Gearcoleco MCP Server

MCP server for Gearcoleco ColecoVision emulator

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What is the Gearcoleco MCP server?

Most developer tooling work still happens through a UI a human drives. Gearcoleco MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. MCP server for Gearcoleco ColecoVision emulator.

The short version

Gearcoleco is a very accurate, cross-platform ColecoVision emulator written in C++ that runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, BSD and RetroArch, with an embedded MCP server for debugging and tooling.

  • Very accurate Z80 core, TMS9918 VDP, SN76489 PSG and AY-3-8910 SGM emulation
  • Support for ColecoVision Super Game Module (SGM) and MegaCart ROMs
  • Support for Super Action Controller (SAC), Wheel Controller and Roller Controller
  • Save states with preview and rewind support
  • Run-ahead support to reduce input latency
  • Compressed ROM support (ZIP)

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 8 tools. What each one is for:

  • BIOS — Gearcoleco needs a BIOS to run. It is possible to load any BIOS but the original one with md5 2c66f5911e5b42b8ebe113403548eee7 is recommended
  • Spinners — When using any kind of spinner it is useful to capture the mouse by pressing F12. It is also recommended to disable spinners for software that don't
  • Rewind — Hold the configured rewind hotkey (Backspace by default) or a mapped gamepad shortcut to step backwards through recent gameplay
  • Overscan — For a precise representation of the original image, select Overscan Top+Bottom and Aspect Ratio Standard (4:3 DAR) in the Video menu
  • Windows — The Windows tool exposed by this server
  • macOS — The macOS tool exposed by this server
  • Linux — If you are using Ubuntu 25.04 or later, you can install SDL3 directly. Use the following commands to build:
  • Libretro — The Libretro tool exposed by this server

Getting it running

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

How it compares

Plenty of developer tooling 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. Gearcoleco's toolset — BIOS, Spinners, Rewind and 5 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by drhelius; 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.

Things to watch

  • 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.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
BIOSGearcoleco needs a BIOS to run. It is possible to load any BIOS but the original one with md5 2c66f5911e5b42b8ebe113403548eee7 is recommended.
SpinnersWhen using any kind of spinner it is useful to capture the mouse by pressing F12. It is also recommended to disable spinners for software that don't use them.
RewindHold the configured rewind hotkey (Backspace by default) or a mapped gamepad shortcut to step backwards through recent gameplay.
OverscanFor a precise representation of the original image, select **Overscan** Top+Bottom and **Aspect Ratio** Standard (4:3 DAR) in the **Video** menu.
WindowsThe Windows tool exposed by this server.
macOSThe macOS tool exposed by this server.
LinuxIf you are using Ubuntu 25.04 or later, you can install SDL3 directly. Use the following commands to build:
LibretroThe Libretro tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Gearcoleco MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gearcoleco": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "skills"]
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Example prompts to try

  • Use Gearcoleco to BIOS.
  • Use Gearcoleco to Spinners.
  • Use Gearcoleco to Rewind.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Gearcoleco to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 8 tools (BIOS, Spinners, Rewind, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Gearcoleco directly.