Why does my Cursor config not work in VS Code?

Two differences. VS Code uses servers as the top-level key where Cursor uses mcpServers, and VS Code requires "type": "http" on remote entries where Cursor requires no type at all. The url and headers are otherwise the same.

Do I need an API key?

No. VS Code signs in to FishOut with OAuth, so the committed file is just the URL. If you do use a key, put it behind an inputs entry with "password": true and reference it as ${input:fishout-key}, so the file still contains no secret.

Do MCP tools work in Copilot ask mode?

No. MCP tools are available in agent mode only. If the tools picker does not list FishOut, check the mode selector before you check the config.

Where do I see why the server failed?

MCP: List Servers in the command palette, then show the output for FishOut. A 401 there means the sign-in was not finished — or, with a key, that the Authorization header did not resolve.

MCP · Editor

Connect FishOut to VS Code Copilot (MCP setup)

VS Code has first-class MCP support in Copilot agent mode, including OAuth sign-in. Its config file looks like Cursor’s but is not the same: a different top-level key and an explicit type.

Start free Read the MCP docs

Setup steps checked against VS Code's own documentation on 20 October 2026.

[01] CONNECT IT/ SETUP

Add FishOut to VS Code

https://mcp.fishout.ai/mcp, on every plan.

Create .vscode/mcp.json

The top-level key is servers, not mcpServers — this is the difference that trips people coming from Cursor. Remote servers need "type": "http" stated explicitly. Or run MCP: Add Server from the command palette, which writes the same thing.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "fishout": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.fishout.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Start it, trust it and sign in

VS Code shows a Start action above the server entry. The first run asks you to trust the server, then opens your browser on FishOut: sign in, pick the organization and projects, and approve. The trust step is mandatory and cannot be skipped from the config.

Or use an API key

Where nobody can complete a browser sign-in, create a key under Settings → API & MCP and use an inputs entry with "password": true, so VS Code prompts once and keeps the key in secret storage rather than in the file.

.vscode/mcp.json

{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "fishout-key",
      "description": "FishOut API key",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "fishout": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.fishout.ai/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:fishout-key}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Use it from agent mode

Open Copilot Chat and switch to agent mode. The tools picker lists the FishOut tools; leave them all on, or select a subset. MCP tools are not available in ask or edit mode.

Check it worked. Run MCP: List Servers from the command palette and confirm FishOut is running. From there you can show its output log, which is where an auth failure appears.

[02] WORTH KNOWING FIRST/ LIMITS

Before it bites

Stated before you hit them.

MCP tools only work in Copilot agent mode. Ask and edit modes will not see them, and the tools picker is the giveaway.

The top-level key is servers and remote entries need "type": "http". A config copied from Cursor will silently do nothing.

A .vscode/mcp.json is normally committed. The OAuth version holds no secret; if you use a key, use the inputs pattern so the file carries a placeholder.

The trust prompt appears once per server per workspace. On a fresh clone, everyone on the team sees it again.

[03] WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE/ VS CODE

A question in VS Code

Invented brands; a real call.

VS Code · Copilot agentfishout · mcp

Find mentions that read like feature requests for the API and group them.

list_mentionsread-onlyarguments

{
  "filter": {
    "query": "API",
    "labels": [
      "question",
      "has-a-problem"
    ],
    "sort": "best"
  },
  "limit": 15
}

Hacker Newssparrowhawk3d

Wish their API had cursor pagination instead of page numbers

Reply, carefullyQuestion

tidewater/etldiscussion #145d

Is there a bulk endpoint? We loop 2,000 calls a night

Reply nowQuestionHas a problem

Two groups. Pagination (3 mentions): people want cursors. Bulk writes (4 mentions): nightly jobs looping single calls. I opened api/routes.ts — a bulk endpoint would sit next to updateItem; shall I sketch it?

[04] WATCH ANY PLATFORM/ SAME SERVER