Document the MCP server settings

[mildwonkey]

Description

Hi! I was very surprised when my terraform extension auto-updated and tried to launch an MCP docker container with no warning. I found it in the changelog in Github, but I don't see anything about it in the VSCode documentation. Please make sure there is documentation and a setting to turn this off. It wasn't a pleasant surprise.

Links

No mcp mention anywhere: https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=hashicorp.terraform

Help Wanted

• I'm interested in contributing a fix myself

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[josephgruber]

I would also urge allowing configuration of how to run the MCP server in the settings. I use Podman instead of Docker Desktop, which is how I came to search for the settings.

[mb-vincent]

I second this. I do not use the Copilot integration or MCP server nor do I plan to.

Furthermore I am now greeted with the following message every. time. I. launch. VS. Code. (or reload the window) unless Docker is running:

This is horrible UX. I'm constantly being reminded of a feature that I don't use, in a way that makes it seem like it is an essential part of my editor and overall workflow, and one that I cannot go without. Yet, it is not.

Terraform configuration files are not where most developers spend the majority of their time.

Please add an option to disable this. I will be uninstalling the extension and opt for a third-party one until this is fixed.

EDIT:

I opened a separate issue for this request, as I figured it might be out of scope for this one and is more specifically requesting for this feature to able to be turned off.

• Add a setting to disable the MCP server #2103

[josephgruber]

Saw this change was rolled out this evening: #2102

For me, it resolves the Docker error popping up.

[mb-vincent]

Same for me. Closing my other issue.

[florestankorp]

IMO this should be disabled by default. Personally I don't want MCP technology anywhere near my IaaC

[mb-vincent]

Decided to reopen #2103 as I saw today that as of v2.36.2, the Docker container now starts itself without my permission. Now all popups are gone - including the one asking for my explicit permission to start the container.

This needs a proper setting to be able to be turned off.

[mb-vincent]

There now exists a setting called terraform.mcp.server.enable, which you can use to control whether the MCP server should be enabled or disabled. This has also been documented on the extension page.