Build Salesforce Data Cloud-Powered Applications in GitHub Copilot with CData Code Assist MCP

GitHub Copilot is an AI-powered coding assistant that integrates directly into Visual Studio Code and other IDEs. With support for MCP, GitHub Copilot can connect to local tools and enterprise data sources, enabling natural language interaction with live systems during development.

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.

In this article, we guide you through installing the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud, configuring the connection to Salesforce Data Cloud, connecting the Code Assist MCP add-on to GitHub Copilot, and querying live Salesforce Data Cloud data from within Visual Studio Code.

Prerequisites

• Visual Studio Code is installed on your machine
• GitHub Copilot Chat extension is enabled in Visual Studio Code
• CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud has been installed

Step 1: Download and install the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud

1. To begin, download the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud
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, you are ready to configure your Code Assist MCP add-on by connecting to Salesforce Data Cloud.

Step 2: Configure the connection to Salesforce Data Cloud

1. After installation, open the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud configuration wizard

   NOTE: If the wizard does not open automatically, search for "CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud" 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_salesforcedatacloud") and click OK

4. Enter the appropriate connection properties in the configuration wizard

   Salesforce Data Cloud supports authentication via the OAuth standard.

   OAuth

   Set AuthScheme to OAuth.

   Desktop Applications

   CData provides an embedded OAuth application that simplifies authentication at the desktop.

   You can also authenticate from the desktop via a custom OAuth application, which you configure and register at the Salesforce Data Cloud console. For further information, see Creating a Custom OAuth App in the Help documentation.

   Before you connect, set these properties:

   • InitiateOAuth: GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
   • OAuthClientId (custom applications only): The Client ID assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.
   • OAuthClientSecret (custom applications only): The Client Secret assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.

   When you connect, the driver opens Salesforce Data Cloud's OAuth endpoint in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions to the application.

   The driver then completes the OAuth process as follows:

   • Extracts the access token from the callback URL.
   • Obtains a new access token when the old one expires.
   • Saves OAuth values in OAuthSettingsLocation so that they persist across connections.

   For other OAuth methods, including Web Applications and Headless Machines, refer to the Help documentation.

   
5. Click Connect to authenticate with Salesforce Data Cloud through OAuth
6. Click Save & Test to finalize the connection

This process creates a .mcp configuration file that GitHub Copilot will reference when launching the Code Assist MCP add-on. Now with your Code Assist MCP add-on configured, you are ready to connect it to GitHub Copilot.

Step 3: Connect the Code Assist MCP add-on to GitHub Copilot

1. Download and install Visual Studio Code and enable the GitHub Copilot Chat extension

Option 1: Manually add the MCP configuration

1. Open or create the mcp.json file:
   • For global configuration: %%APPDATA%%/Roaming/Code/User/mcp.json
   • For project-specific configuration: /.vscode/mcp.json
2. Add the JSON code shown below and save the file

{
  "servers": {
    "cdata_salesforcedatacloud": {
      "command": "C:\Program Files\CData\CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud\jre\bin\java.exe",
      "args": [
        "-Dfile.encoding=UTF-8",
        "-jar",
        "C:\Program Files\CData\CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud\lib\cdata.mcp.salesforcedatacloud.jar",
        "cdata_salesforcedatacloud"
      ]
    }
  }
}

NOTE: The command value should point to your Java 17+ java.exe executable, and the JAR path should point to the installed CData Code Assist MCP add-on .jar file. The final argument must match the MCP configuration name you saved in the CData configuration wizard (e.g. "cdata_salesforcedatacloud").

Option 2: Copy the MCP configuration from the CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud UI

1. After saving and testing your connection in the configuration wizard, click Next
2. Select Github Copilot from the AI MCP Tool dropdown
3. Follow the MCP Client Instructions to create the required configuration file
4. Copy the displayed JSON code and paste it into your configuration file

Step 4: Query live Salesforce Data Cloud data in GitHub Copilot

1. Launch Visual Studio Code and open the GitHub Copilot Chat interface. Select the tool icon to enable the configured Code Assist MCP add-on
2. Ask questions about your Salesforce Data Cloud data using natural language. For example:

   "List all tables available in my Salesforce Data Cloud data data connection."

   
3. Start building with natural language prompts:

   For my project, data from the Account is very important. Pull data from the most important columns like [Account ID] and [Account Name].
   

GitHub Copilot is now fully integrated with CData Code Assist MCP for Salesforce Data Cloud and can use the MCP tools to explore schemas and execute live queries against Salesforce Data Cloud.

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 Salesforce Data Cloud data during development. When you're ready to move to production, CData Salesforce Data Cloud 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.