FileScopeMCP MCP Server

Analyzes your codebase identifying important files based on dependency relationships. Generates diagrams and importance scores per file, helping AI

Local serverstdioPython

What is the FileScopeMCP MCP server?

Connect FileScopeMCP to Claude, Cursor or any other MCP client and it stops being a tab you switch to. Analyzes your codebase identifying important files based on dependency relationships. Generates diagrams and importance scores per file, helping AI assistants. The filescopemcp mcp server is what makes that connection.

What the server does

FileScopeMCP watches your code, ranks every file by importance, maps all dependencies, and keeps AI-generated summaries fresh in the background. When your LLM asks "what does this file do?" — it gets a real answer without reading the source.

Available tools

The toolset is worth reading before you wire it up, because it tells you what the integration is really for:

  • status — Broker connection, queue depth, LLM progress, watcher state
  • find_important_files — Top files by importance score with dependency counts
  • get_file_summary — Everything about a file: summary, concepts, change impact, exports, deps, staleness
  • list_files — Full file tree (no args) or flat top-N by importance (with maxItems)
  • find_symbol — Resolve a symbol name to file + line range; supports prefix match via trailing *
  • find_callers — Find all symbols that call a named symbol (TS/JS call graph)
  • find_callees — Find all symbols that a named symbol calls (TS/JS call graph)
  • search — Search file metadata across symbols, summaries, purpose, and paths
  • list_changed_since — Files changed since a timestamp or git SHA
  • get_communities — Louvain-clustered file groups by import coupling
  • detect_cycles — Find circular dependency chains
  • get_cycles_for_file — Cycles involving a specific file

Installation

filescope-install on npm is all you need. Most clients run it directly, so configuration is a few lines and a restart.

Credentials and setup notes

  • Node.js >= 22 and npm (download) - Build tools for native modules (better-sqlite3, tree-sitter): - Linux: sudo apt install build-essential python3 - macOS: xcode-select --install - Windows: Visual Studio Build Tools with C++ workload

Where it fits

Among the AI and media services options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. FileScopeMCP's toolset — status, find_important_files, get_file_summary and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow.

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

Worth knowing first

  • 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 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch FileScopeMCP.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
statusBroker connection, queue depth, LLM progress, watcher state
find_important_filesTop files by importance score with dependency counts
get_file_summaryEverything about a file: summary, concepts, change impact, exports, deps, staleness
list_filesFull file tree (no args) or flat top-N by importance (with maxItems)
find_symbolResolve a symbol name to file + line range; supports prefix match via trailing *
find_callersFind all symbols that call a named symbol (TS/JS call graph)
find_calleesFind all symbols that a named symbol calls (TS/JS call graph)
searchSearch file metadata across symbols, summaries, purpose, and paths
list_changed_sinceFiles changed since a timestamp or git SHA
get_communitiesLouvain-clustered file groups by import coupling
detect_cyclesFind circular dependency chains
get_cycles_for_fileCycles involving a specific file
scan_allQueue files for LLM summarization via the broker
set_base_directoryPoint at a different project

How to install the FileScopeMCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filescopemcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "filescope-install"]
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

  • Node.js >= 22 and npm (download) - Build tools for native modules (better-sqlite3, tree-sitter): - Linux: sudo apt install build-essential python3 - macOS: xcode-select --install - Windows: Visual Studio Build Tools with C++ workload

Example prompts to try

  • Use FileScopeMCP to status.
  • Use FileScopeMCP to find important files.
  • Use FileScopeMCP to get file summary.

Frequently asked questions

It connects FileScopeMCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (status, find_important_files, get_file_summary, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with FileScopeMCP directly.