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To connect an Angular workspace to the Angular CLI MCP server, configure it separately for each host: VS Code uses .vscode/mcp.json with a top-level servers key, while GitHub Copilot CLI uses a project MCP file with mcpServers. Both launch the server with npx and @angular/cli mcp.

Configure the Angular CLI MCP server in VS Code

  1. Open the Angular project folder in VS Code.
  2. Create .vscode/mcp.json in the project root.
  3. Add the Angular server configuration:
    {
      "servers": {
        "angular-cli": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@angular/cli", "mcp"]
        }
      }
    }
  4. Use VS Code’s MCP server controls to inspect and start the server, then make its tools available in chat. VS Code can also add servers from its gallery or let you configure them manually.

Angular’s documentation introduces the launch command as npx @angular/cli mcp; the -y argument in its VS Code example tells npx to proceed without an install confirmation prompt. In an interactive terminal, ng mcp displays host configuration instructions. See Angular’s MCP server documentation.

Configure it separately for GitHub Copilot CLI

Copilot CLI does not directly read VS Code’s .vscode/mcp.json: that file uses the top-level servers key, which the CLI does not support there. For a project-level setup, use .mcp.json or .github/mcp.json with the CLI’s mcpServers format.

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  1. In the repository root, create .mcp.json (or .github/mcp.json).
  2. Configure the Angular server using the CLI’s local/STDIO format:
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "angular-cli": {
          "type": "local",
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@angular/cli", "mcp"]
        }
      }
    }
  3. Use /mcp add or copilot mcp add if you prefer the CLI’s commands to configure MCP servers. Check the generated configuration’s key and server entry before using it.

GitHub’s CLI documentation explains its Copilot CLI MCP setup and its CLI command reference. A portable .mcp.json format is not interchangeable with VS Code’s .vscode/mcp.json format; the host-specific configuration shapes matter.

Trust and local-server safety

An MCP server launched with npx runs locally on your machine. VS Code warns that local MCP servers can execute arbitrary code, so review the server source, publisher, and configuration before starting it. Avoid placing sensitive API keys directly in configuration files; VS Code supports input variables and environment files for sensitive values. See VS Code’s MCP server guidance.

Copilot CLI also applies project trust: project-level server configurations are skipped for untrusted repositories, and prompt-mode sessions load them automatically only when the current directory is already trusted. Organization or enterprise policies may further restrict which servers can run. See GitHub’s Copilot CLI documentation.

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Limit the tools the server registers

Angular documents two optional flags that can be appended after mcp in the argument list:

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  • --read-only registers only tools that do not modify the project. For example, set the arguments to ["-y", "@angular/cli", "mcp", "--read-only"].
  • --local-only registers only tools that do not require an internet connection.

These options narrow which tools are registered; choose them according to the access your workflow needs. Angular lists them in its MCP server documentation.

What Angular CLI MCP tools can do

Angular’s current documentation lists tools for discovering workspace projects, looking up official documentation, applying best-practice guidance, and operating development workflows. The documented tools are:

  • ai_tutor and get_best_practices for guidance and Angular best practices.
  • search_documentation for finding Angular documentation, including API syntax.
  • list_projects for workspace and project discovery.
  • devserver.start, devserver.wait_for_build, and devserver.stop for managing and monitoring a development server.
  • run_target for running configured targets, such as tests.
  • onpush_zoneless_migration for a migration workflow.

Angular describes workflows such as loading version-aligned best practices, checking documentation, monitoring a development build, and running tests through configured targets. Tool names and availability can change across Angular CLI releases; if a tool is missing, check the tools registered by the CLI version installed in your workspace. Details are in Angular’s MCP documentation.

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Choose the right configuration file

Host and scope Configuration location Top-level key
VS Code workspace .vscode/mcp.json servers
Copilot CLI project .mcp.json or .github/mcp.json mcpServers

VS Code also documents a portable workspace .mcp.json format using mcpServers, along with user-level configuration locations. Configuration paths and formats are host-specific, so follow the target host’s documentation rather than copying a file unchanged. See VS Code’s MCP guidance and its configuration format reference.

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Troubleshoot a server that does not appear

  • VS Code does not show the Angular server: Confirm the file is at .vscode/mcp.json in the opened project and that it uses the top-level servers key.
  • Copilot CLI does not load the server: Do not point it at the VS Code-specific file. Use a supported project MCP file with mcpServers, and confirm the repository folder is trusted.
  • The CLI reports an unavailable or unexpected tool: Check the registered tools for your installed Angular CLI release; availability can vary by release.
  • The server is blocked by policy: Copilot CLI administrators can apply registry or allowlist policies that govern which servers are permitted.

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