Build Elasticsearch-Powered Applications in Gemini Code Assist with CData Code Assist MCP
Gemini Code Assist is an AI-powered coding companion that integrates intelligent code generation into everyday development workflows. With support for MCP, Gemini Code Assist can connect to live enterprise data sources directly from Visual Studio Code, enabling natural language interaction with structured data without switching context or manually writing data access code.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting LLM clients to external services through structured tool interfaces. MCP servers expose capabilities such as schema discovery and live querying, allowing AI agents to retrieve and reason over real-time data safely and consistently.
This guide walks through installing the CData Code Assist MCP for Elasticsearch, configuring the connection to Elasticsearch, connecting the Code Assist MCP add-on to Gemini Code Assist, and querying live Elasticsearch data from within the editor.
About Elasticsearch Data Integration
Accessing and integrating live data from Elasticsearch has never been easier with CData. Customers rely on CData connectivity to:
- Access both the SQL endpoints and REST endpoints, optimizing connectivity and offering more options when it comes to reading and writing Elasticsearch data.
- Connect to virtually every Elasticsearch instance starting with v2.2 and Open Source Elasticsearch subscriptions.
- Always receive a relevance score for the query results without explicitly requiring the SCORE() function, simplifying access from 3rd party tools and easily seeing how the query results rank in text relevance.
- Search through multiple indices, relying on Elasticsearch to manage and process the query and results instead of the client machine.
Users frequently integrate Elasticsearch data with analytics tools such as Crystal Reports, Power BI, and Excel, and leverage our tools to enable a single, federated access layer to all of their data sources, including Elasticsearch.
For more information on CData's Elasticsearch solutions, check out our Knowledge Base article: CData Elasticsearch Driver Features & Differentiators.
Getting Started
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure the following requirements are met:
- Visual Studio Code is installed on the machine
- Gemini Code Assist extension is enabled in Visual Studio Code
- CData Code Assist MCP for Elasticsearch has been installed
- Access to Elasticsearch
Note: Gemini Code Assist must already be set up and functional in Visual Studio Code before configuring MCP servers. MCP servers are accessed when Gemini Code Assist is running in Agent mode.
Step 1: Download and install the CData Code Assist MCP for Elasticsearch
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To begin, download the CData Code Assist MCP for Elasticsearch
- Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
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Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation
When the installation is complete, the Code Assist MCP add-on is ready for configuration by connecting to Elasticsearch.
Step 2: Configure the connection to Elasticsearch
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After installation, open the CData Code Assist MCP for Elasticsearch configuration wizard
NOTE: If the wizard does not open automatically, search for "CData Code Assist MCP for Elasticsearch" in the Windows search bar and open the application.
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In MCP Configuration > Configuration Name, either select an existing configuration or choose
to create a new one
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Name the configuration (e.g. "cdata_elasticsearch") and click OK
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Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard
Set the Server and Port connection properties to connect. To authenticate, set the User and Password properties, PKI (public key infrastructure) properties, or both. To use PKI, set the SSLClientCert, SSLClientCertType, SSLClientCertSubject, and SSLClientCertPassword properties.
The data provider uses X-Pack Security for TLS/SSL and authentication. To connect over TLS/SSL, prefix the Server value with 'https://'. Note: TLS/SSL and client authentication must be enabled on X-Pack to use PKI.
Once the data provider is connected, X-Pack will then perform user authentication and grant role permissions based on the realms you have configured.
- Click Connect to authenticate with Elasticsearch
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Then, click Save Configuration to save the Code Assist MCP add-on
This process creates a .mcp configuration file that Gemini Code Assist will reference when launching the Code Assist MCP add-on. With the Code Assist MCP add-on configured, it is ready to connect to Gemini Code Assist.
Step 3: Connect the Code Assist MCP add-on to Gemini Code Assist
- Ensure Visual Studio Code is installed and the Gemini Code Assist extension is enabled
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From the configuration wizard, click Next after saving and testing the connection
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Select Gemini Code Assist from the AI MCP Tool dropdown
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Click Copy JSON to copy the generated MCP configuration to the clipboard
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Paste the copied JSON into the appropriate configuration file based on the desired scope:
- User-level: Configuration applies across all projects for the current user
- Workspace-level: Configuration applies only to the current workspace or project
NOTE: The configuration includes the path to Java 17+ executable and the CData Code Assist MCP add-on JAR file. The final argument must match the MCP configuration name saved in the wizard (e.g. "cdata_elasticsearch").
- Save the configuration file and restart Visual Studio Code if necessary
Step 4: Query live Elasticsearch data in Gemini Code Assist
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Open Visual Studio Code and select Gemini Code Assist in the activity bar
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Enter /mcp in the chat prompt to verify the connection status. The Elasticsearch Code Assist MCP add-on should appear with a green connection indicator
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Ask questions about Elasticsearch data using natural language. For example:
"Provide the list of all tables available in my Elasticsearch data connection."
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Generate code that works with live Elasticsearch data. For example:
"Write a function to retrieve records from the Orders table where OrderName matches a given value."
Gemini Code Assist is now fully integrated with the CData Code Assist MCP add-on and can use the MCP tools exposed to explore schemas, execute live queries against Elasticsearch, and generate data-aware code.
Build with Code Assist MCP. Deploy with CData Drivers.
Download Code Assist MCP for free and give your AI tools schema-aware access to live Elasticsearch data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData Elasticsearch Drivers deliver the same SQL-based access with enterprise-grade performance, security, and reliability.
Visit the CData Community to share insights, ask questions, and explore what's possible with MCP-powered AI workflows.