Devin Desktop (formerly Windsurf)

Windsurf is now Devin Desktop. Its default agent, Devin Local, shares its MCP set-up with the Devin CLI: one user-level file, mcp_config.json. Add CADshift there once.

The quick way is the installer’s Connect your assistant page, or one command (--register windsurf). It writes mcp_config.json in %APPDATA%\devin, or in %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf for a copy still called Windsurf (whichever is on your PC), and turns off 22 specialised tools: see Tools turned off. Then reopen Devin Desktop to load CADshift.

Add it with the Devin CLI

In PowerShell:

devin mcp add -s user cadshift-autocad -- "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Programs\CADshift\AutoCAD MCP\server\cadshift-mcp-autocad.exe"

-s user makes it available in every project. Without it, devin mcp add saves the server for the current project only.

Or edit the file

The user-level file is %APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json. Add CADshift under mcpServers:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cadshift-autocad": {
      "command": "C:\\Users\\YOUR-NAME\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\CADshift\\AutoCAD MCP\\server\\cadshift-mcp-autocad.exe",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Replace YOUR-NAME with your Windows user name (how to find the path). Older Devin versions kept MCP servers in config.json in the same folder; Devin moves them to mcp_config.json by itself when it starts.

Check it

1. Run devin mcp list (or devin mcp get cadshift-autocad). cadshift-autocad is listed.
2. In Devin Desktop, open a new Devin Local tab. Its customizations list shows the MCP servers the session has loaded, CADshift among them.
3. Open AutoCAD with a drawing and ask: “Use CADshift to list the layers in the open drawing.” Devin Local asks for your approval before it calls a CADshift tool.

If the tools don’t show at first, give the server a moment to start, then ask the agent to list its MCP servers and tools.

Team admins can limit which MCP servers a team may use. If CADshift is blocked, ask your team admin.

Tools turned off

When the installer or --register windsurf connects CADshift, it lists 22 specialised tools under disabledTools. That is for the legacy Cascade agent, which uses at most 100 tools at a time. Devin Local’s documentation describes neither disabledTools nor a tool limit. The installer shows this as 22 specialised tools off (100-tool limit). They are the tools for:

• flood, catchment and stormwater analysis, water and pipe networks
• roundabouts, intersections, cul-de-sacs and corridors
• point clouds
• lot layout

Everything else, including drafting, standards, surfaces from survey data, alignments and sections, stays on. If you need one of the specialised tools in Cascade, turn it back on in its MCP panel (or take its name out of disabledTools), and turn something else off to stay under 100.

Official guides: Devin CLI MCP configuration and Devin Local.