Roo Code Integration Guide

Configure GitLab MCP for the Roo Code extension. Its MCP configuration reference describes the project and global configuration formats.

Open the active configuration

In Roo Code's MCP settings, choose Edit Project MCP for the workspace or Edit Global MCP for all workspaces. Project configuration overrides global configuration for the same server name.

For the standard VS Code profile, automatic setup writes the extension's global settings/mcp_settings.json:

When VSCODE_APPDATA is nonempty, its Code directory takes precedence on all platforms. Otherwise, Linux uses XDG_CONFIG_HOME/Code when the variable is nonempty, or ~/.config/Code.

npx @structured-world/gitlab-mcp install --roo-code

With portable VS Code, a custom profile or --user-data-dir, another editor, or Roo's custom storage path, open Edit Global MCP to find and edit the active configuration. The installer does not migrate the unused home-level ~/.roo/mcp.json file.

Detection

Method	Details
Type	Config directory
Project path	.roo/ in the workspace
Global configuration	Open with Edit Global MCP

Config File Location

OS	Path
All platforms, project	.roo/mcp.json in the workspace root
All platforms, global	mcp_settings.json opened by Roo Code

Configuration

Add to the configuration file opened by Roo Code:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitlab": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@structured-world/gitlab-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "GITLAB_TOKEN": "${env:GITLAB_TOKEN}",
        "GITLAB_API_URL": "https://gitlab.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

Set GITLAB_TOKEN in the environment of the VS Code process before starting Roo Code. Roo resolves ${env:GITLAB_TOKEN} from that environment. Do not replace the reference with a literal token in .roo/mcp.json or commit credentials to Git.

Remote Server

Connect to a running GitLab MCP HTTP server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitlab": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "http://localhost:3333/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Verification

1. Open Roo Code
2. Check the MCP servers panel
3. Verify "gitlab" is connected
4. GitLab tools should be available in chat

Troubleshooting

• Config directory missing: Use Edit Project MCP to create the workspace configuration
• Server not appearing: Restart Roo Code after editing mcp.json
• JSON syntax errors: Validate the file with a JSON linter

See Also

• Quick Start
• Configuration reference
• Troubleshooting