Quickstart
Install the Kerno IDE extension and connect your coding agent in a few minutes.
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Install the Kerno IDE extension and connect your coding agent in a few minutes.
Docker installed and running
Git initialized in your project
Install the Kerno extension from the VS Code Marketplace or Open VSX. It works in VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and Antigravity.
Open your project in the IDE and click the Kerno icon in the activity bar. Click Get Started, then sign in or create an account in the browser that opens.
The extension starts the Kerno agent automatically after sign-in. Kerno analyzes your repository and detects the applications inside it. For monorepos, it will ask you to select which projects to enable Kerno for. Check one or more and click Enable Kerno.
Kerno scans your repository and starts detecting endpoints. You will see the agent port and MCP port in the Environment section once it is ready.
Open the Help & Feedback menu at the bottom of the Kerno panel and click MCP Config.
Connect your coding agent to the MCP server shown:
Cursor: Click Install in Cursor for a one-click setup.
Claude Code: Run the command shown in the MCP Config panel:
Other agents: Copy the JSON snippet and paste it into your agent's MCP configuration file.
The MCP port is session-specific. Always use the port shown in the panel, not a hardcoded value.
Once your agent is connected, click Start application in the Environment section. Kerno generates a prompt with instructions for your agent to set up the environment. Copy it or click Send to Chat to send it directly to your agent.
From here, your agent drives Kerno via MCP. The extension reflects what is happening in real time.
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claude mcp add --transport http kerno http://localhost:<port>/mcp