OrbitalMCP - Professional MCP Management + AI Chat with Token Optimization

Save 20-25% on AI costs through the built-in chat interface + Professional MCP management across all your machines.

OrbitalMCP provides professional MCP server management with cross-device sync and includes an integrated AI chat interface with proven token optimization. Perfect for developers who want centralized MCP configuration and cost-effective AI interactions.

Features

💬 AI Chat Interface with Token Optimization

Reduce your AI costs by 20-25% through the integrated chat interface!

OrbitalMCP includes a built-in AI chat interface that automatically compresses your messages before sending them to supported AI providers. Use this interface to benefit from proven token savings.

Benefits:

• 💰 20-25% reduction in token usage - Proven cost savings on AI API calls
• ⚡ Multiple AI providers - OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, OpenRouter, and more
• 🎯 Smart compression - Removes verbosity while preserving meaning
• 📊 Real-time savings tracking - See your token savings in the status bar and detailed breakdowns
• 🔄 Automatic context compression - Large context optimized before sending

How to Use:

1. Install the OrbitalMCP extension from the VS Code marketplace
2. Click the OrbitalMCP icon in the VS Code sidebar
3. Open the AI Chat panel
4. Select your AI provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, OpenRouter, etc.)
5. Enter your API key when prompted
6. Start chatting - messages are automatically optimized for token efficiency!

Token savings are displayed in real-time in the VS Code status bar and conversation summaries.

Important: Token optimization only works through the OrbitalMCP AI Chat interface. You must use the integrated chat panel to benefit from automatic token compression and cost savings.

☁️ Cross-Machine Sync

Your MCP server configurations follow you everywhere. Configure your servers once on OrbitalMCP.com, and they're automatically available on every machine where you install the extension. No more:

• ❌ Copying config files between devices
• ❌ Manually syncing settings across machines
• ❌ Reconfiguring your entire MCP setup on each computer

With OrbitalMCP, just install the extension and sign in - your entire MCP configuration is instantly synced and ready to use.

🎯 Universal AI Tool Integration

OrbitalMCP is designed for all AI development tools:

• Built-in AI Chat - Integrated chat interface with automatic token optimization (20-25% savings)
• Cross-machine MCP sync - Your entire MCP setup follows you everywhere
• 50+ pre-built workflows - Battle-tested automation templates for common tasks
• Multiple AI providers - OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, OpenRouter, and more
• Zero configuration MCP - Install extension, set API key, access tools immediately

Token Optimization: Available exclusively through the OrbitalMCP AI Chat interface in the VS Code sidebar. You must use the integrated chat panel to benefit from automatic token compression - external AI tools, CLI commands, and other extensions do not have access to this optimization.

🔍 Automatic Local MCP Server Discovery

The extension automatically scans your machine for MCP servers already installed by other AI tools:

• Claude Desktop configuration
• Cursor configuration
• Extension configuration
• npm globally installed MCP packages
• pip installed MCP packages

Discovered servers are listed in the "Local MCP Servers" section of the OrbitalMCP sidebar. To sync a local server to your OrbitalMCP.com dashboard (making it available across all your devices), simply click on the server in the tree view and select the "Sync to Orbital" button (cloud upload icon).

🌐 Dynamic Local MCP Server

Runs a local HTTP server on a dynamically selected port (defaults to 3001, automatically finds an available port if in use) to prevent conflicts with your projects. This server exposes OrbitalMCP tools directly to any AI agent.

🔧 Drag and Drop Toolchain Builder

Build complex workflows using our visual toolchain builder on www.orbitalmcp.com. Your toolchains become instantly accessible in the extension under the Toolchains section. Click any toolchain title to copy a ready-to-paste command for your AI agent. See examples at www.orbitalmcp.com/toolchain-examples.

