How does Zed know to use OAuth?

If a remote context server has no Authorization header configured, Zed runs the standard MCP OAuth flow. FishOut supports it, so the URL alone is enough.

Can I stop Zed asking before every FishOut call?

Yes, per tool: set mcp:fishout: to "allow" under agent.tool_permissions. Keep the destructive ones on "confirm".

Does the config reach external agents in Zed?

Zed forwards configured context servers to external agents over ACP, so an external agent running in Zed can see FishOut too.

Why does a pattern rule not match my FishOut tools?

Zed’s pattern rules match against an empty string for MCP tools, so a regex aimed at a tool name never fires. Set a default per tool under agent.tool_permissions.tools instead, keyed mcp:fishout: .

How do I give one profile only FishOut’s read tools?

Create an agent profile with enable_all_context_servers set to false and list the FishOut tools it may use under context_servers. Switch to that profile for questions; keep a fuller one for when you want it to write.

Where does Zed show that FishOut is connected?

Settings → AI → MCP Servers. A green dot means the server is active. If it is not green and there is no Authorization header, the OAuth sign-in has not finished.

MCP · Editor

Connect FishOut to Zed (MCP Setup)

Zed has the shortest remote-MCP config of any client: a name and a URL under context_servers. Leave out the Authorization header and Zed starts the OAuth sign-in on its own.

Start free Read the MCP docs

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

[01] CONNECT IT/ SETUP

Add FishOut to Zed

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

Add a context server

In Zed’s settings.json, add FishOut under context_servers. That is the whole entry.

settings.json

"context_servers": {
  "fishout": {
    "url": "https://mcp.fishout.ai/mcp"
  }
}

Because there is no Authorization header, Zed prompts you to authenticate with the MCP OAuth flow. Sign in to FishOut, pick projects, approve. A green dot under Settings → AI → MCP Servers means it is active.

Or use an API key

Set a header and Zed skips OAuth.

settings.json

"fishout": {
  "url": "https://mcp.fishout.ai/mcp",
  "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer <FISHOUT_API_KEY>" }
}

Check it worked. Settings → AI → MCP Servers should show FishOut with a green dot. In the agent panel, ask for yesterday’s mention count.

[02] WORTH KNOWING FIRST/ LIMITS

Before it bites

Stated before you hit them.

Zed asks before every tool call by default (agent.tool_permissions.default is "confirm"). You can allow FishOut’s read tools individually with keys like mcp:fishout:list_mentions.

Before v0.224.0 the setting was agent.always_allow_tool_actions; newer versions use tool_permissions.

To expose only some tools, use an agent profile with enable_all_context_servers set to false and list FishOut’s tools in it.

Not tested by us yet. Steps follow Zed’s documentation, read on 20 October 2026.

A tighter tool set. Allow the read tools without a prompt; everything else still asks.

settings.json

"agent": {
  "tool_permissions": {
    "default": "confirm",
    "tools": {
      "mcp:fishout:list_mentions": { "default": "allow" },
      "mcp:fishout:get_mention": { "default": "allow" }
    }
  }
}

[03] WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE/ ZED

A question in Zed

Invented brands; a real call.

Zed · agent panelfishout · mcp

What are people asking about our CLI flags this week?

list_mentionsread-onlyarguments

{
  "filter": {
    "query": "flag",
    "labels": [
      "question"
    ]
  },
  "limit": 10
}

r/commandlinetildeworks3d

Is --quiet supposed to suppress errors too?

Reply nowQuestion

Mostly one question: whether --quiet hides errors. It does not, but the help text in src/cli.rs does not say so — I can make that explicit.

[04] WATCH ANY PLATFORM/ SAME SERVER

What Zed can ask about

Every platform on your plan.

[05] WHERE YOU APPROVE IT/ SETTINGS

Connections live in FishOut

Revoke Zed under Settings → API & MCP; it stops at the next call.

API & MCP · connected clients2 connected

You — Zed

readseen just now

calls / 7d

Disconnect

Devon — Cline

read · writeseen 15h ago

calls / 7d

Disconnect

Questions

Sources

Zed — Model Context Protocol — read 20 October 2026

Playbooks to paste

Hacker News launch watch Keyword noise audit Top 5 posts to reply to today

Other clients

All on the MCP overview.