About this Video

• Video Title: Agent mode tools in VS Code
• Channel: Visual Studio Code
• Speakers: (Speaker name not explicitly mentioned in transcript)
• Duration: 00:05:36

Introduction

This video explains how to use tools within VS Code's agent mode to enhance code generation with GitHub Copilot. It covers built-in tools, tools from extensions (like Prompt Boost), and tools from MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers, demonstrating how these tools extend Copilot's capabilities.

Key Takeaways

• Agent mode enhances Copilot: Copilot can edit code and invoke tools to fulfill user requests.
• Three types of tools: Built-in (codebase, fetch), extension-provided (Prompt Boost), and MCP server-provided (Perplexity).
• Built-in tools are referenced with hashtags: e.g., #fetch followed by a URL. Natural language is also accepted.
• Extensions provide tools: The Prompt Boost extension demonstrates how extensions can integrate tools, enhancing prompts within the agent mode interface.
• MCP servers add tools: MCP servers, configured via mcp.json, provide tools like Perplexity's Ask, Research, and Reason. Input variables in the mcp.json securely manage sensitive information. Copilot can be configured to automatically confirm trusted tools.

MCP servers are configured in the mcp.json file located in the .vscode folder. The configuration includes general properties for setting the command and arguments. Input variables allow users to input sensitive information (like API keys) without hardcoding them directly into the configuration file, enhancing security. The input is prompted upon initial server start and stored securely by VS Code.