⚙️ Comprehensive MCP Server Management

• MCP Server Integration: Automatically registers OrbitalMCP servers with VS Code's MCP system
• Automatic Package Installation: Prompts you to install required packages for servers that need them
• API Key Management: Secure storage and management of your OrbitalMCP API credentials
• Multiple Server Types: Support for stdio, HTTP, and SSE MCP servers
• Sidebar Explorer: Visual tree view of all your MCP servers (both from OrbitalMCP.com and locally discovered)

💬 AI Agent Chat Integrations

Use dedicated chat agents for each AI platform to access OrbitalMCP tools directly in conversations:

• GitHub Copilot Chat: Use @orbitalmcp agent
• Gemini Code Assist: MCP servers are automatically configured in VS Code settings and available directly in Gemini's chat interface

Note for Gemini Code Assist: The extension automatically configures MCP servers in your VS Code settings (cloudcode.gemini.mcp.server.list). Once configured, you can access OrbitalMCP tools directly through Gemini's chat interface without needing a separate chat participant.

Chat commands available in GitHub Copilot:

• /list - Show currently registered OrbitalMCP connectors
• /help - Display usage information for OrbitalMCP

Getting Started

1. Install the extension from the VS Code Marketplace
2. Set your OrbitalMCP API key using the command: OrbitalMCP: Set API Key
   • Don't have an account? Sign up at www.orbitalmcp.com
3. Automatic setup happens instantly:
   • The extension starts a local MCP server on an available port
   • Scans your machine for existing MCP servers from other AI tools
   • Displays discovered servers in the "Local MCP Servers" section
   • Registers all servers with VS Code's MCP system
4. Start using your tools:
   • For token optimization (20-25% savings): Use the built-in OrbitalMCP AI Chat panel in the VS Code sidebar
   • For MCP tool access: Use @orbitalmcp in GitHub Copilot Chat, or access from any supported AI agent
   • MCP tools appear automatically in each AI agent's MCP servers list

Local Server Discovery & Manual Sync

When you first install the extension, it automatically scans for MCP servers you've already configured in:

• Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json)
• Cursor MCP configuration
• MCP configuration
• Globally installed npm packages (e.g., @modelcontextprotocol/server-*)
• Python pip packages with MCP in the name

Discovered servers appear in the "Local MCP Servers" section of the OrbitalMCP sidebar. To sync a local server to your OrbitalMCP.com account, click on the server and select the "Sync to Orbital" button (cloud upload icon). This will:

• ✅ Upload the server to your account: Making it available across all your devices
• ✅ Enable dashboard management: Manage the server through the OrbitalMCP.com dashboard
• ✅ Auto-configure all agents: The server will be automatically configured for all supported AI agents on all your machines
• ✅ Prevent duplicates: Existing servers with the same configuration are skipped
• ✅ Work seamlessly across devices: Once synced, the server is available everywhere without manual config file copying

Server Installation and Manual Approval

When you refresh the OrbitalMCP Server List, some servers from your OrbitalMCP.com configuration may require a one-time installation of a command-line tool (e.g., via pip or npm).

Important: The extension will always prompt you for approval before installing anything. When a server requires a tool:

1. You'll see a notification showing the exact command that will be executed
2. You can choose to:
   • Install: The tool will be installed automatically after your approval
   • No: The server will be skipped and won't be available until you manually install the tool or approve it later

This ensures you have full control and visibility over what is installed on your machine. No automatic installations happen without your explicit approval.

Commands

• OrbitalMCP: Set API Key - Configure your OrbitalMCP API credentials
• OrbitalMCP: Clear Stored API Key - Remove stored API credentials
• OrbitalMCP: Refresh Server Definitions - Reload server configurations from OrbitalMCP.com
• OrbitalMCP: List Installed Servers - View all registered MCP servers and their tools
• OrbitalMCP: Test Local MCP Server - Verify the local HTTP server is running correctly

GitHub Copilot Chat Commands

When using @orbitalmcp in Copilot Chat:

• /list - Show currently registered OrbitalMCP connectors
• /help - Display usage information for OrbitalMCP

Configuration

The extension can be configured through VS Code settings (File > Preferences > Settings or Ctrl+,):

Connection Settings

• orbitalmcpConnector.baseUrl - OrbitalMCP API base URL (default: https://api.orbitalmcp.com)
• orbitalmcpConnector.connectionTimeoutMs - Request timeout in milliseconds (default: 10000)
• orbitalmcpConnector.localServerPort - Preferred port for the local MCP server (default: 3001). If this port is in use, the extension will automatically find the next available port.

