> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.credibledata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set Up Your IDE

> Install and configure your IDE for semantic modeling with Credible

Credible supports **Cursor**, **VS Code**, and **Claude Code** (running in VS Code) as IDEs for building semantic models. The Credible Extension connects your IDE to the Credible platform, giving the AI agent the tools and context it needs to help you build, validate, and publish semantic models.

The steps below use Cursor as the example, but the same workflow applies to VS Code and Claude Code in VS Code.

## Prerequisites

* **Cursor**, **VS Code**, or **VS Code with Claude Code** installed (latest version recommended)
* **Credible organization** set up by an admin
* **Database connections configured** — Your organization admin should have set up connections to your data sources. See [Connect to Your Data](/how-to/modeling/connect-data).

## What the Credible Extension Provides

The Credible Extension configures your IDE workspace with everything the agent needs for semantic modeling:

* **Credible-Modeling MCP server** — An environment-scoped MCP server that gives the agent access to your data warehouse metadata, so it can discover tables, suggest modeling approaches, and look up Malloy syntax
* **Modeling skills** — Slash commands (e.g., `/malloy-model`, `/malloy-discover`, `/credible-publish`) that guide the agent through common workflows. The agent uses these automatically based on context
* **Cursor rules** — Malloy-aware coding rules that help the agent write correct Malloy syntax and follow best practices
* **Managed database connections** — Access connections configured in the Credible App without storing credentials locally
* **Credible Service Panel** — Browse your organization's environments, connections, and published packages

Installing the Credible Extension also installs the [Malloy extension](https://docs.malloydata.dev/documentation/setup/extension), which provides:

* **Syntax highlighting & compilation checks** for `.malloy`, `.malloynb`, and `.malloysql` files
* **Schema | Explore | Preview buttons** above any source definition
* **Run | Show SQL buttons** above any query or run statement

## Installation

### Install the Credible Extension & Log In

1. In Cursor or VS Code, go to the Extensions view (`Cmd+Shift+X` on Mac, `Ctrl+Shift+X` on Windows/Linux), search for **Credible**, and install the extension — select **Auto Update** when prompted
2. Open the Explorer (`Cmd+Shift+E` on Mac, `Ctrl+Shift+E` on Windows/Linux), expand the **Credible** panel at the bottom of the sidebar, and click **Login** — then follow the steps in your browser
3. Back in your IDE, select your organization from the list (if you only belong to one, it's selected automatically), then select your environment

### Credible-Modeling MCP Server

The Credible Extension registers an environment-scoped **Credible-Modeling** MCP server automatically — no manual enabling required. In Cursor, the extension registers the server programmatically; in VS Code, it writes a workspace-scoped `.vscode/mcp.json` config.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Cursor">
    The server is enabled automatically. To verify, open Cursor Settings (`Cmd+Shift+J` on Mac, `Ctrl+Shift+J` on Windows/Linux) → **Tools & MCP**. The server appears as **extension-Credible-Modeling** — Cursor uses this naming convention to indicate it was registered by an extension.

    If the agent can't call MCP tools, reload the window (`Cmd+Shift+P` → "Reload Window").
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="VS Code">
    The server is enabled automatically. To verify, open the Command Palette (`Cmd+Shift+P` on Mac, `Ctrl+Shift+P` on Windows/Linux) and run **"MCP: List Servers"** — you should see **Credible-Modeling** in the list.

    If the agent can't call MCP tools, reload the window (`Cmd+Shift+P` → "Reload Window").
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Claude Code">
    When you start Claude Code in your workspace, you'll be prompted to:

    1. Allow Claude Code to run in the directory
    2. Accept the **Credible-Modeling** MCP server

    Accept both and the server will be available.

    <Note>
      Use `/mcp` at any time inside Claude Code to view and manage your MCP servers.
    </Note>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Every time you change environments, the extension updates the MCP config automatically.

## Credible Service Panel

The **Credible Service Panel** shows your organization's structure. Find it at the bottom of the Explorer view (`Cmd+Shift+E` on Mac, `Ctrl+Shift+E` on Windows/Linux):

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/ms2/hbN0V7V2tgDWdpis/images/quickstart/credible-service-panel.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=hbN0V7V2tgDWdpis&q=85&s=26861b4f910d4d9c419ee0711cd2a344" alt="Credible Service Panel in Cursor" style={{width: "400px", maxWidth: "100%", height: "auto"}} width="652" height="762" data-path="images/quickstart/credible-service-panel.png" />

Here you can view:

* **Environments**: Logical groupings of related packages and connections
* **Connections**: Managed database connections (no local credentials needed)
* **Packages**: Published semantic models with version history

The extension automatically discovers connections in your environment, eliminating the need to store database credentials locally.

<Accordion title="Don't see the Credible Service panel?">
  The sidebar may be hidden by default in Cursor:

  1. Open the **Explorer** panel (`Cmd+Shift+E`) (or `Ctrl+Shift+E` on Windows/Linux)
  2. Look for the **Credible** panel at the bottom of the explorer sidebar
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="Panel controls">
  The Credible Extension can be configured via the Command Palette (`Cmd+Shift+P`) or clicking icons in the Credible Service panel:

  * **Disable Credible**: Turn off the extension for this workspace
  * **Refresh**: Reload environments, connections, and packages
  * **Select Organization**: Choose from your available organizations (auto-selects if you only belong to one)
  * **Sign Out**: Log out of Credible

  Click on an **environment** to switch environments — you'll see a list of available environments in the command palette.
</Accordion>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="AI-Assisted Modeling" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" color="#628698" href="/how-to/modeling/ai-modeling">
    Build semantic models with AI-assisted modeling
  </Card>

  <Card title="Malloy Notebooks" icon="book-open" color="#628698" href="https://docs.malloydata.dev/documentation/user_guides/notebooks">
    Create data stories and documentation
  </Card>
</CardGroup>