# Say "deploy" in VS Code (GitHub Copilot). It's live.

> Deploy from VS Code (GitHub Copilot) with Agent Lab MCP: browser sign-in, no API key, then say "deploy this". Every version can roll back.

Web page: https://agentlab.cresclab.com/en/deploy/vs-code  
繁體中文 (Markdown): https://agentlab.cresclab.com/deploy/vs-code.md

Deploy from VS Code (GitHub Copilot) · Agent Lab Deploy

Connect Agent Lab MCP to VS Code (GitHub Copilot) once (sign in in the browser, no API key), then say "deploy this". VS Code (GitHub Copilot) creates the project, uploads, waits for the build and asks before it goes live. Every version gets a preview URL and rollback; apps and databases run on Google Cloud in Taiwan.

[Start free](https://app.agentlab.cresclab.com/?lang=en&intent=deploy) [See the setup](https://agentlab.cresclab.com/en/deploy/vs-code#recipe)

VS Code (GitHub Copilot) deploys a project to Agent Lab: it creates the project, uploads, waits for the build and reports the live URL.

Why deploy from VS Code (GitHub Copilot) to Agent Lab

## VS Code (GitHub Copilot) does the deploy, you approve it

### No API key

You sign in in the browser. The connection can do what you can do in the console, never more.

### Preview, go live, roll back

Every upload is a new version with its own URL. Look first, then go live; switch back in one click.

### Leaked keys caught

Uploads are checked for API keys and credentials before they can go live.

### PostgreSQL in one click

Create a database and connect it; the connection is written into the app.

Your options

## VS Code (GitHub Copilot) with Agent Lab MCP, or your own server

Deploying from VS Code (GitHub Copilot) to Agent Lab compared with running your own server

| What you care about | Agent Lab Deploy | Your own server |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Setup | Connect MCP once, sign in in the browser | Install a CLI, create a token, write a deploy script |
| Credentials | No API key; the AI never sees a token | A token in the environment or pasted into the chat |
| Preview and rollback | Every version has its own URL; roll back in one click | Write your own scripts |
| Before going live | Uploads checked for leaked keys | Nothing unless you set it up |
| Database | PostgreSQL in one click, connection written into the app | Install and back it up yourself |
| Cost to start | Free plan: US$0, one size-S app (sleeps when idle) | A VPS at roughly US$6–20 a month, plus your time |

Steps

## Deploy from VS Code (GitHub Copilot) in four steps

1. ### Connect Agent Lab MCP
   Click Start in mcp.json; VS Code asks you to sign in in the browser and choose your organization.
2. ### Ask in the project
   Open the project in VS Code (GitHub Copilot) and paste the prompt below, or just say "deploy this".
3. ### Check the plan and secrets
   It shows the build plan and the variables the code reads. Enter secrets in the console, never in the chat.
4. ### Preview and go live
   The first version goes live once it builds. Later ones get a preview URL; go live when you're happy.

Setup

## Connect VS Code (GitHub Copilot) to Agent Lab

Switch Copilot Chat to Agent mode before asking; that's where it uses MCP tools. Commit .vscode/mcp.json and everyone on the team gets the same connection when they open the project, each signing in as themselves.

Copy

### .vscode/mcp.json

```
{
  "servers": {
    "agentlab-acme": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.agentlab.cresclab.com/mcp" }
  }
}
```

- `agentlab-acme` replace acme with your organization; the console's MCP page shows the filled-in setup.
- `.github/copilot-instructions.md` put the prompt here once and every later deploy follows it.

Prompt

### Then say this

```
Read https://app.agentlab.cresclab.com/agent/deploy.md and deploy this project to Agent Lab. Show me the build plan and the environment variables it needs first, tell me where to enter any secrets, and wait for my OK before it goes live.
```

FAQ

## Deploying from VS Code (GitHub Copilot): questions

**Can VS Code (GitHub Copilot) deploy a website by itself?**

Yes, once Agent Lab MCP is connected. VS Code (GitHub Copilot) creates the project, uploads the folder, waits for the build and reports the URL; it asks before a version goes live. [Docs →](https://agentlab.cresclab.com/docs/en/deploy/ai-agent)

**Do I give VS Code (GitHub Copilot) an API key or token?**

No. The connection signs in with OAuth in your browser. Secrets your app needs go in the console, and the AI never sees them.

**Can GitHub Copilot deploy a website?**

Yes. With Agent Lab MCP connected in VS Code, Copilot's Agent mode creates the project, uploads, waits for the build and reports the URL, asking before it goes live.

**Which frameworks does it support?**

JavaScript, Python and Go projects build from source with no Dockerfile (Next.js, Vite, Nuxt, SvelteKit, Express, FastAPI, Django, Go and more); anything else ships a Dockerfile. [All deploy guides →](https://agentlab.cresclab.com/en/deploy/guides)

**Is there a free way to deploy?**

The Free plan is US$0: one size-S app that sleeps after 15 idle minutes, one size-S database, three static web pages, 100 build minutes and 5 GB of traffic a month, pausing at the limit instead of charging. Pro (US$29 a month before tax) keeps apps running and adds custom domains. [Pricing →](https://agentlab.cresclab.com/en/deploy#pricing)