🔥 Ignition MCP

A VS Code extension that exposes tasks and launch configurations via MCP (Model Context Protocol), letting AI assistants run your builds, tests, and debug sessions.

Works with: VS Code + Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and any MCP-compatible client.

✨ Features

• 🌐 MCP Server: Runs an HTTP/SSE MCP server in the background
• ⚡ Task Execution: Run any VS Code task (from tasks.json) via MCP
• 🐛 Debug Sessions: Start any VS Code launch configuration (from launch.json) via MCP
• 📤 Output Capture: Get real-time task output
• 📋 Task Management: List, run, cancel, and monitor task status
• 🎯 Debug Management: List, start, and stop debug sessions
• 🔧 Auto-Configuration: Automatic setup for VS Code, Cursor, and Claude

🚀 Usage

🎮 Available Commands

📖 Example Workflow

1. Define tasks in .vscode/tasks.json:

   {
     "version": "2.0.0",
     "tasks": [
       {
         "label": "Build",
         "type": "shell",
         "command": "npm run build"
       },
       {
         "label": "Test",
         "type": "shell",
         "command": "npm test"
       },
       {
         "label": "Run Script",
         "type": "shell",
         "command": "npm run ${input:scriptName}"
       }
     ],
     "inputs": [
       {
         "id": "scriptName",
         "type": "pickString",
         "description": "Which script to run?",
         "options": ["dev", "build", "test", "lint"]
       }
     ]
   }
   

2. The extension auto-configures the MCP server on startup with e.g.:

{
  "servers": {
    "ignition-mcp": {
      "url": "http://localhost:<dynamic-port>/sse"
    }
  }
}

3. Ask your AI assistant to run tasks or start debugging:
   • "Run the Build task"
   • "List all available tasks"
   • "Run tests and show me the output"
   • "Run the lint script" (the AI will use the Run Script task with scriptName="lint")
   • "Start debugging the app"
   • "Stop the debug session"

🔌 MCP Tools

Each VS Code task and launch configuration is exposed as its own tool, plus utility tools for management.

⚡ Dynamic Task Tools

Each task defined in your workspace becomes a tool named task_<sanitized_name>. For example:

• Task "Build" -> tool task_build
• Task "npm: test" -> tool task_npm_test

Behavior based on task type:

• Background tasks (isBackground: true): Start immediately and return an executionId. Check progress later with get_task_status or get_task_output.
• Foreground tasks (isBackground: false): Wait for completion and return the result with exit code and output.

Task inputs are automatically exposed as optional tool parameters:

• If the AI provides all inputs (or they have defaults), the task runs immediately with those values
• If any input is missing, VS Code prompts the user for the missing values
• This allows the AI to provide what it knows and defer to the user for the rest

🐛 Dynamic Launch Tools

Each launch configuration defined in your workspace becomes a tool named launch_<sanitized_name>. For example:

• Config "Launch Program" -> tool launch_launch_program
• Config "Attach to Chrome" -> tool launch_attach_to_chrome

All launch tools are background (debug sessions are long-running):

• Returns immediately with a sessionId
• Use get_debug_status to check active sessions
• Use stop_debug_session to stop debugging

Launch inputs work the same as task inputs:

• All inputs are optional parameters
• Omit any input to have VS Code prompt the user

Pre-launch tasks are handled automatically by VS Code when the debug session starts.

📋 Task Utility Tools

🎯 Launch Utility Tools

📊 Status Bar

The extension shows a flame icon in the VS Code status bar. Hover to see the port, click for options.

📦 Installation

From Source

1. Clone or download this repository
2. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

3. Build the extension:

   npm run build
   

4. Package the extension:

   npx vsce package
   

5. Install in VS Code/Cursor:
   • Open the Extensions view
   • Click "..." menu -> "Install from VSIX..."
   • Select the generated .vsix file

🛠️ Development

1. Install dependencies:

   npm install
   

2. Open this folder in VS Code/Cursor

3. Press F5 to launch the Extension Development Host

   • This automatically runs the watch build task
   • A new VS Code window opens with the extension loaded

4. Make changes to the source files - they rebuild automatically

5. Press Ctrl+Shift+F5 (or Cmd+Shift+F5 on Mac) to reload the extension

🔧 Troubleshooting

Status bar shows "Served by another window"

Another VS Code window with the same workspace is already running the MCP server. Use "Take Over Server" from the status bar menu if you want this window to handle MCP requests.

Tasks not appearing

• Ensure tasks are defined in .vscode/tasks.json
• Reload the VS Code window
• Check that task definitions have no syntax errors

🖥️ Headless Mode

Run Ignition MCP without a VS Code GUI for use with AI agents like cursor-agent or claude CLI. This allows headless task execution and debugging using VS Code Server.

See docs/HEADLESS_MODE.md for complete setup instructions.

📄 License

MIT