UniversalVSMCP

UniversalVSMCP (UVM)

.NET Native MCP Server for Visual Studio 2026/2022

Enable AI Agents to natively control Visual Studio 2026/2022 via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

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Installation (Single Method)

NuGet Package (Recommended)

dotnet tool install -g UniversalVSMCP

Run:

universal-vsmcp --stdio

Verify installation:

universal-vsmcp --help

Package: https://www.nuget.org/packages/UniversalVSMCP/

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Quick Start

1. Start Visual Studio 2026

Open any solution or create a new one.

2. Run the MCP Server

universal-vsmcp --stdio

3. Configure in VS 2026

Go to Tools → Options → Environment → Extensions:

• Add MCP Server: universal-vsmcp
• Command: dotnet tool run --global universal-vsmcp -- --stdio

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Available Tools (30 Total)

Solution Management (6)

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | get_solution_projects | Get all projects in solution | | get_solution_path | Get solution file path | | get_solution_name | Get solution name | | open_solution | Open .sln file | | close_solution | Close current solution | | create_solution | Create new solution (workspace) |

Project Management (5)

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | get_project_files | Get files in a project | | get_startup_projects | Get startup project(s) | | add_file_to_project | Add file to project | | set_startup_project | Set startup project | | get_project_properties | Get project properties |

File Operations (5)

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | open_file | Open file in VS editor | | read_file | Read file content | | write_file | Write file content | | replace_in_file | Replace text in file | | get_file_info | Get file information |

Build Operations (6)

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | build_solution | Build solution | | rebuild_solution | Rebuild solution | | clean_solution | Clean solution | | build_project | Build specific project | | get_build_errors | Get build errors | | get_build_configurations | Get build configs |

Debug Control (8)

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | start_debugging | Start debugging (F5) | | stop_debugging | Stop debugging (Shift+F5) | | toggle_breakpoint | Navigate to line for breakpoint | | continue_execution | Continue from breakpoint (F5) | | step_over | Step over (F10) | | step_into | Step into (F11) | | step_out | Step out (Shift+F11) | | get_debug_state | Get debug state |

Diagnostics (3)

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | health_check | Verify server and VS connection | | get_server_info | Get server information | | get_diagnostic_logs | Get recent diagnostic logs |

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Command Line Options

universal-vsmcp --stdio                    # Default: stdio transport
universal-vsmcp --stdio --log-file uv.log  # With file logging
universal-vsmcp --verify                   # Verify VS connection
universal-vsmcp --help                     # Show help

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Configuration

VS 2026 Configuration

Method A: Direct JSON (Recommended)

1. Go to Tools → Options → Environment → Extensions
2. Check "Edit user settings as JSON"
3. Paste:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "universal-vsmcp": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": [
        "tool",
        "run",
        "--global",
        "universal-vsmcp",
        "--",
        "--stdio"
      ],
      "env": {
        "VS_AUTO_DETECT": "true"
      }
    }
  }
}

Method B: GUI

1. Tools → Options → Environment → Extensions
2. In MCP Server List, click Add
3. Fill in:

• Name: universal-vsmcp
• Command: dotnet
• Args: tool run --global universal-vsmcp -- --stdio

Claude Desktop / Cursor

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vsmcp": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": ["tool", "run", "--global", "universal-vsmcp", "--", "--stdio"],
      "env": {
        "VS_AUTO_DETECT": "true"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Localhost Support

For local development or SSE transport:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vsmcp-local": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--project",
        "${workspaceFolder}",
        "--",
        "--stdio"
      ],
      "transport": "stdio",
      "url": "http://localhost:6277/sse"
    }
  }
}

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Troubleshooting

Verify Connection

# Check if server is installed
dotnet tool list -g

# Run health check tool from MCP client
# Or run with logging:
universal-vsmcp --stdio --log-file uv.log

Common Issues

| Issue | Solution | |-------|----------| | "No VS instance found" | Start Visual Studio first | | "Server not responding" | Check UVM_LOG_FILE for errors | | "Tool not found" | Verify server is running | | "Connection failed" | Ensure VS is not running as Admin |

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Requirements

• .NET 8.0 SDK or later
• Visual Studio 2026 (18.0) or VS 2022 (17.14+)
• Windows 10 or later

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License

MIT © StarsailsClover

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Links

• NuGet Package
• GitHub Repository
• MCP Documentation
• VS 2026 MCP Guide

Source & license

This open-source MCP server is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

• Author: StarsailsClover
• Source: StarsailsClover/UniversalVSMCP
• License: MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.