Debug MCP Server
VS Code debugging capabilities allow AI agents to set breakpoints and step through code.
Data last scanned yesterday · Reviewed 3 weeks ago
Overview
DebugMCP provides AI agents with direct access to VS Code debugging features. It enables assistants to set breakpoints, pause execution, step through code, inspect variables, and evaluate expressions within any language supported by the VS Code environment. Recent updates include a 'pause_execution' tool for interrupting running programs and integration with the VS Code Testing API to facilitate consistent debugging across various test runners like Jest, Vitest, and pytest. It also supports cross-agent skill installation to improve discoverability across compatible AI environments.
Our verdict
With a security score of 45/100, this server is currently classified as high-risk. This rating is primarily due to the fact that it is a community-maintained project rather than an official vendor release and its security components, such as OAuth and read-only mode support, have not yet undergone editorial review. It is best suited for developers seeking to experiment with autonomous debugging workflows in non-sensitive environments until further review is conducted.
- Supports debugging for any VS Code compatible programming language
- Uses only 4 direct dependencies to limit supply chain exposure
- Maintains an active development cycle with recent commits
- Ships as a standardized Agent Skill for broader discovery
- Security mechanisms like OAuth remain unreviewed
- Read-only mode support has not been verified
- Lacks an official homepage link for centralized information
Setup
{
"mcpServers": {
"debugmcp": {
"args": [
"-y",
"debugmcpextension"
],
"command": "npx"
}
}
}Paste into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows), then restart Claude Desktop. Some servers require API keys or tokens as environment variables — check the project's README and add an "env" object if needed.
- No read-only mode — running this grants full read/write access.
- No built-in authentication — anyone with access to this config can invoke every tool it exposes.
Tools
| Tool | Description | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| start_debugging | Start a debug session for a source code file | medium |
| stop_debugging | Stop the current debug session | low |
| step_over | Execute the next line (step over function calls) | medium |
| step_into | Step into function calls | medium |
| step_out | Step out of the current function | medium |
| continue_execution | Continue until next breakpoint | medium |
| pause_execution | Interrupt a freely-running program and stop at its current location (no breakpoint needed) | medium |
| restart_debugging | Restart the current debug session | medium |
| add_breakpoint | Add a breakpoint at a specific line (optionally conditional) | medium |
| add_logpoint | Add a logpoint that logs a message (instead of pausing) when a line is reached | medium |
Compatibility
| Client | Local | Docker | Remote | Read-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | ||||
| Claude Desktop | ||||
| Cursor | ||||
| VS Code | ||||
| Windsurf |
Frequently asked questions
›What are the system requirements for installing DebugMCP?
The server requires VS Code version 1.104.0 or higher.
›Which AI assistants are compatible with this server?
It works with any MCP-compatible assistant, including Codex, GitHub Copilot, GitHub Copilot CLI, Cline, Cursor, Windsurf, and Roo Code.
›Can I use this server to debug specific test cases?
Yes, you can use the start_debugging tool with a testName parameter to leverage the VS Code Testing API for consistent breakpoint hits across various test runners like pytest, Jest, Vitest, Java, .NET, and Go.
›Is it possible to stop a program that is currently running without a breakpoint?
Yes, you can use the pause_execution tool to interrupt a freely-running program at its current location.
›Where is the debugging skill installed for cross-agent compatibility?
The server installs the debugging workflow as an Agent Skill in the standard directories ~/.agents/skills/ and ~/.copilot/skills/ where present.
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