- List my published workflows in Dreamlit.
- Update the welcome email workflow with the new copy I’m previewing in this branch, then send a test before I open the PR.
- Create a recurring email that sends me a weekly usage digest every Monday at 9 AM America/New_York. Include new signups, active users, and failed payments from the previous week.
- Send me a test of the welcome email draft so I can review it in my inbox before publishing.
- Publish the “trial ending” reminder workflow. Check for any warnings or errors before publishing.
Why use Dreamlit MCP with VS Code?
VS Code is where many developers already write the code that produces the events users care about. Dreamlit MCP brings notification workflows into the same editor, so the workflow update lands alongside the source change that triggers it.- One window: source control, terminal, code, and notification workflows all in the same editor.
- Copilot agent mode: GitHub’s MCP-aware agent drafts the workflow with full access to the file you have open.
- Trusted surface: extensions, debugger, terminal, and source control are tools you already trust to ship code. Dreamlit fits the same pattern.
- Test before publishing: ask Copilot to send a test through
send_workflow_testand review the real message before going live.
Server URL
mcp.json and can start, stop, or restart them from the Command Palette.
Quick install
1
Create or open mcp.json
In VS Code, open the Command Palette and choose MCP: Open User Configuration or MCP: Open Workspace Folder MCP Configuration.
2
Add Dreamlit
Add Dreamlit under the top-level
servers object:3
Authorize Dreamlit
Save the file, then use MCP: List Servers to start Dreamlit. If VS Code asks for authentication, complete the Dreamlit browser flow.
4
Restart the server
After authorization, use MCP: List Servers to restart Dreamlit, or reload the VS Code window. Then open a new Copilot agent chat so the tool list is fresh.
5
Start prompting
In Copilot agent mode, ask:
Using an API key instead of OAuth?
Using an API key instead of OAuth?
Use a Dreamlit personal access token when VS Code cannot complete OAuth or when you want one project-scoped credential.
1
Create a token
Open Dreamlit, go to Project Settings -> Project Details -> MCP Access, then click Create token.
2
Choose scopes
Select the smallest set of permissions VS Code needs.
3
Copy the token now
Dreamlit only shows the token once. Store it securely.
4
Pass the token as a Bearer token
Configure VS Code to send:
- JSON config
- VS Code
- Codex
- Connector UI
VS Code MCP tools require GitHub Copilot agent mode and MCP access enabled for your account or organization.
What is MCP?
MCP is an open standard that lets VS Code connect to external tools and data sources through one shared protocol. Instead of needing a custom Dreamlit integration, VS Code connects to Dreamlit’s MCP server and discovers the tools Dreamlit exposes. For Dreamlit, MCP means Copilot agent mode can work with notification workflows using product-level actions:- Find the right workspace, project, or workflow
- Understand Dreamlit concepts and project setup state
- Create or update workflow drafts from plain-English prompts
- Return preview links so you can inspect the result in Dreamlit
- Prepare publishing and ask for explicit confirmation before anything goes live
What can Dreamlit MCP do?
Dreamlit MCP is focused on workflow authoring and safe workflow operations. It is not a low-level database API.Prerequisites
Before connecting VS Code:- Create a Dreamlit account at app.dreamlit.ai.
- Finish workspace and project setup in Dreamlit.
- Connect a Supabase or Postgres database.
- Configure any channels the workflows will need, such as email domains, Brand Styles, or Slack.
- Confirm VS Code supports remote MCP over Streamable HTTP, or can send MCP requests through an HTTP bridge.
Dreamlit MCP works against existing Dreamlit workspaces and projects. If VS Code says setup is required, open the Dreamlit link it returns and finish setup in the web app before reconnecting.
How does authorization work?
OAuth is the best option when VS Code supports remote server authentication. VS Code connects to Dreamlit, Dreamlit opens a browser authorization screen, and you approve access to one Dreamlit workspace.1
Add Dreamlit MCP
Use the server URL:
2
Approve Dreamlit access
VS Code should open a Dreamlit authorization page. Sign in, choose the workspace, review the requested scopes, and click Allow access.
3
Check status
Ask Copilot agent mode:
Check Dreamlit MCP status and list my projects.
Permissions
Dreamlit MCP uses workflow and analytics scopes.
OAuth grants are scoped to a workspace. Personal access tokens are scoped to one project.
Tools
VS Code discovers these tools from the server.
Dreamlit also exposes the
dreamlit://mcp/guide resource. If VS Code supports MCP resources, it can read the guide for prompting guidance, trigger types, unsubscribe guidance, and the recommended Dreamlit MCP flow.
How do I get Dreamlit’s analysis?
Useget_lifecycle_report for Dreamlit’s prepared analysis of key metrics worth tracking, the signup-to-paid funnel and where users drop off, deliverability health, and which lifecycle stages have no emails yet: welcome, onboarding, engagement, retention, and winback. Use get_recommendations for prioritized emails or workflows to add and what to fix or change in existing ones.
Both tools are available on Pro and Scale plans and require analytics:read. These reports are prepared by Dreamlit’s agents and reviewed by our team. Use get_analytics for raw notification analytics: email and Slack sends and deliveries, email opens, clicks and bounces, overview metrics, per-recipient rows and workflow run rows.
Both accept an optional projectId. You can leave it out when your token is pinned to a project or your approved workspace has one accessible project.
