UniversalVSMCP (UVM)

.NET Native MCP Server for Visual Studio 2026/2022

Enable AI Agents to natively control Visual Studio 2026/2022 via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

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What's New in v1.0.0

• Native .NET 8.0 Implementation - No Python or Node.js dependencies
• 28 MCP Tools - Comprehensive VS automation (Solution, Project, File, Build, Debug)
• MCP Registry Compatible - One-click installation in VS 2026
• Global .NET Tool - dotnet tool install -g UniversalVSMCP
• Native DTE/COM Integration - Direct Windows COM interop with Visual Studio

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Why .NET Native?

Feature	Python (Legacy)	.NET Native (Current)
VS 2026 Integration	Manual config required	One-click from MCP Registry
Runtime Dependencies	Python + uvx	.NET 8.0 SDK only
DTE Automation	via pywin32	Native COM interop
Performance	Medium	Optimal
VS 2026 Discovery	Not supported	Auto-discovery
Distribution	PyPI/uvx	NuGet + MCP Registry

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Installation

Method 1: Global Tool (Recommended)

dotnet tool install -g UniversalVSMCP

After installation, run:

universal-vsmcp --stdio

Method 2: From Source

git clone https://github.com/StarsailsClover/UniversalVSMCP.git
cd UniversalVSMCP/src/UniversalVSMCP
dotnet run -- --stdio

Method 3: Via NuGet (Future)

dotnet tool install -g UniversalVSMCP --version 1.0.0

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Visual Studio 2026 Configuration (3 Methods)

Method A: MCP Registry (Recommended)

1. Open Visual Studio 2026
2. Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Extensions
3. In MCP Registry section, click Add
4. Enter:
   • Name: UniversalVSMCP Official
   • URL: https://github.com/StarsailsClover/UniversalVSMCP
5. VS scans server.json and lists available servers
6. Select universal-vsmcp and click Install
7. Restart Visual Studio if prompted

Method B: Manual MCP Server

1. Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Extensions
2. In MCP Server List, click Add
3. Fill in:
   • Name: universal-vsmcp
   • Command: dotnet
   • Args: tool run --global universal-vsmcp -- --stdio
4. Save and restart VS

Method C: Direct JSON Edit

Check "Edit user settings as JSON" and paste:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "universal-vsmcp": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": [
        "tool",
        "run",
        "--global",
        "universal-vsmcp",
        "--",
        "--stdio"
      ],
      "env": {
        "VS_AUTO_DETECT": "true"
      },
      "transport": "stdio"
    }
  }
}

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Available Tools

Solution Management

Tool	Description
get_solution_projects	Get all projects in solution
get_solution_path	Get solution file path
get_solution_name	Get solution name
open_solution	Open .sln file
close_solution	Close current solution

Project Management

Tool	Description
get_project_files	Get files in a project
get_startup_projects	Get startup project(s)
add_file_to_project	Add file to project
set_startup_project	Set startup project
get_project_properties	Get project properties

File Operations

Tool	Description
open_file	Open file in VS editor
read_file	Read file content
write_file	Write file content
replace_in_file	Replace text in file
get_file_info	Get file information

Build Operations

Tool	Description
build_solution	Build solution
rebuild_solution	Rebuild solution
clean_solution	Clean solution
build_project	Build specific project
get_build_errors	Get build errors
get_build_configurations	Get build configs

Debug Control

Tool	Description
start_debugging	Start debugging (F5)
stop_debugging	Stop debugging (Shift+F5)
toggle_breakpoint	Navigate to line for breakpoint
continue_execution	Continue from breakpoint (F5)
step_over	Step over (F10)
step_into	Step into (F11)
step_out	Step out (Shift+F11)
get_debug_state	Get debug state

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Project Structure

UniversalVSMCP/
├── server.json              # MCP Registry config (VS 2026 discovery)
├── REGISTRY.md              # Registry setup guide
├── README.md                # English documentation (default)
├── README.zh.md             # Chinese documentation
├── Link2VS.skill/          # AI Agent skill package
├── pyproject.toml           # Python package config (legacy)
├── requirements.txt         # Python dependencies (legacy)
├── config_templates.py      # VS config templates (legacy)
├── tests/
│   └── test_core.py         # Python tests (legacy)
└── src/UniversalVSMCP/
    ├── UniversalVSMCP.csproj
    ├── Program.cs           # Entry point + MCP Server config
    ├── VsConnectionManager.cs  # VS DTE connection management
    ├── SolutionTools.cs     # Solution operations
    ├── ProjectTools.cs      # Project management
    ├── FileTools.cs         # File operations
    ├── BuildTools.cs        # Build operations
    └── DebugTools.cs        # Debug control

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AI Agent Integration

Claude Desktop / Cursor / Cline

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vsmcp": {
      "command": "dotnet",
      "args": ["tool", "run", "--global", "universal-vsmcp", "--", "--stdio"],
      "env": {
        "VS_AUTO_DETECT": "true"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Architecture

┌─────────────┐     MCP Protocol     ┌──────────────────┐     DTE COM      ┌─────────────┐
│   AI Agent   │◄────────────────────►│  UniversalVSMCP  │◄────────────────►│  VS 2026/22  │
│  (Claude)   │   (JSON-RPC over     │   (.NET 8.0)     │   (Windows COM)  │   Instance   │
└─────────────┘     stdio/SSE)       └──────────────────┘                    └─────────────┘

Tech Stack

• Runtime: .NET 8.0
• MCP SDK: Microsoft.ModelContextProtocol (0.3.0-preview)
• VS Automation: EnvDTE / EnvDTE80
• Transport: stdio (local), SSE (remote)
• Deployment: Global Tool, NuGet, MCP Registry

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Requirements

• .NET 8.0 SDK or later
• Visual Studio 2026 (18.0) or VS 2022 (17.14+)
• Windows 10 or later

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Troubleshooting

MCP Registry doesn't show the server

1. Verify server.json is valid JSON at repository root
2. Ensure repository is public
3. Restart Visual Studio after adding registry
4. Use Method B (Manual) if Registry feature is unstable

Server fails to start

1. Ensure .NET 8.0 SDK is installed: dotnet --version
2. Install as global tool: dotnet tool install -g UniversalVSMCP
3. Test manually: universal-vsmcp --stdio

DTE connection fails

1. Start Visual Studio before running the server
2. Open at least one solution
3. Check that VS is not running as Administrator (mismatch with user token)

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License

MIT © StarsailsClover

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Links

• MCP Documentation
• Microsoft MCP .NET Samples
• Visual Studio 2026
• GitHub Repository
• NuGet Package