Install Ramen: self-hosted MCP for teams in VS Code

What you need first

• VS Code, installed.
• Nothing else: the server runs on its publisher's machines and VS Code connects to it.
• Your own values for YOUR_RAMEN_GROUP,YOUR_RAMEN_ZONE.

Steps

1. In your project, create .vscode/mcp.json, or open it. For every project, run MCP: Open User Configuration from the Command Palette instead.
2. Add this block. If the file already has servers, add only the entry inside it.

{
  "servers": {
    "ramen": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://{ramen_edge}/mcp",
      "headers": { "ramen-group": "YOUR_RAMEN_GROUP", "ramen-zone": "YOUR_RAMEN_ZONE" }
    }
  }
}

3. Replace YOUR_RAMEN_GROUP,YOUR_RAMEN_ZONE with your own values.
4. Save the file and choose Start above the server's entry, or run MCP: List Servers. Its tools appear in Copilot Chat's agent mode.

Check it worked

Ask VS Code: List the tools of ramen.

If it does not start

401 Unauthorized

The endpoint wants a sign-in or a key. Sign in when VS Code asks, or check the value in place of the placeholder.

The server starts, but its tools fail

A YOUR_… placeholder is still in the config, or its value is wrong.

Nothing changes after a restart

The file is not valid JSON any more. Look for a missing comma where the block was added.