Simplicity AI SDK Installation Overview#

Simplicity AI SDK uses agent skills and Silicon Labs Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers to provide an AI-assisted development experience. This overview covers installation and configuration for Visual Studio Code with GitHub Copilot or OpenAI Codex.

This documentation applies to Beta 1. This release streamlines Simplicity AI SDK and improves hardware support, quality, and usability. It requires Simplicity SDK 2026.6.1 and supports a custom hardware development workflow.

Prerequisites#

Before you install Simplicity AI SDK, ensure that you have:

  • A supported host operating system: Windows, macOS, or Linux

  • An integrated development environment (IDE) that supports AI Agent mode, MCP servers, and agent skills. Use one of the following:

    • Visual Studio Code with GitHub Copilot

    • Visual Studio Code with the Codex extension

  • Simplicity Installer, available from the Simplicity Studio® website

  • The latest Silicon Labs Visual Studio Code extension, available from the Extension Marketplace

  • A Silicon Labs Community account if you use cloud-based MCP servers that require authentication

What Simplicity AI SDK Installation Includes#

Run Simplicity Installer from the Simplicity Studio website. The installer:

  • Downloads Simplicity AI SDK tools and skills

  • Copies the skills to the global skills locations for Visual Studio Code

  • Automatically configures mcp.json for Visual Studio Code and config.toml for Codex, then appends the newly downloaded tools

  • Installs Simplicity SDK 2026.6.1

Note: If automatic registration of MCP servers fails, use the sample MCP configuration in the Windows, macOS, or Linux guide for your IDE. Replace the <RootPath> placeholder with your home directory or other installation root.

Simplicity AI SDK Installation Guides#

Choose your operating system, then your IDE or agent.

Operating system

Guide

GitHub Copilot

Codex

Windows

Windows

GitHub Copilot

Codex

macOS

macOS

GitHub Copilot

Codex

Linux

Linux

GitHub Copilot

Codex

Each operating-system guide explains how to:

  • Install the latest release of the Silicon Labs Visual Studio Code extension from the Extension Marketplace.

  • Download Simplicity Installer from the Simplicity Studio website.

  • Run Full Install or Advanced Install.

  • Verify MCP servers in your IDE, run a smoke test, and optionally authenticate with Open Authorization (OAuth).

Verify the Simplicity AI SDK Installation#

After you install Simplicity AI SDK:

  1. Confirm that MCP servers appear in the Tools & MCP list in your IDE or, for Codex, in the MCP Servers list.

  2. Start servers that show as Stopped. Status indicators can stay yellow for a short time while servers initialize.

  3. When all MCP servers are enabled, type the following in agent chat:

    What SiSDK version do I have installed?

  4. Confirm that the response is similar to the following:

    Simplicity SDK: version 2026.6.1

  5. Select a capable large language model (LLM) with a context window large enough for your task. Select the model manually instead of using automatic model selection.

  6. Use Agent mode, not Ask or Plan, so the agent can call MCP tools.

  7. Complete the OAuth Authentication Process if a remote MCP server requires Authentication.

Note: The chat prompt uses SiSDK as the literal query text. In documentation prose, refer to the product as Simplicity SDK.

Related Topics#