---
parser: v2
description: In this tutorial, you will enable the ADT MCP Server that is built into ABAP Development Tools for VS Code and verify that the ADT MCP tools are available.
auto_validation: true
primary_tag: programming-tool>abap-development
tags: [ tutorial>beginner, programming-tool>abap-development, software-product>sap-business-technology-platform, software-product>sap-ai-core, topic>artificial-intelligence]
time: 15
author_name: Wolfgang Woehrle
author_profile: https://github.com/wwoehrle2024
slug: abap-dev-adt-mcp-server-tools
canonical_url: https://developers.sap.com/tutorials/abap-dev-adt-mcp-server-tools
---
# Enable the ADT MCP Server in ABAP Development Tools for VS Code 💎
## Overview
In this tutorial, you will enable the **ADT MCP Server**, that is built into **ABAP Development Tools for VS Code**, and verify that the ADT MCP tools are available.
## Basics
The **ADT MCP Server** is a local HTTP server that is integrated in and runs inside the **ABAP Development Tools for Visual Studio Code** extension. It implements the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to call tools in a structured, authenticated way.
When enabled, the ADT MCP server exposes a set of ABAP development tools to any MCP-compatible AI assistant. In this workshop, the exercises use **GitHub Copilot** (see [Quickstart for GitHub Copilot](https://docs.github.com/en/copilot/get-started/quickstart)) as the client. Any coding agent that supports Visual Studio Code's virtual workspace filesystem is compatible — GitHub Copilot is confirmed; others are also supported.
The ADT MCP Server exposes ABAP development capabilities as **Model Context Protocol (MCP)** tools allowing you to create packages, to create transport requests, to generate complete RAP applications, activate objects, and more through natural language prompts.
**Key tools available through the ADT MCP Server:**
For example, the following ADT MCP tools are available:
| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
|abap_activate_objects|Activates ABAP objects in the ABAP system|
|abap_atc_apply_ai|Start applying AI fixes for every eligible finding in an ATC worklist result|
|abap_atc_execute_deterministic_quickfixes|Executes the deterministic quick fixes|
|abap_atc_run|Gets the result of an ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC) run by its corresponding worklist|
|abap_createion-crate_object|Executes the creation of ABAP development objects|
|abap_creation-get_all_createable_objects|Gets a list of all ABAP createable objects|
|abap_creation-get_object_type_details|Gets details required for creating an ABAP object such as name, description|
|abap_generators-generate_objects|Validates and generates ABAP RAP objects using the RAP generator|
|abap_generators-list_generators|Lists the available ABAP RAP generators|
|abap_list_destinations|Gets a list of available destinations in an ABAP system|
|abap_run_unit_tests|Runs ABAP unit tests for a given set of objects|
|abap_transport-create|Creates a transport request|
|abap_transport-get|Validates and displays relevant transport requests for a given object|
> ⚠ **Warning regarding AI outputs** ⚠
> The ADT MCP Server is an **experimental feature** that may change at any time without notice. It is not intended for productive use. Please back up your data before using it.
> **Further reading**:
>- [ADT MCP Tools](https://help.sap.com/docs/abap-cloud/abap-development-tools-for-visual-studio-code/mcp-tools?locale=en-US) for the complete list of tools available.
>- [Security Considerations and Recommendations](https://help.sap.com/docs/abap-cloud/abap-development-tools-for-visual-studio-code/security-recommendations-and-considerations)
>- [Agentic AI for ABAP Development](https://help.sap.com/docs/abap-cloud/abap-development-tools-for-visual-studio-code/agentic-ai-development?locale=en-US) and **[Model Context Protocol (MCP)**](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/)
## Prerequisites
You have installed Visual Studio Code and the [**ABAP Development Tools for Visual Studio Code**](https://developers.sap.com/tutorials/abap-environment-adt-vscode/) extenstion into your VS Code installation.
## Procedure
### Enable the ADT MCP Server in the Visual Studio Code Settings
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> Enable the built-in ADT MCP Server in the Visual Studio Code extension settings.
1. Open **Visual Studio Code Settings** as follows:
a. Open the **Command Palette** with **'Ctrl+Shift+P'** (macOS: **'Cmd+Shift+P'**)
b. Type **Preferences: Open Settings (UI)** and select the finding.
