Claude Code MCP Bridge
Let Claude Code work inside Visual Studio instead of around it.
The extension hosts an MCP server in the IDE, so Claude can build,
debug, run tests and refactor your solution the way you would.
Visual Studio 2022 (17.x) and 2026 (18.x) · C# / .NET projects
What you can ask
- "Build and fix the errors": Claude builds, reads the structured error list (code, file,
line, column), fixes the errors and builds again.
- "Break on line 42 and tell me why
total is negative": Claude sets the breakpoint, starts
debugging, then reads the locals and the call stack.
- "Where does this swallowed
InvalidOperationException come from?": Claude breaks when the
exception is thrown and reports its type, message and origin.
- "Run the
OrderService tests and explain the failures": Claude runs them in Test Explorer, reads
each failure's message and stack, and can debug the failing test.
- "Rename
Total to Amount everywhere": Claude uses Roslyn, with a preview, and applies
nothing that would break the build.
- "The app is frozen, take a look": Claude pauses it and groups every thread's stack, so a
deadlock is easy to spot.
No command-line tool can drive the debugger. This extension lets Claude do it.
Getting started
Install the extension and restart Visual Studio with a solution open.
In the Output window, select Claude MCP under Show output from. It shows the command
to run, including your machine's token:
claude mcp add --transport http visual-studio http://127.0.0.1:5230/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer <your-token>"
Add --scope user to make the server available from any directory.
Check that the server is connected with claude mcp list, then ask Claude to build your solution.
| Area |
Tools |
| Build |
build, build_status, cancel_build, get_errors, set_configuration |
| Debugger |
start, stop, pause, continue, step, run to line, set next statement, attach, detach |
| Breakpoints |
conditional, hit count, tracepoints, temporary, dependent |
| Inspection |
evaluate, get_locals, get_stack, get_exception, break_on_exception |
| Threads |
list_threads, switch_thread, get_all_stacks (grouped like Parallel Stacks) |
| Tests |
list, run, debug and cancel tests through Test Explorer (MSTest, xUnit, NUnit…) |
| Code |
find_symbol, go_to_definition, find_references, rename_symbol, apply_code_fix |
| IDE |
output panes, editor selection, unsaved documents, modal dialogs, named commands, UI Automation of any tool window |
On multi-targeted projects, set_configuration can build a single target framework. Several
Visual Studio instances can run at once: Claude lists them and asks which one to use if the target
is ambiguous.
Security
The server listens on 127.0.0.1 only and requires a per-machine token. It checks the Origin and
Host headers to block DNS rebinding.
Building and debugging run code from the open repository with your privileges. Do not use the
extension on code you do not trust.
Documentation
The full documentation
(français) covers every tool, a stdio relay that keeps Claude Code connected while Visual Studio is closed,
known limitations and troubleshooting. Report issues on
GitHub.
Licensed under Apache 2.0 with Commons Clause:
free to use, modify and redistribute, including at work. Selling it is not allowed.
| |
