Vibeframe - MCP UI for VS Code

by taggartbg

MCP Client 9 stars
  • ide

VSCode Extension to enable UIs for MCP Servers (SSE)

About

What is Vibeframe - MCP UI for VS Code?

Vibeframe - MCP UI for VS Code is a Visual Studio Code extension that lets MCP server developers create rich web interfaces for their SSE-based MCP servers. The interface loads inside a VS Code panel and also works in Cursor and Windsurf. It is intended for developers who build MCP servers that expose a /vibeframe endpoint.

How to use Vibeframe - MCP UI for VS Code?

1. Download the VSIX package from the releases page or install from the VS Code Marketplace.
2. In VS Code, install via code --install-extension or the Extensions pane. For Cursor, drag the .vsix file onto the Extensions pane.
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS), type Vibeframe: Open MCP Canvas, and select it.
4. If multiple servers are discovered, pick one from the list. The web interface loads in a VS Code panel.

Key features of Vibeframe - MCP UI for VS Code

- SSE/WebSocket two‑way communication between server and canvas
- Automatic server discovery from Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code configs
- Verified servers shown with a checkmark; unverified ones with a warning
- Manual server configuration via VS Code settings
- Secure WebView with proper content‑security policies
- Automatic reconnection with exponential backoff

Use cases of Vibeframe - MCP UI for VS Code

- Building in‑IDE dashboards or controls for MCP‑powered tools
- Testing and debugging MCP endpoints without leaving the editor
- Providing a visual frontend for AI coding assistants that use MCP servers

FAQ from Vibeframe - MCP UI for VS Code

Which editors does Vibeframe support?

It supports VS Code (version 1.60.0+), Cursor, and Windsurf. The extension is installed from the Marketplace for VS Code; Cursor and Windsurf require manual VSIX installation.

Do I need a running MCP server to use Vibeframe?

Yes. Your MCP server must be running and expose a /vibeframe endpoint that serves the web interface. The extension only works with SSE (Server‑Sent Events) transport, not stdio.

How does Vibeframe discover my MCP server?

It automatically scans Cursor’s global and project‑specific mcp.json, Windsurf’s mcp_config.json, and VS Code workspace/settings configurations. You can also add servers manually in VS Code settings under vibeframe.manualServerUrls.

What happens if the connection to the server is lost?

The extension automatically tries to reconnect with exponential backoff. If reconnection fails, you will see a “Connection lost” error and can manually reopen the canvas.

Is Vibeframe open‑source?

The repository is available on GitHub, and the extension is distributed as a VSIX package. The license is listed as “Copyright Taggart Bowen‑Gaddy.” No explicit open‑source license is stated.

Details

Author
taggartbg
GitHub stars
9
Category
ide
Repository
taggartbg/vibeframe

Vibeframe - MCP UI for VS Code

Create rich visual interfaces for your MCP servers that integrate seamlessly into VS Code, Cursor, and Windsurf.

Who is this for?

MCP Server (SSE only) developers that want a frontend directly inside users' VSCode-based IDEs. Simply include instructions to download the Vibeframe VSCode Extension from the Marketplace or include a link to https://vibeframe.dev where they can download the latest relase (Cursor and Windsurf do not support the Marketplace).

All you need to do is implement a /vibeframe endpoint from your server and run Vibeframe: Open MCP Canvas and you're all set up!

