VS Code is the editor many developers already work in, with source control, terminal, and extensions in one window. Dreamlit’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) server lets Copilot agent mode draft notification workflows from that same window. No new tool, no separate dashboard, no leaving the editor. You can ask VS Code’s Copilot agent mode things like:Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://notikaai.mintlify.app/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
- 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
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.
Authorize Dreamlit
Save the file, then use MCP: List Servers to start Dreamlit. If VS Code asks for authentication, complete the Dreamlit browser flow.
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.
Using an API key instead of OAuth?
Using an API key instead of OAuth?
Use a Dreamlit personal access token when cannot complete OAuth or when you want one project-scoped credential.
Create a token
Open Dreamlit, go to Project Settings -> Project Details -> MCP Access, then click Create token.
- 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 connect to external tools and data sources through one shared protocol. Instead of needing a custom Dreamlit integration, connects to Dreamlit’s MCP server and discovers the tools Dreamlit exposes. For Dreamlit, MCP means 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.| Capability | What it means |
|---|---|
| Inspect setup | Check the approved workspace, project setup, Dreamlit page links, table and column summaries, and prompting guidance. |
| List projects and workflows | Find the project or workflow should work on. |
| Inspect workflows | Return normalized workflow structure and a Dreamlit preview URL before editing. |
| Create drafts | Ask Dreamlit to create a workflow draft from an outcome-oriented prompt. |
| Update drafts | Continue editing an existing workflow through the same draft history you see in the web app. |
| Test draft messages | Send a draft email or Slack message to yourself or a chosen recipient for review before publishing. |
| Prepare publish | Validate a workflow and return a publish confirmation payload with a preview URL. |
| Confirm publish | Publish only after the user explicitly approves the prepared publish request. |
| Unpublish | Disable a live workflow when has publish permission. |
| Hand off to the browser | Send you to Dreamlit when setup, unsupported edits, or manual review need the web app. |
Prerequisites
Before connecting :- 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 kits, or Slack.
- Confirm 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 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 supports remote server authentication. connects to Dreamlit, Dreamlit opens a browser authorization screen, and you approve access to one Dreamlit workspace.Approve Dreamlit access
should open a Dreamlit authorization page. Sign in, choose the workspace, review the requested scopes, and click Allow access.
Permissions
Dreamlit MCP uses three workflow scopes.| Scope | Allows | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
workflows:read | get_status, list_projects, list_workflows, get_workflow_and_preview_url | Inspect setup, find workflows, review drafts and published state. |
workflows:write | create_or_update_workflow, send_workflow_test | Create or edit workflow drafts, and send draft message tests. |
workflows:publish | prepare_publish, confirm_publish, unpublish_workflow | Validate, publish, schedule broadcasts, or unpublish workflows. |
Tools
discovers these tools from the server.| Tool | Required scope | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
get_status | workflows:read | Learn how Dreamlit MCP works, inspect workspace/project setup, get Dreamlit page links, and retrieve prompting guidance. |
list_projects | workflows:read | Find projects in the approved workspace. Project-scoped tokens only return their own project. |
list_workflows | workflows:read | Find workflows in a project, optionally filtered by trigger type. |
get_workflow_and_preview_url | workflows:read | Inspect draft and published workflow structure before editing or publishing. |
create_or_update_workflow | workflows:write | Create or update a draft from a natural-language prompt. |
send_workflow_test | workflows:write | Send the current draft email or Slack message to yourself or a chosen recipient for review. Doesn’t publish or edit the workflow. |
prepare_publish | workflows:publish | Validate the workflow and return the exact payload needed for confirmation. |
confirm_publish | workflows:publish | Publish only after the user approves the prepared publish request. |
unpublish_workflow | workflows:publish | Disable a live workflow. |
dreamlit://mcp/guide resource. If supports MCP resources, it can read the guide for prompting guidance, trigger types, unsubscribe guidance, and the recommended Dreamlit MCP flow.
Recommended workflow
Ask to work in this order:Check status
Start with
get_status. This gives Dreamlit concepts, setup state, project context, and links back to relevant Dreamlit pages.Review in Dreamlit
Open the returned workflow URL to inspect the draft, preview output, and make manual adjustments if needed.
Test important messages
For email or Slack messages that need to look right before going live, ask 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.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. 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
- 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 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 is sending it as anAuthorization: Bearer ... header.
Dreamlit tools do not appear after authorization
Start a new chat or session in . If the tools still do not appear, restart or restart the Dreamlit MCP server entry. 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 workflow access, or create a token with the missing scope.Dreamlit says to choose a project
Your approved workspace has multiple projects and did not specify one. Ask 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 .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 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.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