VS Code

Use the VS Code extension to start local-shell-mcp with the current workspace, copy its MCP URL, and generate a setup prompt for your client.

Install

Install the server first:

pipx install local-shell-mcp
# or: pip install local-shell-mcp

Then install the VS Code extension package from the GitHub release assets. Configure local-shell-mcp.executablePath if the executable is not on PATH.

Basic flow

1. Open a project folder in VS Code.
2. Run local-shell-mcp: Start Server from the command palette.
3. Run local-shell-mcp: Copy MCP URL and paste it into your MCP client.
4. Run local-shell-mcp: Copy ChatGPT Setup Prompt when starting a coding session.

Recommended settings

For direct host usage, keep local-shell-mcp.allowFullControl disabled so tools stay scoped to the selected workspace root.

Use local-shell-mcp.authMode = oauth when connecting ChatGPT through a public HTTPS tunnel. Use none only for trusted localhost testing.

If ChatGPT cannot reach your local machine directly, expose 127.0.0.1:8765 through an HTTPS tunnel and set local-shell-mcp.baseUrl to that origin. The MCP endpoint is then:

https://your-public-origin.example.com/mcp

Commands

• local-shell-mcp: Start Server
• local-shell-mcp: Stop Server
• local-shell-mcp: Restart Server
• local-shell-mcp: Show Server Status
• local-shell-mcp: Copy MCP URL
• local-shell-mcp: Copy ChatGPT Setup Prompt
• local-shell-mcp: Open Guide