Connect VS Code to FreshlyCited MCP

VS Code (Copilot agent mode) supports remote HTTP MCP servers with OAuth or headers.

The story · 3 steps

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Install link

Open Install FreshlyCited in VS Code or run:

bash

code --add-mcp '{"name":"freshlycited","type":"http","url":"https://freshlycited.com/mcp"}'

VS Code asks you to sign in with OAuth the first time the server starts.

.vscode/mcp.json (OAuth)

json

{
  "servers": {
    "freshlycited": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://freshlycited.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

.vscode/mcp.json with a prompted API key

VS Code prompts for the key once and stores it securely, so it never lands in the file:

json

{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "freshlycited-key",
      "description": "FreshlyCited API key",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "freshlycited": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://freshlycited.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:freshlycited-key}"
      }
    }
  }
}

API keys are created under API keys in the FreshlyCited app and shown once. A key only sees its own workspace and the clients under it, with the key's role.

Check it works

Ask: "Call FreshlyCited's get_started tool." You should see your workspace, role and credit balance. If the client says it can't connect, see Authentication for what each error means.