Build Google Translate-Powered Applications in Gemini Code Assist with CData MCP Server

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 explains how to install the CData API Driver for MCP Server, configure the connection to Google Translate, connect the MCP Server add-on to Gemini Code Assist, and query live Google Translate data from within the editor.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure the following requirements are met:

1. Visual Studio Code is installed on the machine
2. Gemini Code Assist extension is enabled in Visual Studio Code
3. CData API Driver for MCP Server has been installed
4. Access to Google Translate

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 API Driver for MCP Server

1. To begin, download the CData API Driver for MCP Server
2. Find and double-click the installer to begin the installation
3. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete the installation

When the installation is complete, the MCP Server add-on is ready for configuration by connecting to Google Translate.

Step 2: Configure the connection to Google Translate

1. After installation, open the CData API Driver for MCP Server configuration wizard

   NOTE: If the wizard does not open automatically, search for "CData API Driver for MCP Server" in the Windows search bar and open the application.

   
2. In MCP Configuration > Configuration Name, either select an existing configuration or choose to create a new one
3. Name the configuration (e.g. "cdata_api") and click OK

4. Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard

   Authentication

   Google Cloud Translation API requires OAuth 2.0 authentication to ensure secure access to translation services, datasets, glossaries, and adaptive MT resources. This authentication method allows you to securely connect to your Google Cloud project and manage translation resources with proper authorization.

   OAuth 2.0 Setup and Configuration

   Step 1: Create Google Cloud Project and Enable API

   To set up OAuth authentication:

   1. Visit the Google Cloud Console
   2. Create a new project or select an existing project
   3. Note down your Project ID (required for all API calls)
   4. Navigate to "APIs & Services" > "Library"
   5. Search for and enable the "Cloud Translation API"
   6. Go to "APIs & Services" > "Credentials"
   7. Click "Create Credentials" and select "OAuth Client ID"
   8. Configure the OAuth consent screen if prompted
   9. Select "Desktop application" or "Web application" as appropriate
   10. Set the authorized redirect URI (CallbackURL)
   11. Copy the Client ID and Client Secret for use in your connection

   Required Connection Properties

   • AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth (required)
   • OAuthClientId: Client ID from Google Cloud Console (required)
   • OAuthClientSecret: Client secret from Google Cloud Console (required)
   • CallbackURL: Redirect URI specified in your OAuth application (required)
   • InitiateOAuth: Set to GETANDREFRESH for automatic token management (recommended)
   • ProjectId: Your Google Cloud project ID or project number (required for queries)

   Required OAuth Scopes

   The Google Cloud Translation API Profile requires the following OAuth scope:

   • https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-translation - Full access to Cloud Translation API resources including translation, datasets, glossaries, and adaptive MT
   
5. Click Connect to authenticate with Google Translate through OAuth
6. Then, click Save Configuration to save the MCP Server add-on

This process creates a .mcp configuration file that Gemini Code Assist will reference when launching the MCP Server add-on. With the MCP Server add-on configured, it is ready to connect to Gemini Code Assist.

Step 3: Connect the MCP Server add-on to Gemini Code Assist

1. Ensure Visual Studio Code is installed and the Gemini Code Assist extension is enabled
2. From the configuration wizard, click Next after saving and testing the connection
3. Select Gemini Code Assist from the AI MCP Tool dropdown
4. Click Copy JSON to copy the generated MCP configuration to the clipboard
5. 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 MCP Server add-on JAR file. The final argument must match the MCP configuration name saved in the wizard (e.g. "cdata_api").

6. Save the configuration file and restart Visual Studio Code if necessary

Step 4: Query live Google Translate data in Gemini Code Assist

1. Open Visual Studio Code and select Gemini Code Assist in the activity bar
2. Enter /mcp in the chat prompt to verify the connection status. The Google Translate MCP Server add-on should appear with a green connection indicator
3. Ask questions about Google Translate data using natural language. For example:

   "Provide the list of all tables available in my Google Translate data connection."

   
4. Generate code that works with live Google Translate data. For example:

   "Write a function to retrieve records from the SupportedLanguages table where LanguageCode matches a given value."

   

Gemini Code Assist is now fully integrated with the CData MCP Server add-on and can use the MCP tools exposed to explore schemas, execute live queries against Google Translate, and generate data-aware code.

Build with MCP Server. Deploy with CData Drivers.

Download MCP Server for free and give your AI tools schema-aware access to live Google Translate data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData Google Translate 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.