C++ MCP Server

Overview

The C++ MCP Server provides a dedicated, semantic interface for AI assistants to interrogate large C++ codebases with the precision of an IDE. Rather than relying on surface‑level text searches, this server leverages LLVM’s libclang to parse source files into an abstract syntax tree. This enables the assistant to understand language constructs—classes, functions, inheritance, and call relationships—in a way that mirrors how developers think about their code. The result is faster, more accurate answers to questions like “What methods does expose?” or “Which functions call ?”

At its core, the server exposes a set of high‑level query tools that map directly to common developer tasks. Search operations (, ) let users locate symbols by pattern, while introspection tools such as and return detailed metadata about a class or function. Relationship queries—, , and —enable traversal of call graphs, making it trivial to trace the flow from a public API down through internal helpers. Hierarchy tools (, ) surface inheritance chains, which is invaluable for refactoring or understanding polymorphic behavior. Even file‑level searches () are supported, allowing precise symbol lookups within a single source file.

Developers can integrate this server into their AI workflows in two primary ways. For users of Claude Desktop, the server is registered via a simple JSON entry that points to the Python module; once added, Claude can invoke any of the provided tools through MCP calls. For command‑line workflows (e.g., OpenAI Codex CLI), a configuration exposes the same interface, enabling scripted or interactive exploration of code during development. In both cases, the assistant can respond to natural‑language prompts by translating them into MCP queries, fetching structured results, and synthesizing concise explanations or code snippets.

The standout advantage of this MCP server is its semantic depth coupled with lightweight integration. Because the underlying analysis runs locally via libclang, there is no dependency on external APIs or network latency. This makes it suitable for large, sensitive codebases where privacy is paramount. Additionally, the server’s toolset mirrors common IDE features—searching, navigation, and relationship tracing—so developers can transition from a text‑based AI assistant to an IDE‑like experience without leaving their workflow. Whether you’re debugging a complex inheritance hierarchy, mapping out a function’s callers, or simply looking up a method signature, the C++ MCP Server equips AI assistants with the precise, structured insight needed to accelerate development.