Model Context Server (MCP) Integration

The AI MCP package provides an integration that allows users to start and use MCP servers to provide additional tool functions to LLMs, e.g. search or file access (outside of the workspace).

Features

• Offers the framework to add/remove and start/stop MCP servers
• Use tool functions provided by MCP servers in prompt templates

Commands

• Include @theia/ai-mcp-ui to gain access to the start and stop MCP sever commands.

Configuration

To configure MCP servers, include @theia/mcp-ui or bind the included mcp-preferences.

Afterwards, open the preferences and add entries to the MCP Servers Configuration section. Each server requires a unique identifier (e.g., "brave-search" or "filesystem") and configuration details such as the command, arguments, optional environment variables, and autostart (true by default).

"autostart" (true by default) will automatically start the respective MCP server whenever you restart your Theia application. In your current session, however, you'll still need to manually start it using the "MCP: Start MCP Server" command.

Example Configuration:

{
    "ai-features.mcp.mcpServers": {
        "memory": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
              "-y",
              "@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory"
            ],
            "autostart": false
          },
          "brave-search": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
              "-y",
              "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"
            ],
            "env": {
              "BRAVE_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
            }
          },
          "filesystem": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
              "-y",
              "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
              "ABSOLUTE_PATH_TO_ALLOWED_DIRECTORY",
            ]
          },
          "git": {
            "command": "uv",
            "args": [
              "--directory",
              "/path/to/repo",
              "run",
              "mcp-server-git"
            ]
          },
          "git2": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
              "mcp-server-git",
              "--repository",
              "/path/to/otherrepo"
            ]
          }
    }
}
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Example prompt (for search)

~{mcp_brave-search_brave_web_search}
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Example User query

Search the internet for XYZ
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More Information

Theia AI MCP UI README User documentation on MCP in the Theia IDE List of available MCP servers