PHPocalypse‑MCP

PHPocalypse‑MCP is a lightweight Model Context Protocol (MCP) server designed for PHP developers who need quick, automated access to common development tools without the overhead of setting up complex CI pipelines. By exposing a set of pre‑defined commands as MCP tools, it lets AI assistants such as Claude invoke static analysis, code formatters, unit tests, and behavior‑driven development checks directly from the conversation. This removes the friction of manually running scripts, allowing developers to focus on higher‑level problem solving while still benefiting from automated quality checks.

The server solves a very specific pain point: keeping the development environment up‑to‑date and reliable when time is limited. Traditional PHP projects rely on tools like php‑cs‑fixer, PHPStan, and PHPUnit. Running these manually or configuring them in a CI system can be repetitive, especially for teams that prefer rapid iteration. PHPocalypse‑MCP bundles these utilities into a single MCP endpoint, enabling an AI assistant to trigger them on demand. This integration is valuable for developers who use LLMs as code reviewers, pair programmers, or assistants that need to validate changes before committing.

Key features include:

• Tool definition via YAML – Developers list each tool with a simple name and shell command. The server translates these into MCP actions that the AI can call.
• Command‑line execution – The server runs commands in a controlled environment, capturing stdout/stderr for the AI to consume.
• Non‑interactive mode – Commands must be non‑interactive; the server explicitly warns against tools that prompt for input, ensuring smooth automation.
• Extensibility – The YAML schema is intentionally minimal; additional tools or custom scripts can be added without modifying the server code.

Typical use cases are:

1. On‑the‑fly linting – An AI assistant can suggest code changes and immediately run to show the formatted result.
2. Static analysis – After a refactor, the assistant can invoke to surface type‑related issues before a pull request.
3. Unit and BDD testing – Developers can trigger or from the chat, receiving test results and failure diagnostics in real time.
4. Rapid prototyping – When experimenting with new libraries, the assistant can run tests locally to confirm compatibility without leaving the IDE.

Integration into AI workflows is straightforward: add the MCP server configuration to the Cursor settings, point it at a PHP project’s , and expose the defined tools to the assistant. The AI can then call these tools as part of its reasoning loop, returning concise reports or error messages that inform subsequent suggestions. Because the server operates locally, latency is minimal and sensitive code never leaves the developer’s machine.

Unique advantages of PHPocalypse‑MCP include its simplicity—no Docker containers or complex build systems are required—and its focus on PHP‑centric tooling, making it a natural fit for projects already using Composer, PHPUnit, and PHPStan. It bridges the gap between powerful AI assistants and everyday development workflows, allowing teams to harness LLM capabilities without sacrificing code quality or test coverage.