Using With Gemini Code Assist

Gemini Code Assist is an AI-powered assistant that supports natural language interaction in Visual Studio Code. With CData's Model Context Protocol (MCP), Gemini Code Assist can securely query and describe live data from CData Code Assist MCP using plain language prompts.

This topic explains how to configure the CData Code Assist MCP to work with Gemini Code Assist in Visual Studio Code.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure the following are installed and configured:

The CData Code Assist MCP for Zendesk is installed.
A connection has been created and tested in the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool.
Visual Studio Code is installed on your machine.
Gemini Code Assist extension is enabled in Visual Studio Code. For more details, see Gemini Code Assist on Visual Studio Marketplace.

Note: Gemini Code Assist must already be set up and functional in Visual Studio Code before configuring CData Code Assist MCP. MCP servers are accessed when Gemini Code Assist is running in Agent mode.

Configuring CData Code Assist MCP

Gemini Code Assist loads MCP server definitions from a JSON configuration file located in your Gemini settings directory. The Gemini settings file is located at ~/.gemini/settings.json, where ~ is your home directory. On Windows, this typically resolves to: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\.gemini\settings.json.

The recommended way to configure an MCP server for Gemini Code Assist is to copy the MCP server JSON configuration directly from the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool UI and paste it into the settings.json file. This ensures that connection names, paths, and arguments are accurate and eliminates the need to manually edit placeholders.

Steps

Open the settings.json file in the .gemini folder.
Copy the MCP server JSON configuration from the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool UI.
Paste the configuration into the settings.json file under the mcpServers block.
Verify that the server name matches the MCP connection name defined in the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool.
Save the file.
Reload Visual Studio Code to apply the changes.

Example Configuration

The following examples illustrate the structure of the mcpServers configuration and explain how key values are used by Gemini Code Assist.

Connection name: The server name (for example, mydatasource_sbx) must match the connection name defined in the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool exactly and is case-sensitive.
Java path: The command value specifies the path to the Java executable bundled with the MCP server.
JAR path: The args array includes the path to the source-specific MCP server JAR file and the connection name passed at startup.

Example: Single MCP Server

{
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "oauth-personal"
    }
  },
  "mcpServers": {
    "mydatasource_sbx": {
      "command": "C:\\Program Files\\CData\\CData Code Assist MCP for Zendesk 2025\\jre\\bin\\java.exe",
      "args": [
        "-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8",
        "-jar",
        "C:/Program Files/CData/CData Code Assist MCP for Zendesk 2025/lib/cdata.mcp.zendesk.jar",
        "mydatasource_sbx"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Example: Multiple MCP Servers

{
  "security": {
    "auth": {
      "selectedType": "oauth-personal"
    }
  },
  "mcpServers": {
    "mydatasource_sbx": {
      "command": "C:\\Program Files\\CData\\CData Code Assist MCP for Zendesk 2025\\jre\\bin\\java.exe",
      "args": [
        "-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8",
        "-jar",
        "C:/Program Files/CData/CData Code Assist MCP for Zendesk 2025/lib/cdata.mcp.zendesk.jar",
        "mydatasource_sbx"
      ],
      "env": {}
    },
    "mydatasource_prod": {
      "command": "C:\\Program Files\\CData\\CData Code Assist MCP for Zendesk 2025\\jre\\bin\\java.exe",
      "args": [
        "-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8",
        "-jar",
        "C:/Program Files/CData/CData Code Assist MCP for Zendesk 2025/lib/cdata.mcp.zendesk.jar",
        "mydatasource_prod"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Verifying Configuration

After saving changes to settings.json, verify that Gemini Code Assist recognizes your MCP servers.

Steps

Open the Command Palette in Visual Studio Code.
Select Developer: Reload Window.
Select Gemini Code Assist in the activity bar.
Enable Agent mode using the Agent toggle.
Enter /mcp in the chat prompt to list configured MCP servers and their connection details.

Managing Multiple MCP Servers

You can define multiple MCP servers within the same settings.json file. Each entry must use the exact connection name configured in the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool. Names are case-sensitive and are passed as the final argument in the args array.

Troubleshooting

The MCP server does not appear

If Gemini Code Assist does not list your MCP server, it usually indicates that the configuration was not loaded or that Gemini is not running in the correct mode.

Confirm that Gemini Code Assist is running in Agent mode. MCP servers are discovered only when Agent mode is enabled.
Reload Visual Studio Code after updating settings.json. Gemini Code Assist reads MCP configuration only when the window reloads.
Verify that the server name in settings.json matches the MCP connection name exactly as defined in the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool. Names are case-sensitive.
Validate the JSON file to ensure there are no syntax errors. A single missing comma or bracket can prevent Gemini Code Assist from loading the configuration.

Connection issues

If the MCP server appears but does not return results or fails to start, the issue is often related to file paths or launch arguments.

Verify that the Java executable path points to the MCP server's bundled JRE. The path should reference the jre/bin/java.exe directory inside the MCP server installation.
Confirm that the JAR file path matches the installed MCP server for Zendesk and points to the correct source-specific JAR file.
Ensure that the final value in the args array matches the MCP connection name configured in the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool. This value is passed to the MCP server at startup and is case-sensitive.

Authentication errors

Gemini Code Assist relies on authentication settings stored in the CData Code Assist MCP configuration. Authentication cannot be configured or updated directly from Visual Studio Code.

Open the CData Code Assist MCP Configuration Tool and select the relevant connection.
Click Save & Test to confirm that credentials are valid and the data source is reachable.
If the test fails, update the credentials as needed and save the connection.
Reload Visual Studio Code so Gemini Code Assist can restart the MCP server with the updated authentication context.