Code Research MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol server

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Code Research MCP server?

A Model Context Protocol server. The code research mcp server wraps that behind the Model Context Protocol, so an assistant can use it through 9 defined tools rather than through you.

What it actually does

A Model Context Protocol server that provides tools for searching and accessing programming resources across multiple platforms. This server integrates with popular developer platforms to help LLMs find relevant code examples, documentation, and packages.

Its toolset

Everything the assistant can do here goes through one of these:

  • Tools — The Tools tool exposed by this server
  • search_stackoverflow — Search Stack Overflow for programming questions and answers. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - limit (optional): Maximum
  • search_mdn — Search MDN Web Docs for web development documentation. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - Returns: Top 5 MDN documentation
  • search_github — Search GitHub for both repositories and code examples. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - language (optional): Filter by
  • search_npm — Search npm registry for JavaScript packages. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - limit (optional): Maximum results (1-10
  • search_pypi — Search PyPI for Python packages. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - Returns: Detailed package information including version
  • search_all — Search all platforms simultaneously for comprehensive results. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - limit (optional): Maximum
  • Debugging — Since MCP servers communicate over stdio, debugging can be challenging. Use the MCP Inspector for detailed request/response monitoring:
  • Caching — Results are cached using node-cache: - Default TTL: 1 hour - Separate cache keys per query/limit combination - Platform-specific caching strategies -

Adding it to your client

Installation goes through your MCP client rather than a global install: point it at @smithery/cli on npm and it is fetched when the client starts. The copy-paste blocks for Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor are further down this page.

Configuration

You will need one environment variable: GITHUB_TOKEN. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

  • Node.js >= 20.11.0 - npm >= 10.0.0 - Optional: GitHub personal access token for higher API rate limits

When to reach for it

Plenty of knowledge and memory servers cover similar ground. The differences that matter in practice are scope of access and how much setup stands between you and a working tool call. Code Research's toolset — Tools, search_stackoverflow, search_mdn and 6 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by nahmanmate; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Caveats

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 9 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Code Research.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the code research mcp server does with a few real requests.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
ToolsThe Tools tool exposed by this server.
search_stackoverflowSearch Stack Overflow for programming questions and answers. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - limit (optional): Maximum results (1-10, default: 5) - Returns: Formatted list of questions with scores
search_mdnSearch MDN Web Docs for web development documentation. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - Returns: Top 5 MDN documentation matches with summaries and links - Results are cached for 1 hour
search_githubSearch GitHub for both repositories and code examples. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - language (optional): Filter by programming language - limit (optional): Maximum results per category (1-10, d
search_npmSearch npm registry for JavaScript packages. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - limit (optional): Maximum results (1-10, default: 5) - Returns: Package information including version, description, and
search_pypiSearch PyPI for Python packages. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - Returns: Detailed package information including version, author, and links - Results are cached for 1 hour
search_allSearch all platforms simultaneously for comprehensive results. - Parameters: - query (required): Search query string - limit (optional): Maximum results per platform (1-5, default: 3) - Returns: Combined results from all
DebuggingSince MCP servers communicate over stdio, debugging can be challenging. Use the MCP Inspector for detailed request/response monitoring:
CachingResults are cached using node-cache: - Default TTL: 1 hour - Separate cache keys per query/limit combination - Platform-specific caching strategies - Memory-efficient storage

How to install the Code Research MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "code-research": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/code-research-mcp-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_TOKEN": "your_github_token"  // Optional: Prevents rate limiting
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "alwaysAllow": []
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

  • Node.js >= 20.11.0 - npm >= 10.0.0 - Optional: GitHub personal access token for higher API rate limits
VariableDescriptionRequired
GITHUB_TOKENCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Code Research to Tools.
  • Use Code Research to search stackoverflow.
  • Use Code Research to search mdn.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Code Research to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 9 tools (Tools, search_stackoverflow, search_mdn, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Code Research directly.