# Continue

[<mark style="color:blue;">Continue</mark>](https://continue.dev) is an open-source AI coding assistant extension for VS Code and all JetBrains IDEs.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important:** MCP tools are only available in **Agent** mode. They are not available in Chat or Edit modes. If Continue does not show IONOS tools, confirm you have switched to Agent mode before testing.
{% endhint %}

## Prerequisites

* [<mark style="color:blue;">Continue</mark>](https://continue.dev) extension installed in VS Code or a JetBrains IDE
* The `ionoscloud-mcp` binary built and available. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Quick Start</mark>](/cloud/ai/mcp-server/quick-start.md)
* An <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud\_api</code> token. For least-privilege access, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Authentication</mark>](/cloud/ai/mcp-server/configuration/authentication.md#token-scope-by-product-area) to scope the token to only the tools you need.

## Add the MCP server

### Option A: Dedicated config file (recommended)

Create the directory `~/.continue/mcpServers/` if it does not exist, then create a file `ionoscloud.json` inside it. This is a single server object (not an array):

```json
{
  "name": "ionoscloud",
  "command": "/usr/local/bin/ionoscloud-mcp",
  "env": {
    "IONOS_TOKEN": "your-api-token"
  }
}
```

To also enable Object Storage tools:

```json
{
  "name": "ionoscloud",
  "command": "/usr/local/bin/ionoscloud-mcp",
  "env": {
    "IONOS_TOKEN": "your-api-token",
    "IONOS_S3_ACCESS_KEY": "your-access-key",
    "IONOS_S3_SECRET_KEY": "your-secret-key"
  }
}
```

### Option B: Main config file

Add an `mcpServers` array to `~/.continue/config.json`. Note the array format; this differs from Option A's single-object file:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": [
    {
      "name": "ionoscloud",
      "command": "/usr/local/bin/ionoscloud-mcp",
      "env": {
        "IONOS_TOKEN": "your-api-token"
      }
    }
  ]
}
```

## Verify the connection

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Switch to Agent mode

Open Continue in your IDE and switch to **Agent** mode (not Chat or Edit). Agent mode is required for MCP tool access.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Test the connection

Type: *List my* <code class="expression">space.vars.ionos\_cloud</code> *data centers.*

{% hint style="success" %}
**Result:** Continue calls `list_datacenters` and returns your data centers.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** All tools are registered at startup by default, so Compute Engine and Object Storage tools appear immediately. To reduce the startup tool count (for example, on clients with a tool-count cap), set `IONOS_MCP_LOAD_MODE=lazy` in the `env` block and call the `ionos_load_compute_tools` or `ionos_load_objectstorage_tools` sentinels on demand. For more information, see [<mark style="color:blue;">Selective Tool Loading</mark>](/cloud/ai/mcp-server/configuration/selective-tool-loading.md).
{% endhint %}

For full Continue MCP documentation, see [<mark style="color:blue;">docs.continue.dev/customize/deep-dives/mcp</mark>](https://docs.continue.dev/customize/deep-dives/mcp).


---

# Agent Instructions
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## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.ionos.com/cloud/ai/mcp-server/connect-to-an-ai-client/continue.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.