Hexdocs MCP Server

MCP server for searching Hex package documentation

Local serverstdioTypeScript

What is the Hexdocs MCP MCP server?

Hexdocs mcp mcp server connects Hexdocs MCP to AI assistants that speak the Model Context Protocol. MCP server for searching Hex package documentation.

What Hexdocs MCP does

HexDocs MCP is a project that provides semantic search capabilities for Hex package documentation, designed specifically for AI applications. It consists of two main components:

Tools it exposes

Once connected, the assistant can call these 2 tools directly:

  • Smithery — Alternatively, you can use Smithery to automatically add the MCP server to your client config
  • Requirements — The Requirements tool exposed by this server

Installing the hexdocs mcp mcp server

The server is distributed via npm as @smithery/cli, so most clients can run it without a manual build step. Add it to your MCP client's configuration and restart the client to pick it up — the copy-paste configs for Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor are on this page.

Configuration

The server reads 2 environment variables: HEXDOCS_MCP_PATH, HEXDOCS_MCP_MIX_PROJECT_PATHS. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than committing them.

Requirements

  • Ollama - Required for generating embeddings - Run ollama pull mxbai-embed-large to download the recommended embedding model - Ensure Ollama is running before using the embedding features - Elixir 1.16+ and Erlang/OTP 26+ - Installed automatically in CI environments - Required locally for development - Mix - The Elixir build tool (comes with Elixir installation) - Node.js

Where it fits

Knowledge and memory servers address the most frustrating trait of language models — walking into every conversation with no recollection of the last one. Hexdocs MCP sits in that group, and the shape of its toolset — Smithery, Requirements — tells you what it is really for. Worth comparing against the other knowledge memory servers in this directory before you commit to one, since several overlap in scope but differ sharply in setup cost and permissions.

Practical notes

  • This server runs locally, so it operates with whatever access your machine and its credentials already have. Scope that deliberately rather than by default.
  • Maintained by bradleygolden, written in TypeScript.
  • MCP clients ask for confirmation before each tool call by default. Keep that on while you learn what the hexdocs mcp mcp server actually does with your data.
  • Every entry in this directory is reviewed by hand before it goes live, and details are checked against the project's own documentation.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
SmitheryAlternatively, you can use [Smithery](https://smithery.ai/server/@bradleygolden/hexdocs-mcp) to automatically add the MCP server to your client config.
RequirementsThe Requirements tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Hexdocs MCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hexdocs-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "hexdocs-mcp@0.5.0"
      ]
    }
  }
}

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

Configuration

  • Ollama - Required for generating embeddings - Run ollama pull mxbai-embed-large to download the recommended embedding model - Ensure Ollama is running before using the embedding features - Elixir 1.16+ and Erlang/OTP 26+ - Installed automatically in CI environments - Required locally for development - Mix - The Elixir build tool (comes with Elixir installation) - Node.js
VariableDescriptionRequired
HEXDOCS_MCP_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional
HEXDOCS_MCP_MIX_PROJECT_PATHSFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use Hexdocs MCP to Smithery.
  • Use Hexdocs MCP to Requirements.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Hexdocs MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 2 tools (Smithery, Requirements) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Hexdocs MCP directly.