MCP server that connects VS Code to MySQL database

In this tutorial we will configure VS Code to use an MCP Server that connects to a MySQL database. In a similar manner, you can also connect to SQLite, PostgresDB, and SQL Server. This is a very compelling proposition because it allows developers to use AI to assist in generating code that dynamically interacts with data in a relational database.

Prerequisites

You will need to install the following software to proceed:

• Visual Studio Code with the GitHub Copilot Chat extension
• Docker Desktop
• Latest versions of node.js, npm, and npx

The Database

We will run a MySQL database with a sample Northwind database in a Docker container. Therefore:

• Start Docker Desktop on your computer
• Run a MySQL container by executing this command in a terminal window:

docker run -p 3366:3306 --name mariadb-nw -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=secret -d melmasry/maria-nw:1.0.0

The Database MCP Server

We will be using the MCP Server from the mcp-database-server GitHub Repo. Visit https://github.com/executeautomation/mcp-database-server for more details.

Install and configure the MySQL MCP server

In a suitable working directory, clone the repo, then build, and publish the code by executing these commands in a terminal window:

git clone https://github.com/executeautomation/mcp-database-server.git
cd mcp-database-server
npm install
npm run build

We will next install the MCP server globally with:

npm install -g @executeautomation/database-server

To use the MCP server with our MySQL database, run the following terminal window command:

node dist/src/index.js --mysql --host localhost --database northwind --port 3366 --user root --password secret

Keep the above terminal window open and running.

Configuring VS Code

Open VS Code. Click on the settings gear in the bottom-left corner, followed by Settings.

In the search field, enter MCP, then click on "Edit in settings.json".

Under the mcp >> servers section, add the following MCP server settings:

 
"mysql": {
  "command": "npx",
  "args": [
    "-y",
    "@executeautomation/database-server",
    "--mysql",
    "--host", "localhost",
    "--database", "northwind",
    "--port", "3366",
    "--user", "root",
    "--password", "secret"
  ]
}

Click on Start:

Open the GitHub Copilot Chat panel:

In the GitHub Copilot Chat panel, choose any Claude model followed by Agent Mode.

Click on the tools icon in the prompt window.

You will see a list of commands that the MCP server can carry out with MySQL.

We can now start querying the database using natural language. Start with this prompt:

You have access to the Northwind database through an MCP server. What are the tables in the database?

Click on Continue. I got the following output:

Similarly, you can ask another question like: 

  
Display the contents of the suppliers table.

Yet, another question:

What are the products supplied by "Exotic Liquids"?

Conclusion

It is very easy to connect VS Code with a relational database MCP server. In addition, you can similarly connect MCP Servers any client C# application. MCP Servers open a ton of possibilities for AI aided software development.