AI Agent Integration
Connect VS Code Copilot to Kanboard
VS Code Copilot is Microsoft's AI-powered editor. Connect it to Kanboard's remote MCP server and it can read your board, create tasks, and move work across columns as it ships — nothing to host, nothing to babysit.
1. Create an API key
Go to Settings → Integrations in Kanboard and create an API key. Keys require a Pro subscription. Copy the key — it's shown once.
2. Add the server to VS Code Copilot
.vscode/mcp.json (project) — key stored encrypted, not in the file
{
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "kanboard-api-key",
"description": "Kanboard API Key",
"password": true
}
],
"servers": {
"kanboard": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://kanboard.io/api/mcp",
"headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ${input:kanboard-api-key}" }
}
}
}3. Verify it works
- VS Code prompts for the API key the first time the server starts and stores it encrypted.
- Command Palette → MCP: List Servers → kanboard → Show Output for connection logs.
- In Copilot Chat (agent mode), the kanboard tools appear in the tools picker.
Then put the agent to work:
- “Look at my Kanboard board and pick up the top task in To Do.”
- “Break this feature into tasks and add them to my board.”
- “Move everything you finished today to Done.”
Good to know
- The top-level key is servers, not mcpServers.
- VS Code asks you to trust a server before it first starts.
- For a global setup, use Command Palette → MCP: Open User Configuration instead of .vscode/mcp.json.
Full client documentation: VS Code Copilot MCP docs
Available tools
| get_board | Full snapshot of a project's columns and tasks |
| list_projects | List all your projects |
| create_project | Create a project with default columns |
| list_tasks | List tasks, optionally by project |
| get_task | Read a task with its description |
| create_task | Add a task to any column |
| update_task | Edit a task's title or description |
| move_task | Move a task across columns |
| delete_task | Remove a task |
FAQ
Does VS Code Copilot support remote MCP servers?
Yes — VS Code's Copilot agent mode supports remote MCP servers ("type": "http") with custom headers, and its input-variable pattern keeps the key encrypted.
Do I need to install anything?
Nothing beyond VS Code with Copilot. The server is remote; the mcp.json entry is the whole setup.
Is the MCP server included in Kanboard's subscription?
Yes. The MCP server and REST API are included in Pro, Kanboard's single plan at $12/month (or $96/year) with unlimited projects and tasks.
What can VS Code Copilot do on my Kanboard board?
Everything the MCP server exposes: list projects, snapshot a board, and create, read, update, move, and delete tasks. A typical flow: you plan tasks in To Do, the agent picks one up, moves it to In Progress, does the work, and moves it to Done.
Where do I get the API key?
Settings → Integrations in Kanboard. Keys require a Pro subscription and are shown once — copy it straight into the config.