Coding clients - Variable API

Coding clients add Variable from a config file or command. Each one opens a browser to Variable the first time it connects: sign in, pick an account, and select Allow. Tokens refresh automatically after that. Before you start, check MCP is enabled for your account: the MCP URL row in Company settings should show Enabled.

Claude Code

Claude Code (CLI and VS Code extension) supports remote MCP servers via claude mcp add:

claude mcp add --transport http variable https://app.variable.global/mcp

Then run /mcp inside Claude Code and select Authenticate for the variable server. A browser opens for the OAuth consent step. Tokens persist across sessions. To share the server with your team via version control, commit a .mcp.json file at your project root:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "variable": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://app.variable.global/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Everyone on the team gets the same config when they open the project in Claude Code.

Cursor

Cursor supports remote MCP servers via mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "variable": {
      "url": "https://app.variable.global/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Save the file (or use Cursor Settings -> MCP -> Add new MCP server) and Cursor will prompt for OAuth on first use.

GitHub Copilot (VS Code)

GitHub Copilot in VS Code supports remote MCP servers via .vscode/mcp.json (workspace) or the global user configuration (MCP: Open User Configuration):

{
  "servers": {
    "variable": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://app.variable.global/mcp"
    }
  }
}

VS Code prompts for OAuth on first use. See VS Code’s MCP servers docs for the latest details. If something goes wrong, see the troubleshooting table.

​Claude Code

​Cursor

​GitHub Copilot (VS Code)

Claude Code

Cursor

GitHub Copilot (VS Code)