MCP · VS Code Extension · Free

AI debugging,
without the config.

Blackbox connects your AI to VS Code's debugger via MCP tools. Set breakpoints, inspect variables, evaluate expressions — all from a single prompt. Works with every debug adapter.

Install Extension View on GitHub

v0.1.0·MIT License·VS Code ^1.99

blackbox — debug session

› debug_start --type node --file src/server.ts

[INIT] Session active · node · src/server.ts

› debug_set_breakpoint --file src/auth.ts --line 42

[SET] src/auth.ts:42 — condition: "user.role === 'admin'"

[HIT] Paused at src/auth.ts:42

› debug_get_variables()

[VAR] user → { id: 1, role: "admin" }

[VAR] token → "eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9..."

[VAR] req → Request { method: "POST", path: "/api/login" }

› debug_evaluate "user.id * 2"

[EVAL] 2 · number

› debug_get_stack_trace()

[FRAME] verifyUser src/auth.ts:42

[FRAME] handleLogin src/api/auth.ts:18

›

Demo

See Blackbox in action.

Watch a real debug session — set a breakpoint, inspect variables, evaluate expressions, and let your AI take it from there.

blackbox — live demoREC

Universal support

Works with every
debug adapter.

Blackbox speaks VS Code's Debug Adapter Protocol. If VS Code can debug it, Blackbox can too — no extra config, no custom scripts.

PHP, Node.js, Python, Go, C++, Ruby — and more
Conditional breakpoints, log messages, hit counts
Expand nested objects and arrays in-scope
No launch.json required — just describe the session

src/auth.ts

38async function verifyUser(req: Request) {

39 const token = req.headers.authorization;

40 const user = await decode(token);

42 if (user.role === 'admin') { // ← breakpoint

43 return grantAccess(user);

44 }

45 throw new Error('Unauthorized');

46}

Features

Everything your AI needs
to debug your code.

12 MCP tools wired directly into VS Code's Debug Adapter Protocol — set breakpoints, inspect variables, navigate files, and pull diagnostics from a prompt.

Set Breakpoints

Place breakpoints at any file and line with optional conditions or log messages.

Inspect Variables

Get every in-scope variable when paused. Expand nested objects and arrays.

Evaluate Expressions

Run any expression in the current debug context. Call functions, test logic.

Stack Traces

Get the full call stack — file, line, and function for every frame.

Diagnostics

Pull errors and warnings from every language server in the workspace.

File Navigation

Open files, jump to lines, list open tabs, find files by glob pattern.

Zero friction

Ask. Debug.
Understand.

No more digging through launch.json docs. Describe what you want to debug and Blackbox handles the rest — from session start to variable inspection.

No manual launch.json configuration required
Works with Copilot, Claude, Cursor — any MCP-capable AI
Live variable values flow back to your AI automatically
One extension. All your languages. Every debug operation.

Copilot Chat

Debug the verifyUser function. It's returning 401 for admin users.

I'll start a debug session and set a breakpoint at the auth check.

✓ debug_start({ type: "node" })

✓ debug_set_breakpoint({ file: "auth.ts", line: 42 })

✓ debug_get_variables()

Found it — user.role is "Admin" (capital A). The comparison uses lowercase. Fix the check on line 42.

Setup

Up and running in 60 seconds.

Install the extension, add one config block to your MCP settings, and your AI agent has full debug access.

Install from VS Code Marketplace

Search for akash-cx.blackbox-debug or install directly from the Marketplace.

Add the MCP server config

Paste the config to the right into your MCP settings file (.cursor/mcp.json, copilot-mcp.json, etc.). Replace <user> with your macOS username.

Ask your AI to debug

Open Copilot, Claude, or Cursor. Say "Debug the login function — it's returning 401." Blackbox handles the rest.

mcp.json

{
  "servers": {
    "blackbox": {
      "type":    "stdio",
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/Users/<user>/.vscode/extensions/akash-cx.blackbox-debug-<version>/out/mcp/server.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Replace <user> with your system username.

Workspace awareness

Your AI sees what
your language server sees.

Pull live errors and warnings from every language server in the workspace. Give your AI the full picture — not just runtime errors, but type errors, lint warnings, and more.

TypeScript, ESLint, PHP, Go — any LSP-backed extension
Filter by severity: errors only, warnings, or everything
Find files by glob — your AI can explore the whole workspace

workspace_get_diagnostics()

// severity: "error"

[ERR] src/auth.ts:42

Property 'role' does not exist on type 'User'.

[ERR] src/api/index.ts:18

Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'id').

// severity: "warning"

[WARN] src/utils.ts:7

'data' is declared but its value is never read.

// 2 errors · 1 warning · 3 files

How it works

Three steps. One prompt.

You ask your AI

Tell Copilot, Claude, or Cursor to debug a function, trace a crash, or inspect a value in plain language.

Blackbox calls MCP tools

The extension bridges the AI to VS Code's DAP — setting breakpoints, starting sessions, and fetching variables on demand.

Your AI has the answer

Live variable values, stack frames, and expression results flow back to the AI — no manual inspection, no context switching.

MCP Tools

12 tools. Every debug operation.

Tool	Description	Category
Set Breakpoint	Place a breakpoint at any file and line, with an optional condition or log message.	debug
Remove Breakpoint	Remove an existing breakpoint by file path and line number.	debug
List Breakpoints	List all active breakpoints — file, line, condition, and hit count.	debug
Start Session	Start a debug session for any language — PHP, Node, Python, Go, C++, and more.	debug
Stop Session	Stop the currently active debug session cleanly.	debug
Evaluate Expression	Run any expression in the current debug context — call functions, inspect values.	debug
Get Variables	Fetch all in-scope variables when paused; expand nested objects and arrays.	debug
Get Stack Trace	Inspect the full call stack — file, line number, and function name per frame.	debug
Open File	Open any file in the editor and optionally scroll to a specific line.	editor
List Open Files	List all open editor tabs with their active and unsaved-changes status.	editor
Find File	Search for files in the workspace by glob pattern.	workspace
Get Diagnostics	Pull errors and warnings from every language server; filter by severity.	workspace