How to connect MCP servers to VSCode with Arcade

Description

Unlock the power of advanced LLM tooling by learning how to seamlessly connect MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers to VSCode through Arcade. Whether you're building intelligent agents or exposing tools to language models, this tutorial walks you through every step — from setting up a Python environment and MCP server, to integrating with VSCode and authenticating tools via secrets and API keys. If you've been curious about how to run powerful server-side tools directly in your favorite IDE, this guide offers a clean, repeatable setup using Arcade. Discover how using Arcade brings built-in support for tool-level authentication, Reddit integrations, and simplified MCP server configuration directly into your development workflow. With one command, Arcade sets your server to communicate with any LLM client — including chat interfaces inside VSCode. Learn how to extend functionality with environment variables, manage secrets securely, and use pre-built tools like Whisper Secret or Subreddit Post Fetching. Get started today with your own MCP server and elevate your AI development experience. Happy building! ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - What Is Model Context Protocol 0:24 - Setting Up MCP With VS Code 1:08 - Installing Arcade And Dependencies 2:06 - Adding Secrets And API Keys 3:40 - Testing Reddit Integration And Tools 🚀 Try ArcadeMCP: https://docs.arcade.dev/en/home/custom-mcp-server-quickstart?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=explainers&utm_content=though_leadership #AIAgents #MachineLearning #LLMTools #AIEngineering #MCP #ToolCalling #AIAutomation #AgenticAI #ArcadeDev 🔗 Resources: - Arcade.dev: https://www.arcade.dev/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=explainers&utm_content=though_leadership - Tool Calling in Arcade: https://docs.arcade.dev/home/use-tools/tools-overview?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=explainers&utm_content=though_leadership