Features

- SSE/WS Support: Two-way communication between your server and the Vibeframe canvas

- Server Discovery: Automatically finds MCP servers from:
- Cursor configuration (global and project-specific)
- Windsurf configuration
- VS Code settings and workspace configuration
- Manual settings in VS Code

- Project-Specific Priority: Project/workspace configurations take precedence over global ones

- Server Verification: Checks that discovered servers have valid /vibeframe endpoints

- Multiple Server Support: Select from multiple discovered servers with a simple interface

- Secure Integration: Loads the MCP server's web interface in a WebView with proper security policies

- Connection Monitoring: Automatically detects connection issues and attempts to reconnect

Requirements

- VS Code 1.60.0 or higher / Cursor / Windsurf
- A running MCP server with a /vibeframe endpoint

Installation

1. Download the VSIX package from the releases page
2. Install it in VS Code by:
- Running code --install-extension vibeframe-0.1.0.vsix in your terminal, or
- In VS Code, select "Extensions" → click "..." → "Install from VSIX..." → select the downloaded file
3. Install it in Cursor: by:
- Drag the .vsix file to the Extensions Pane

Usage

Opening the MCP Canvas

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) to open the Command Palette
2. Type "Vibeframe: Open MCP Canvas" and select it
3. If multiple servers are found, select the one you want to use
4. The MCP interface will load in a VS Code panel

Server Selection

When multiple MCP servers are detected:

- Verified servers (with confirmed /vibeframe endpoints) appear first with a ✓ icon
- Unverified servers show a ⚠️ warning icon
- Select a server from the list to connect to it

Managing Servers

Automatic Discovery

The extension automatically discovers MCP servers from:

- Cursor:
- Global: ~/.cursor/mcp.json
- Project-specific: .cursor/mcp.json (in your workspace)
- Windsurf: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json
- VS Code:
- Workspace: .vscode/mcp.json (in your workspace)
- Settings: VS Code settings UI/JSON

Configuration Format

Vibeframe supports multiple configuration formats:

Cursor and VS Code format:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "server1": "https://example-mcp-server.com",
    "server2": {
      "url": "https://another-mcp-server.com",
      "name": "My Custom Server Name",
      "type": "sse"
    }
  }
}
VS Code workspace format:
{
  "servers": {
    "server1": "https://example-mcp-server.com",
    "server2": {
      "url": "https://another-mcp-server.com",
      "name": "My Custom Server Name",
      "type": "sse"
    }
  }
}
Windsurf format:
{
  "url": "https://example-mcp-server.com",
  "name": "Optional Server Name"
}

Manual Configuration

Add your own MCP servers in VS Code settings:

1. Go to Settings (Ctrl+, or Cmd+,)
2. Search for "Vibeframe"
3. Under "Vibeframe: Manual Server Urls", click "Edit in settings.json"
4. Add your servers in the format:

"vibeframe.manualServerUrls": [
{
"name": "My MCP Server",
"url": "https://my-mcp-server.example.com"
}
]

Configuration Options

Settings

| Setting | Description | Default |
|---------|-------------|---------|
| vibeframe.autoDiscoverServers | Automatically discover MCP servers from config files | true |
| vibeframe.manualServerUrls | List of manually configured MCP servers | [] |

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

If you encounter connection problems:

1. Server verification failed - Check that your MCP server is running and has a /vibeframe endpoint
2. Connection lost - The extension will automatically attempt to reconnect with exponential backoff
3. Cannot connect to server - Ensure your network can reach the MCP server and no firewall is blocking access

Common Errors

- No MCP servers found: Configure a server manually in the settings
- Failed to load MCP Canvas: Ensure the server URL is correct and the server is running
- Connection lost: Network issue or server went down; the extension will attempt to reconnect

MCP Server Configuration

For an MCP server to work with this extension, it must:

1. Have a /vibeframe endpoint that serves the web interface
2. Allow cross-origin requests from the VS Code WebView

Development

Building from Source

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/your-org/vibeframe.git
cd vibeframe

Install dependencies

npm install

Build the extension

npm run compile

Package the extension

npm run package

Running and Debugging

1. Open the project in VS Code
2. Press F5 to launch a new VS Code window with the extension loaded
3. Run the "Vibeframe: Open MCP Canvas" command in the new window

License

Copyright Taggart Bowen-Gaddy

Credits

Created for seamless integration with MCP-enabled AI coding assistants like Cursor and Windsurf.