Using IconVectors with Cline

Overview

The Cline VS Code extension and Cline CLI can use IconVectors 2.00 through a local stdio MCP server on Windows. Cline launches IconVectorsMcp.exe; the sidecar forwards calls over loopback to the already-running desktop application.

This provides live Editor and Icon Explorer access, SVG editing, preview/export, history, and Explorer Batch Starter operations. See MCP Integration for shared state and safety behavior.

Prerequisites

  • Install the Cline VS Code extension or Cline CLI on the same Windows machine.

  • Start IconVectors 2.00 normally and leave it running.

  • Confirm IconVectorsMcp.exe exists beside IconVectors.exe.

  • The default bridge is 127.0.0.1:61337. Match a custom Options/McpPort value if necessary.

Configure the Cline extension

In the Cline panel, open MCP Servers ‣ Configure ‣ Configure MCP Servers and add this entry under mcpServers:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "iconvectors": {
      "command": "C:\\Program Files\\Axialis\\IconVectors\\IconVectorsMcp.exe",
      "args": ["--port", "61337"],
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

The command is the normal installed-product example. Replace the path or port when your installation differs.

Configure Cline CLI

Use the supported wizard, then inspect the result:

cline mcp
cline config mcp
cline config mcp --json

Current Cline documentation describes both user and project configuration, but current first-party CLI code resolves settings from %USERPROFILE%\.cline\data\settings\cline_mcp_settings.json by default, or from CLINE_MCP_SETTINGS_PATH when it is set. Prefer cline mcp.

To use a project .cline\mcp.json deterministically, set CLINE_MCP_SETTINGS_PATH to that file’s absolute path before launching the current CLI, then verify discovery. Do not assume automatic project-file discovery.

Cline CLI currently defaults to auto-approval. For IconVectors work that may change a document or disk, start with:

cline --auto-approve false

Verify the connection

In the extension, use the MCP Servers view to check connection status and discovered tools. In the CLI, use cline config mcp. Then call:

  • app_ping

  • app_getInfo

  • app_getCapabilities

  • app_get_workspace

Inspect the current Editor document/selection or Explorer state before making a change.

Install the IconVectors skill

Enable Cline Skills when required. Copy the complete distributed iconvectors-mcp skill, including its references directory, to:

  • workspace: .cline/skills/iconvectors-mcp/SKILL.md

  • user: %USERPROFILE%\.cline\skills\iconvectors-mcp\SKILL.md

Cline loads skill metadata first and instructions/resources on demand. Do not reproduce the 155-tool catalog in rules.

First workflow

Use a simple inspect, mutate, then verify sequence:

  1. Inspect application capabilities and workspace.

  2. Inspect the active document and selection or current Explorer state.

  3. Make one bounded mutation while approval remains enabled for disk-changing calls.

  4. Verify returned state and geometry. Use one Undo only when the operation is documented as Undoable.

Use a history transaction for several compatible active-document edits. Replacement, save/export, and Explorer file changes are outside document Undo.

Working with 155 tools and model providers

Cline’s MCP client layer is naming-compatible with 155/155 production IconVectors tools. The accepted camelCase suffixes are valid through Cline’s MCP runtime; no tool rename is required.

Cline supports multiple model providers, including private OpenAI-compatible endpoints. This compatibility statement applies to the Cline MCP client layer. An individual third-party provider or model can have its own tool, name, schema, or context limitations, so universal model compatibility is not implied.

Cline currently documents no MCP Tool Search or per-server include/exclude filter. Keep the IconVectors server disabled when it is not needed, use precise prompts, and prefer bounded results.

Approval and permissions

The extension’s Auto Approve settings include Use MCP servers. Per-server autoApprove can be narrower. Leave it empty initially and keep prompts for document replacement, save/export, Explorer filesystem operations, and batch apply.

Client approval is not an Undo guarantee. Reinspect after structural edits and do not force replacement of an unknown dirty document.

Troubleshooting

Server or tools are missing

Verify the MCP panel or cline config mcp, enabled state, absolute command path, port, and settings path used by that Cline surface.

Bridge is unavailable

Start IconVectors, match port 61337, and verify application, workspace, and document identity.

A call times out

Restart the server from the MCP panel and distinguish Cline’s request timeout from the sidecar’s 10-second application-bridge I/O timeout.

Wrong state

Inspect again before mutation. Do not fabricate a selection or force document replacement.

Path or output fails

Use native absolute Windows paths and bounded DOM, SVG, or preview results.

For current setup controls, see the official Cline MCP documentation.