Server Settings

• orbitalmcpConnector.enableStdioServers - Enable stdio-based MCP servers (default: true)

AI Agent Settings

• orbitalmcpConnector.enabledAgents - Select which AI coding agents should have their MCP configurations automatically updated by OrbitalMCP Connector (default: all supported agents)

Supported AI Integrations

AI Chat with Token Optimization (20-25% Savings)

Use the OrbitalMCP AI Chat panel in the VS Code sidebar with these providers:

• OpenAI (GPT-4, GPT-3.5, etc.)
• Anthropic (Claude models)
• Google Gemini (Gemini Pro, etc.)
• OpenRouter (Access to 100+ models)
• And more...

Note: Token optimization only works through the OrbitalMCP AI Chat interface. Use this chat panel to save 20-25% on all API costs.

MCP Server Auto-Configuration

The extension automatically configures MCP servers for these AI coding assistants:

• GitHub Copilot - Microsoft's AI pair programmer
• Gemini Code Assist - Google's official VS Code extension
• Cursor - AI-first code editor
• Continue.dev - Open-source AI code assistant
• Windsurf - AI coding assistant
• Zencoder - AI development tool
• Claude Desktop - Anthropic desktop application
• And other MCP-compatible agents

You can enable/disable specific agents in the extension settings.

Requirements

• VS Code 1.101.0 or later
• OrbitalMCP Account - Sign up at orbitalmcp.com
• Node.js and npm/npx - Required for some stdio-based MCP servers (optional, but recommended)
• Python and pip - Required for Python-based MCP servers (optional)

Troubleshooting

"Command not found" errors

If you see errors about missing commands (like npx @package/name or python -m package), this usually means:

1. Node.js/Python is not installed - Install from nodejs.org or python.org
2. Command not in PATH - Restart VS Code after installing Node.js or Python
3. You denied the installation prompt - Run the command manually or refresh servers to see the prompt again
4. Check the OrbitalMCP Output channel for detailed error messages (View > Output > OrbitalMCP)

Local servers not appearing

1. Check the Output channel: View > Output > OrbitalMCP for scan results
2. Verify local servers are installed: The extension only discovers servers that are actually installed on your machine
3. Manually refresh: Run OrbitalMCP: Refresh Server Definitions
4. Sync to OrbitalMCP: Click the "Sync to Orbital" button (cloud upload icon) on any local server to add it to your account

Local MCP server port conflicts

If port 3001 is already in use, the extension automatically finds an available port. You can:

• Check which port is being used in the Output channel
• Set a different preferred port in settings: orbitalmcpConnector.localServerPort
• Test the server with: OrbitalMCP: Test Local MCP Server

Servers not appearing in AI agents

1. Restart VS Code after installing the extension
2. Reload the AI agent (e.g., reload Copilot Chat window)
3. Check enabled agents in settings: orbitalmcpConnector.enabledAgents
4. Verify servers are registered: Run OrbitalMCP: List Installed Servers

Privacy & Security

• API keys are stored securely using VS Code's built-in secrets storage
• No data is sent to OrbitalMCP.com without your API key
• Installation prompts always show the exact command before execution
• Local server discovery only reads configuration files, never modifies them
• Manual sync control: Local servers are only synced to OrbitalMCP when you explicitly choose to do so
• All communications are encrypted via HTTPS

Support

• Documentation: orbitalmcp.com/docs
• Blog: orbitalmcp.com/blog
• Examples: orbitalmcp.com/examples
• Toolchain Examples: orbitalmcp.com/toolchain-examples

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

Made with ❤️ by the OrbitalMCP team

Visit orbitalmcp.com to discover and manage your MCP servers.