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Setup guide for VS Code

Schedule social posts from Copilot Chat in VS Code

Add one small file to your project and sign in to Postocial. Then ask GitHub Copilot in agent mode to draft release posts or schedule them for the accounts you name.

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Included in every plan. Free for 7 days. Card required; cancel before the trial ends and you will not be charged.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook Pages
  • TikTok
  • LinkedIn, profiles and pages
  • YouTube
  • X, with your own X API key
  • Threads
  • Pinterest
  • Google Business Profile
  • Bluesky
  • Mastodon
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • Telegram

Before you start

What you need

Have these in place before you start.

  • Checklist

    • A Postocial account. Start a free trial if you need one.
    • VS Code with GitHub Copilot Chat. If your organization manages Copilot, an admin may need to allow MCP servers.
    • Social accounts connected in Postocial, and a workspace role that can create posts.
    • A browser for the one-time sign-in.

  • .vscode/mcp.json

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

    VS Code expects a "servers" block with "type": "http", not the "mcpServers" block some other editors use.

Setup

Connect Postocial to VS Code

A small config file, one click to start the server and a sign-in. Then Postocial is ready in agent mode.

  1. Create the config file

    In your project, create .vscode/mcp.json with the snippet above and save it.

  2. Start the server

    Click Start above the postocial entry in mcp.json, or run MCP: List Servers from the Command Palette and start it there.

  3. Sign in to Postocial

    When VS Code asks to let the server authenticate, allow it. Log in to Postocial in your browser and choose a workspace.

  4. Use agent mode

    Open Copilot Chat, switch the mode to Agent and check that the Postocial tools are on in the tools picker. Then ask: "List my Postocial accounts."

Workspace or user

Where the configuration can live

Use the project file to share the setup, or your user configuration to have Postocial in every workspace.

VS Code configuration locations for the Postocial MCP server
LocationPostocial is available inGood for
.vscode/mcp.jsonThe project that contains the fileSharing with your team. Commit it, and each teammate signs in with their own Postocial login.
Your user configuration (MCP: Open User Configuration)Every workspace you openYour own use across projects

Example prompts

Prompts to try in Copilot Chat

Copilot sees your open editor and workspace, so refer to files and selections by name.

  • Selection to LinkedIn

    "Turn the paragraph I have selected into a LinkedIn post for our company page and save it as a draft in Postocial."

  • Release notes for two networks

    "Read docs/release-notes.md and draft one post for Bluesky (under 300 characters) and one for Threads (under 500). Save both as drafts."

  • Find the right account

    "List my Postocial accounts with their networks so I can pick where the release post goes."

  • Docs launch notice

    "Schedule a post to our Telegram channel for Monday at 10:00 UTC saying the v2 API docs are live. Use the docs link from README.md."

  • Plan in a table first

    "Make a markdown table of next week's posts in plan.md, with date, time, account and text. Schedule each row only after I confirm."

  • Tumblr dev blog post

    "Draft a Tumblr post for our dev blog from docs/getting-started.md: a short intro and the three key steps."

  • Weekly tip, two networks

    "Schedule this week's tip to Mastodon and Bluesky for Friday at 3 p.m. Berlin time: [paste the tip here]."

Abilities and limits

How Copilot works with your workspace

In agent mode, Copilot can pair your project files with the Postocial tools. Everything happens in the Postocial workspace you chose at sign-in.

  • Uses your selection, open files and the rest of your project as context.
  • Calls Postocial to list your accounts, draft, schedule and queue posts, add media and read your analytics, and on Premium and higher plans to work in the inbox.
  • Asks you to confirm each tool call, unless you choose to allow it.
  • Stays within your Postocial workspace role.
How the MCP server works

Troubleshooting

Fixes for common setup problems

Most issues are a config key, the chat mode or an organization policy.

  • There is no Start button in mcp.json

    Make sure the file sits at .vscode/mcp.json in the folder you opened, and that it uses "servers" with "type": "http".

  • Postocial tools do not show up in chat

    Switch Copilot Chat to agent mode, then open the tools picker and turn the Postocial tools on.

  • The sign-in never appeared

    Run MCP: List Servers, select postocial and restart it. Allow authentication when VS Code asks.

  • You want to see what went wrong

    Run MCP: List Servers, select postocial and show its output to read the server log.

  • MCP is turned off

    If your organization manages GitHub Copilot, an admin can switch MCP servers off by policy. Ask them to allow it.

  • Scheduling is refused

    Your Postocial workspace role limits what Copilot can do there. Ask a workspace admin to check your role.

FAQ

Questions about Postocial in VS Code

Visual Studio Code is made by Microsoft and GitHub Copilot by GitHub. Postocial is an independent product, not affiliated with either.

Do I need GitHub Copilot to use Postocial in VS Code?

Yes. In VS Code, MCP tools run through GitHub Copilot Chat in agent mode. Your Copilot plan comes from GitHub; on the Postocial side, every plan includes the MCP server.

Should I commit .vscode/mcp.json?

You can. It only holds the server URL, and each teammate signs in with their own Postocial login, so everyone keeps their own role. Never put a token in a committed file.

Will Copilot schedule posts without asking?

By default, agent mode asks you to confirm tool calls. You can allow a tool for the session, but keep scheduling on confirm if you want a last look before a post is scheduled.

Does VS Code need an API key for Postocial?

No. VS Code signs in with OAuth when you start the server, and you choose the workspace during sign-in. Personal access tokens are meant for MCP clients that cannot sign in.

What does it cost?

The MCP server comes with every Postocial plan, so it adds nothing to your bill, and you can set it up during the free trial. A card is required to start the 7-day free trial. When the trial ends, we charge your card for the plan you picked, unless you cancel before.

Can Copilot attach images to posts?

Yes. Copilot can attach files from your Postocial media library, or add an image or video to the library from a public link and use it in the post. Upload files from your computer to the media library first. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest posts need an image or video, so check the media in Postocial before the post goes out.

How do I remove Postocial from VS Code?

Delete the postocial entry from mcp.json, or stop the server from MCP: List Servers to pause it. Your drafts and scheduled posts stay in Postocial.

More ways to connect

Release notes in, scheduled posts out

Start a free trial, connect your social accounts and add one config file. Copilot drafts and schedules when you ask.

Start your free trialLog in

A card is required to start the 7-day free trial. When the trial ends, we charge your card for the plan you picked, unless you cancel before.