- If a report is ready, the tool returns
state: "ready"with its Markdown body and timestamps. - Otherwise, it requests one and returns
state: "processing". Check back later. Dreamlit also emails the original requester when it’s ready. - Pass
refresh: trueonly when the user asks for a new report; when checking on a pending report, call withoutrefresh. Refresh reuses an open request, otherwise returns the latest report if it was ready within the last 24 hours, or creates a new request. While it is being prepared, every call returns the processing state and includes the last ready report aspreviousReport. - On Free and AppSumo plans, the tool returns
plan_upgrade_requiredwith a billing link. Upgrade to Pro or Scale to use it. On Enterprise, it returns the same code with a support link; contact us to add reports to your plan.
Recommended workflow
Ask Copilot agent mode to work in this order:1
Check status
Start with
get_status. This gives Copilot agent mode Dreamlit concepts, setup state, project context, and links back to relevant Dreamlit pages.2
Find the target
Use
list_projects and list_workflows if the project or workflow is unclear.3
Choose a Brand Style
Use
list_brand_styles when you want a specific saved Brand Style applied.4
Inspect before editing
Use
get_workflow_and_preview_url before changing an existing workflow.5
Create or update the draft
Use
create_or_update_workflow with an outcome-oriented prompt. When editing, describe the steps to change by what they do, like “the email with subject Welcome back”, not by step ID.Each call continues the workflow’s current Dreamlit chat. For an unrelated change, or if Dreamlit keeps misreading the request, pass startNewChat to start fresh. The new chat still sees the current draft.When you already know the exact new value, like a new subject line, a fixed HTML body, or a corrected query, use edit_workflow_steps instead. It’s instant, uses no AI credits, and takes step IDs from get_workflow_and_preview_url.6
Review in Dreamlit
Open the returned workflow URL to inspect the draft, preview output, and make manual adjustments if needed.
7
Test important messages
For email or Slack messages that need to look right before going live, ask Copilot agent mode to send a test through
send_workflow_test. Confirm the test before it sends, then review the real message in your inbox or Slack channel.8
Publish deliberately
Use
prepare_publish first. Only call confirm_publish after you explicitly approve the prepared publish request.How do I test a draft email or Slack message before publishing?
Usesend_workflow_test to send the current draft message to yourself (or a chosen recipient) so you can review it in the real channel before going live. Tests don’t publish, schedule, or change the workflow draft.
- Email tests default to the authenticated user’s email address. Pass
testRecipientEmailto send to a different inbox. - Slack tests post to the channel configured for the draft message.
- Dreamlit returns a
confirmation_requiredresponse describing the message and recipient. Copilot agent mode only sends after callingsend_workflow_testagain withconfirmSend: true. - If a workflow has more than one testable message, Dreamlit returns a
clarification_requiredresponse listing each message by label so you can choose one. - Test sends count toward the same draft rate limit as workflow authoring.
Prompting Dreamlit through MCP
Dreamlit works best when you describe the notification outcome, not the internal workflow graph. Good prompts include:- The event or schedule that should start the workflow
- The audience or recipient
- The message goal
- Data needed for targeting or personalization, including email activity such as recent opens or clicks, who opened a specific broadcast, emails that failed, or people this workflow already emailed this period
- Timing, timezone, and business rules
- Whether unsubscribe should be enabled
- Tone or brand notes when they matter
Safety and control
Dreamlit MCP is designed so Copilot agent mode can help with workflows without making surprise production changes.- Draft changes stay draft-only until you publish.
- Test sends require explicit confirmation and don’t publish, schedule, or edit the draft.
- Publishing is always a separate confirmation step with a Dreamlit preview link.
- If an action needs setup or manual review, Dreamlit sends you back to the web app.
- Query steps are read-only against your application data.
- Access is limited by the permissions you approve. Personal access tokens are project-scoped and can be revoked anytime.
Troubleshooting
Dreamlit authorization is required
Reconnect the MCP server and complete the browser authorization flow. If you are using a personal access token, confirm the token is still active and that VS Code is sending it as anAuthorization: Bearer ... header.
Dreamlit tools do not appear after authorization
Start a new chat or session in VS Code. If the tools still do not appear, restart VS Code or restart the Dreamlit MCP server entry. VS Code can cache the MCP server and tool list for an open session.Additional Dreamlit permission is required
The current OAuth grant or personal access token does not include the required scope. Reconnect with the requested access, or create a token with the missing scope.Dreamlit says to choose a project
Your approved workspace has multiple projects and Copilot agent mode did not specify one. Ask Copilot agent mode to calllist_projects, then retry with the right project.
Dreamlit says setup is required
Open the returned Dreamlit setup URL, finish workspace and project setup, then reconnect VS Code.A workflow edit returns a browser handoff
Some changes still need the Dreamlit web app. Open the returned URL, review the draft, and continue from there.Publishing fails after a preview
The workflow may have changed since the publish preview. Ask Copilot agent mode to runprepare_publish again, review the new preview and warnings, then confirm only if it still looks right.
Tools are visible but calls time out
Workflow authoring can take longer than read-only calls because Dreamlit is planning and applying a real workflow draft. Retry once. If it keeps failing, open the returned Dreamlit URL if one is present, or contact support.Testing with MCP Inspector
You can use the MCP Inspector to verify the server connection.1
Start the Inspector
2
Choose Streamable HTTP
Select Streamable HTTP as the transport.
3
Enter the server URL
4
Authenticate
Use OAuth if the Inspector supports it, or add a Bearer header:
5
Confirm the connection
Use List tools and call
get_status to confirm the connection.Next steps
Quickstart
Connect your database and create your first workflow.
Workflow basics
Learn how Dreamlit workflows are structured.
Get support
Reach the team if MCP setup blocks you.
Last validated: 2026-05-07