VS Code crossref mcp server crossref_get_references
How to: VS Code crossref mcp server crossref_get_references
Add crossref mcp server to VS Code
-
01
Open .vscode/mcp.json and merge this in. Keep any servers already there.
{
"servers": {
"crossref-mcp-server": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://crossref.caseyjhand.com/mcp"
}
}
}-
02
Save the file and restart VS Code.
-
03
Ask for something crossref_get_references does. VS Code lists the server's tools on connect and calls crossref_get_references itself — you do not invoke it by name.
-
04
If nothing happens, check the server is running and that crossref mcp server's identifier in your config matches the one above exactly.
Requires agent mode. MCP: Open User Configuration puts the same block in every workspace. VS Code docs
Set these first
crossref mcp server will not start until these are set, so crossref_get_references never becomes available.
-
CROSSREF_MAILTO -
CROSSREF_BASE_URL -
CROSSREF_TIMEOUT_MS -
MCP_LOG_LEVEL
Same tool, other clients
This list was read from the server itself, by connecting to it and calling tools/list on 24 September 2026. It is what
the server actually exposes, not what its listing claims.
Mutating and Read-only are read off each tool's name, not its schema — a hint, not a guarantee. The registry stores tool names only; connect the server for its live schemas.