3. Setup: Tools and Configuration

• Install MCP-compatible servers
• Configure VS Code settings to use them
• Servers run locally or remote
• Easy JSON-based setup inside .vscode/mcp.json

Setup and hiding of credentials in the vs code settings

Example Atlassian: .vscode/mcp.json

{
  "inputs": [{
    "id": "atl_token",
    "type": "promptString",
    "password": true,
    "description": "Enter your Atlassian Jira and Confluence token"
  }],
  "servers": {
    "mcp-atlassian": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e", "CONFLUENCE_URL",
        "-e", "CONFLUENCE_USERNAME",
        "-e", "CONFLUENCE_API_TOKEN",
        "-e", "JIRA_URL",
        "-e", "JIRA_USERNAME",
        "-e", "JIRA_API_TOKEN",
        "ghcr.io/sooperset/mcp-atlassian:latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CONFLUENCE_URL": "https://xyz.atlassian.net/wiki",
        "CONFLUENCE_USERNAME": "CONFLUENCE_USERNAME",
        "CONFLUENCE_API_TOKEN": "${input:atl_token}",
        "JIRA_URL": "https://xyz.atlassian.net",
        "JIRA_USERNAME": "JIRA_USERNAME",
        "JIRA_API_TOKEN": "${input:atl_token}"
      }
    }
  }
}

						

Project-Specific Copilot Instructions

.github/copilot-instructions.md

• Define how Copilot should behave in your repo
• Written in Markdown, natural language
• Helps align with tools, workflows, and style
• Appears in References in Copilot Chat responses

Optional Custom Prompts

.github/prompts/prompt_Example.md

• These can guide Copilot toward specific frameworks or patterns
• Written in Markdown, natural language
• Can be used to set up a project-specific context

Advanced Settings in VS Code

In settings.json, define extra instruction files:

• One for code style, one for test style

"github.copilot.chat.codeGeneration.instructions": [
  { "file": ".github/code-style.md" }
],
"github.copilot.chat.testGeneration.instructions": [
  { "file": ".github/test-style.md" }
]