2. In the search bar, type:
```
adt mcp
```
The findings in the **Extensions > ABAP Development** node are displayed.
3. Locate the **Adt: Enable MCP Server** setting (or similar) and enable it by checking the checkbox.
ℹ️ **Hint**: You can also switch to JSON mode (click the '{}' icon top-right in settings) and add:
```
json 'adt.mcpServer.enabled': true
```
4. Optionally, you can configure the **MCP server port** (default: '2236').
Note that you only change this if port 2236 is occupied on your machine. Proceed as follows:
a. Search for **ADT MCP port** in the settings.
b. Set it to the available port between '0' and '65535'.
5. **Reload Visual Studio Code** if prompted, or close and reopen the application.
> ⚠️ **Important**: Make sure your system destination is still added to the workspace. The MCP server only starts once a destination is active in the workspace.
---
### Verify the ADT MCP Server is Running
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> Check and confirm that the ADT MCP Server started successfully.
After enabling the setting and having a destination in the workspace, the server should start automatically.
**Method 1: Check for the startup notification**
1. Look at the bottom-right corner for a notification in the status bar:
```
ADT MCP Server running on port 2236.
```
> ℹ️ If you don't see the notification, proceed to Method 2.
**Method 2: Check via MCP Server list**
1. Open the **Command Palette** (**'Ctrl+Shift+P'**).
2. Type ...
```
>MCP:List Servers
```
3. Select **'MCP: List Servers'** from the list.
You should then see an entry for **ADT MCP Server** in the quick pick list.
4. Select it and click **Start Server** if it is not already running.
**Method 3: Check the display in the Output view**
5. Open the **Output** view beneath the editor.
6. Select **MCP: ADT MCP Servers** from the drop-down list. Then, the status will be displayed in the **Output** view.
**Troubleshooting**
If the ADT MCP Server does not appear or fails to start:
1. Disable and re-enable the **Adt: Enable MCP Server** setting.
2. Remove the destination folder from the workspace and **add it back** from the Command Palette:
```
ABAP: Add Destination as Folder to the Workspace...
```
3. Restart Visual Studio Code.
---
### Verify the ADT MCP Tools in your coding agent
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> Open the **Chat** view of your coding agent in the agent mode. Confirm that the ADT MCP tools are loaded and available.
1. If the **Chat** view is not displayed by default, open the GitHub Copilot **Chat** view in Visual Studio Code.
> ℹ️ **Note**: You have the following possiblities to do this:
>- Click the **Copilot** icon in the **Activity Bar** (left),
>- choose *View* > *Chat* from the menu, or
>- press **'Ctrl+Shift+I'** (macOS: **'Cmd+Shift+I'**)
2. Switch the chat mode to **Agent** in the chat dropdown.
> ℹ️ **Note**: ADT MCP tools are only available in **Agent** mode — not in the standard **Ask** or **Plan** mode.
3. Click the **Configure Tools** (tools wrench icon) button in the Copilot chat input bar.
A quick pick list appears showing available tool providers.
Here, you see the **ADT MCP Server** node with a list of the available tools, e.g., 'abap_generators-list_generators', 'abap_creation-create_object', and so on.
> ✅ If you see the ADT MCP Server and its tools listed, your setup is complete!
4. Check and ensure the ADT MCP Server tools are **checked/enabled** in the list.
5. Run a **Sanity test**: Type the following prompt in the **Chat** view and press **Enter**:
```
List all available ABAP RAP generators using the MCP tool.
```
The coding agent will request to call the 'abap_generators-list_generators' tool.
> ℹ️ **Note**: **Allow** the tool call when prompted.
You should see a list of available generators returned, including an entry for **OData UI Service from Scratch**.
> ✅ If you see generator names returned, the ADT MCP Server is working correctly with your coding agent!
---
### Summary & Next Exercise
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You have successfully:
- Enabeled and checked the availability of the ADT MCP servers and tools
> ℹ️ **Hint**: To test and learn working with Agentic AI in ADT for VS Code, you can follow the [RAP130 - Build SAP Fiori Apps with ABAP Cloud and SAP Joule for Developers in Visual Studio Code](https://github.com/SAP-samples/abap-platform-rap130) tutorial.