Cline + MCP: Setup Guide for VS Code

Cline is an AI coding agent that runs inside VS Code, and it supports MCP for connecting to external tools. If you're using Cline as your primary coding assistant, adding MCP servers extends its capabilities beyond code editing into database queries, API interactions, and service management.

Quick Answer: Cline connects to MCP servers through its settings panel in VS Code. Once configured, the servers appear as available tools that Cline can use during coding sessions, with automatic discovery at startup for integration with external data or actions.

How Cline handles MCP

Cline connects to MCP servers through its settings panel in VS Code. Once configured, the servers appear as available tools that Cline can use during your coding sessions. The integration is automatic — Cline discovers available tools at startup and uses them when your requests require external data or actions.

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Configuration

Open VS Code settings and navigate to Cline's MCP configuration section. Add servers in the following format:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://mcp.github.com/sse",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cline supports both stdio (local) and HTTP/SSE (remote) transports. Local servers are better for file system access and database connections. Remote servers work well for cloud services.

Best MCP servers for Cline

Since Cline is VS Code-native, it already has good file system access. The MCP servers that add the most value are ones that connect to external services:

• GitHub/GitLab MCP — manage issues and PRs without leaving the editor
• Database servers — query PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite inline
• Notion/Linear MCP — check project context while coding
• Sequential Thinking — better reasoning for complex tasks

Combining MCP with SKILL.md

Cline also supports SKILL.md skills for defining coding behavior. MCP handles what tools are available. SKILL.md handles how Cline should approach specific tasks. A code review skill that uses a GitHub MCP server to check commit history before reviewing code is a practical example of both working together.

Browse MCP servers and skills compatible with Cline on Agensi.