get_threads | List active threads |

Prefer zero configuration? The bridge extension also accepts plain HTTP (curl 127.0.0.1:7779) — see the endpoint table.

License

MIT © Laststance.io