RecipesMCPCoding

VSCode with Markup AI MCP

Coding

Overview

Connect VS Code to the hosted Markup AI MCP server at https://api.markup.ai/mcp/ so your AI assistant can run content agents. This guide follows VS Code’s MCP server configuration.

You’ll need a Markup AI account to continue. Sign up at https://console.markup.ai/signup.

Get Your API Key

  1. Visit https://console.markup.ai/signup and create an account.
  2. Copy your API key from the console.

Don’t paste secrets directly into committed files. The config below uses an input so VS Code prompts for your key once and stores it securely.

Configure VS Code (Workspace MCP)

VS Code supports MCP servers per workspace using .vscode/mcp.json (the user-profile mcp.json uses the same schema).

  1. Create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your workspace folder.
  2. Add the Markup AI server as a remote HTTP server. The input prompts for your API key and stores it securely:
{
  "servers": {
    "markup-ai": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.markup.ai/mcp/",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:markup-ai-key}"
      }
    }
  },
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "markup-ai-key",
      "description": "Markup AI API Key",
      "password": true
    }
  ]
}

Log In with OAuth Instead

Prefer not to manage a key? Drop the headers and inputs blocks entirely and leave just the URL:

{
  "servers": {
    "markup-ai": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.markup.ai/mcp/"
    }
  }
}

On the first connection, VS Code performs a Dynamic Client Registration handshake with the Markup AI server and opens a browser for you to sign in and approve access. VS Code stores the token, so there’s no key to manage—and because the file holds no secret, it’s safe to commit to .vscode/mcp.json and share with your team.

Don’t add an oauth block here. It exists for servers that issue a pre-registered client—its clientId is required whenever the block is present, and Markup AI doesn’t hand one out. Leaving oauth out is what lets VS Code register itself dynamically.

Restart & Verify

Reload VS Code (or restart it) and confirm the Markup AI tools are available in your assistant. When prompted, enter your Markup AI API key.

Test Your Setup

  • “Check this paragraph for brand-voice drift: [paste text]”
  • “Flag any hard-to-read sentences and rewrite them: [paste text]“

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure you’re using an MCP-enabled assistant in VS Code (e.g. GitHub Copilot Chat agent mode).
  • Confirm the URL is https://api.markup.ai/mcp/—including the trailing slash, without which the request redirects and VS Code can’t discover the OAuth endpoints—and that the top-level key is servers (not mcpServers).
  • If the browser login doesn’t open, make sure the entry has no headers block; an Authorization header suppresses OAuth.
  • Restart VS Code after changing configuration.