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To connect an AI coding host to an Angular workspace, configure the host to start the Angular CLI’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) server with npx @angular/cli mcp. The exact file location and JSON key depend on which host you use, so the configuration shape matters as much as the command.
What the command does
The Angular CLI includes an MCP server. You do not install it as a separate product. Your AI host launches it by invoking the CLI package, and the host then talks to the server over MCP to read information about and act on your project. Angular’s current MCP setup guide uses npx @angular/cli mcp as the baseline command for every host it documents.
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The same server can also be started as ng mcp from inside a workspace. Angular’s v20 version of the guide notes that running it in an interactive terminal prints host configuration instructions, which is useful if you want to check the expected shape without leaving the terminal. For day-to-day use, the host configuration files shown below are what you need.
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The configuration lives in the AI host’s own settings, not in your Angular project’s angular.json. Angular’s guide documents project-level files for three hosts. Use the file location and top-level key that match your host.
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| Host | Project-level file | Top-level key | Other location |
|---|---|---|---|
| VS Code | .vscode/mcp.json |
servers |
Not stated in Angular’s current guide |
| Cursor | .cursor/mcp.json |
mcpServers |
Global file ~/.cursor/mcp.json |
| Antigravity | .antigravity/mcp.json |
mcpServers |
Not stated in Angular’s current guide |
VS Code
Create .vscode/mcp.json at the root of your workspace. VS Code’s documented example uses a top-level servers object, not mcpServers. Using the wrong key is one of the most likely reasons the server will not appear.
{
"servers": {
"angular-cli": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@angular/cli", "mcp"]
}
}
}Cursor
Create .cursor/mcp.json in the project, or place the same content in the global file ~/.cursor/mcp.json if you want the server available in every workspace. Cursor’s example uses mcpServers, and the command and arguments are identical to the VS Code entry.
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{
"mcpServers": {
"angular-cli": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@angular/cli", "mcp"]
}
}
}Antigravity
Create .antigravity/mcp.json and use the mcpServers shape, again with the same command and arguments.
{
"mcpServers": {
"angular-cli": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@angular/cli", "mcp"]
}
}
}Any other host
If your host is not listed, check that host’s own MCP configuration documentation before copying a snippet. The file path, the top-level key, and whether the file is project-scoped or global all vary by host. Keep the Angular-specific parts constant: the command is npx and the arguments are -y @angular/cli mcp.
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Restrict the tools the server registers
Angular’s current guide documents two flags that limit which tools the server registers. Add them to the args array in your configuration.
--read-onlyregisters only tools that do not modify the project.--local-onlyregisters only tools that do not require an internet connection.
For example, to limit the server to read-only tools:
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"args": ["-y", "@angular/cli", "mcp", "--read-only"]These flags control the tools the server offers. They do not control everything an AI host can do. Other tools or permissions your host has, outside this server, are governed by that host’s own settings, so review them separately if the project matters to you.
Enable experimental tools
Angular’s skills documentation describes some tools as experimental. These are enabled with --experimental-tool (or -E). The skills documentation gives examples that enable build and test.
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"args": ["-y", "@angular/cli", "mcp", "--experimental-tool", "build"]The set of available tools has changed across documentation versions. Before you rely on a tool name, check the documentation that matches your installed Angular CLI version, and do not assume a list from an older guide still applies.
Check the setup
If the server does not appear in your host after you save the configuration, work through these checks in order:
- Confirm that Node.js and
npxrun from the same terminal environment your host uses. - Confirm the top-level key matches the host:
serversfor VS Code,mcpServersfor Cursor and Antigravity. - Confirm the file is in the location your host reads, including the global path for Cursor if you chose that option.
- Check that flags are spelled exactly as
--read-only,--local-only, or--experimental-tool, with no extra quotes or commas inside the array. - Restart the host or reload its window after changing the file.
- Run
ng mcpin an interactive terminal inside the workspace to see the host configuration instructions for your CLI version.
What to verify before you publish or deploy a setup
MCP features, host configuration conventions, and the tools the server exposes can change with product versions. The current Angular guide is the authoritative source for the setup steps above, and the v20 guide and skills documentation are useful for context and experimental flag details. Check the official guide for your Angular CLI version whenever you set up a new machine or update the CLI.
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