Automatio

Add Automatio's MCP server to VS Code

You ask GitHub Copilot to research live data or read documentation URLs, and the AI uses Automatio's tools to bring that information into your editor. Copilot processes the markdown or data to edit your files or answer technical questions.

What to ask

Type it in your AI app once Automatio is connected. Send it as written, or change the details to fit your case.

Read the documentation page at [https://docs.example.com/api] and update my local api-config.ts file to include the three new endpoints described there.

How it works

  1. 1

    Add the server

    Open the Command Palette and select MCP: Add Server. Alternatively, create a .vscode/mcp.json file in your project root with this configuration: {"servers":{"automatio":{"type":"http","url":"https://automatio.ai/api/v1/mcp"}}}.

  2. 2

    Sign in and authorize

    A browser window opens on your first connection attempt. Sign in to your Automatio account, choose a daily credit limit of 500, 2,000, or 10,000 credits, and press Allow to grant the five core tools access.

  3. 3

    Enable Agent mode

    Open the GitHub Copilot chat and ensure you are in Agent mode. The tools will not trigger in standard chat modes.

  4. 4

    Configure workspace policy

    If you are on a Copilot Business or Enterprise plan, ensure your administrator has enabled the MCP servers in Copilot policy in the organization settings.

What you get

GitHub Copilot executes the requested tool, such as web_read_url or web_search. The server returns the main content of the page as markdown or a list of search results directly to the AI.

You can then see the AI use this information to write code, update configuration files, or summarize documentation. Always check the tool output in the chat logs to verify the correct page was read before accepting file changes.

Good to know

  • Automatio tools only work when GitHub Copilot is set to Agent mode.
  • Every tool call costs your own Automatio credits, such as 1 credit to read a URL or 3 for crypto prices.
  • Copilot Business and Enterprise users need an admin to turn on the MCP servers policy.
  • A sign-in connection is limited to the five core web and crypto tools and cannot be expanded without using an API key.

Variations to try

Search for libraries

Search the web for the latest version of the [library-name] npm package and tell me the breaking changes from the last major release.

Check market data

Get the current price and 24h change for [Bitcoin] and add it as a comment at the top of my trading-script.py file.

Take a screenshot

Take a full page screenshot of [URL] in dark mode so I can compare the UI layout with my local development server.

Questions

How do I pay for tool calls in VS Code?

Each call is paid from your Automatio credit balance. For example, searching the web costs 1 credit and getting crypto prices costs 3 credits. The server reports the cost in its response, and calls stop if you hit your daily limit or run out of balance.

Can I use my Automatio API key instead of signing in?

Yes, you can use a key to access more tools like Reddit or YouTube. Add a header to your .vscode/mcp.json configuration in the format "headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer aut_your_key_here"}.

Does Automatio see my source code?

No, Automatio only receives the specific parameters sent to the tools, like a URL to read or a search query. It never sees your local project files, your private chats, or your saved keys.

Why aren't the tools appearing in my Copilot chat?

First, ensure you have successfully authorized the connection in your browser. Second, verify you are using Agent mode, as tools are not available in the basic chat interface. Finally, if you are on a managed plan, check that your organization admin has enabled MCP servers.

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