IDE Index MCP Server

A JetBrains IDE plugin that exposes an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, enabling AI coding assistants like Claude, Codex, Cursor, and Windsurf to leverage the IDE's powerful indexing and refactoring capabilities.

Fully tested: IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand, RustRover, Android Studio, PhpStorm May work (untested): RubyMine, CLion, DataGrip

IDE Index MCP Server provides AI coding assistants with access to the IDE's powerful code intelligence features through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Features

Multi-Language Support Advanced tools work across multiple languages based on available plugins:

• Java & Kotlin - IntelliJ IDEA, Android Studio
• Python - PyCharm (all editions), IntelliJ with Python plugin, including symbol-based definition/reference lookup
• JavaScript & TypeScript - WebStorm, IntelliJ Ultimate, PhpStorm
• Go - GoLand, IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate with Go plugin
• PHP - PhpStorm, IntelliJ Ultimate with PHP plugin
• Rust - RustRover, IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate with Rust plugin, CLion
• Markdown - heading outlines in file structure for IDEs with the bundled Markdown plugin

Universal Tools (All Supported JetBrains IDEs)

• Find References - Locate all usages of any symbol across the project
• Go to Definition - Navigate to symbol declarations
• Code Diagnostics - Access errors, warnings, and quick fixes
• Index Status - Check if code intelligence is ready
• Sync Files - Force sync VFS/PSI cache after external file changes
• Reload Project - Refresh linked Maven/Gradle build models after dependency or build-file changes (disabled by default)
• Import Modules - Import external Maven project directories as modules for cross-project code intelligence and refactoring (disabled by default)
• Open Workspace - Scan a root directory for Maven projects, or provide an explicit list of Maven project paths, and open them all in one IntelliJ window with full cross-project code intelligence (disabled by default)
• Build Project - Trigger IDE build with structured error/warning output (disabled by default)
• Find Class - Fast class/interface search by name with camelCase matching
• Find File - Fast file search by name using IDE's file index
• Symbol Search - Find code symbols by name with IntelliJ Go to Symbol matching (disabled by default)
• Search Text - Text search using IntelliJ Find in Files (substring and regex matching)
• Read File - Read file content by path or qualified name, including library sources (disabled by default)
• Open File - Open a file in the editor with optional navigation (disabled by default)
• Get Active File - Get currently active editor file(s) with cursor position (disabled by default)

Extended Tools (Language-Aware) These tools activate based on installed language plugins:

• Type Hierarchy - Explore class inheritance chains
• Call Hierarchy - Trace method/function call relationships
• Find Implementations - Discover interface/abstract implementations
• Find Super Methods - Navigate method override hierarchies
• File Structure - View hierarchical file structure like IDE's Structure view, including PHP Structure View trees and Markdown heading outlines; shows start and end line for each element (disabled by default)

Refactoring Tools

• Rename Refactoring - Safe renaming with automatic related element renaming (getters/setters, overriding methods) - works across ALL languages, fully headless
• Move File - Move files with IDE-aware reference and package updates when supported
• Reformat Code - Reformat using project code style with import optimization (disabled by default)
• Optimize Imports - Remove unused imports and organize imports without reformatting (disabled by default)
• Edit Member - Replace an entire member declaration (signature + body) with new content (Java/Kotlin, disabled by default)
• Insert Member - Insert a new member at a structural position (Java/Kotlin, disabled by default)
• Replace Member - Replace method body or field initializer only, preserving the signature (Java/Kotlin, disabled by default)
• Safe Delete - Remove code with usage checking (Java/Kotlin only)
• Java to Kotlin Conversion - Convert Java to Kotlin using Intellij's built-in converter (Java only)

Project Lifecycle Management

When working across many projects simultaneously, idle ones consume memory unnecessarily and leave editors open for no reason. Lifecycle management sleeps and wakes projects based on window focus and MCP activity. It is opt-in — disabled by default; turn on "Enable lifecycle management" in Settings → Tools → Index MCP Server, after which no further configuration is required.

• Automatic sleep/wake - Projects move from active → background (Power Save on) → dormant (editor tabs closed, PSI cache freed) → closed (fully unloaded), and auto-reopen transparently on the next MCP call. Every MCP tool call restarts a project's idle countdown, and the tabs a dormant transition closed reopen when you return to the project window
• ide_project_status - Combined snapshot of every open and managed project
• ide_set_project_mode / ide_get_project_modes - Explicit mode control
• ide_release_project - Unenroll a project from lifecycle management
• ide_lifecycle_log - Timestamped event log with trigger reasons, for diagnosing unexpected behaviour. The ring buffer is always active; file output enables via Help → Diagnostic Tools → Debug Log Settings

Why Use This Plugin?

Unlike simple text-based code analysis, this plugin gives AI assistants access to:

• True semantic understanding through the IDE's AST and index
• Cross-project reference resolution that works across files and modules
• Multi-language support - automatically detects and uses language-specific handlers
• Headless and remote development support - starts in regular IDE windows, JetBrains remote development sessions, and headless automation runs
• Safe refactoring operations with automatic reference updates and undo support

Perfect for AI-assisted development workflows where accuracy and safety matter.

Security

The server binds to 127.0.0.1 with no authentication — any local process can call its tools with your IDE's file access. On a single-user dev machine that's the same trust boundary your shell already has; on a shared machine, it's worth weighing before you enable the write tools.

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Quick Start
• Community Integrations
• Client Configuration
• Exposed Tools
• Multi-Project Support
• Lifecycle Management
• Tool Window
• Error Codes
• Settings
• Requirements
• Architecture
• Contributing
• License

Installation

Using the IDE built-in plugin system

Settings/Preferences > Plugins > Marketplace > Search for "IDE Index MCP Server" > Install

Using JetBrains Marketplace

Go to JetBrains Marketplace and install it by clicking the Install to ... button.

Manual Installation

Download the latest release and install it manually: Settings/Preferences > Plugins > ⚙️ > Install plugin from disk...

Quick Start

1. Install the plugin and restart your JetBrains IDE
2. Open a project - the MCP server starts automatically with IDE-specific defaults:
   • IntelliJ IDEA: intellij-index on port 29170
   • PyCharm: pycharm-index on port 29172
   • WebStorm: webstorm-index on port 29173
   • Other IDEs: See IDE-Specific Defaults
3. Configure your AI assistant using the "Install on Coding Agents" button (easiest) or manually
4. Use the tool window (bottom panel: "Index MCP Server") to copy configuration or monitor commands
5. Change port (optional): Click "Change port, disable tools" in the toolbar or go to Settings > Tools > Index MCP Server

Using the "Install on Coding Agents" Button

The easiest way to configure your AI assistant:

1. Open the "Index MCP Server" tool window (bottom panel)
2. Click the prominent "Install on Coding Agents" button on the right side of the toolbar
3. A popup appears with two sections:
   • Install Now - For Claude Code CLI and Codex CLI: Runs the installation command automatically
   • Copy Configuration - For other clients: Copies the JSON config to your clipboard
4. For "Copy Configuration" clients, paste the config into the appropriate config file

Community Integrations

• opencode-jetbrains-index - a third-party integration for OpenCode that uses this plugin

Disclaimer: This repository is not maintained by me. Please use its own issue tracker for integration-specific issues and support.

Client Configuration

Claude Code (CLI)