Delta MCP Server

# How to Use Delta MCP in Claude This guide shows you how to use the Delta MCP server with Claude (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.). ## Quick Start Once the MCP server is configured, you can ask Claude to format diffs using natural language. Here are some example prompts: ### Basic Usage **Show a commit diff:** ``` Show me the diff for the last commit using delta ``` **Show a specific file diff:** ``` Format the diff for server.py using delta ``` **Show diff between commits:** ``` Show me the diff between HEAD~1 and HEAD ``` ### CLI Mode (No Browser Links) For Claude Code or when you want clean terminal output without browser links: ``` Show me the diff for HEAD in CLI mode ``` Or be explicit: ``` Use format_git_show with cli_mode=true to show the last commit ``` ### Browser Mode (With Clickable Links) For Cursor or Claude Desktop where you want browser links: ``` Show me the diff for HEAD and open it in the browser ``` Or: ``` Format the git diff for server.py with browser links ``` ## Available Tools ### format_git_show Shows a specific commit with syntax highlighting. **Example prompts:** - "Show me commit abc123" - "Format git show for HEAD using delta" - "Display the last commit with side-by-side view" **Parameters:** - `commit_hash`: The commit to show (e.g., "HEAD", "abc123") - `file_path`: Optional specific file - `theme`: Optional syntax theme - `side_by_side`: Side-by-side view (default: true) - `line_numbers`: Show line numbers (default: true) - `cli_mode`: CLI-only output, no browser links (default: false) ### format_git_diff Shows git diff with syntax highlighting. **Example prompts:** - "Show me the diff for server.py" - "What changed in the last commit?" - "Format the git diff with side-by-side view" **Parameters:** - `file_path`: Optional file to diff - `commit_range`: Optional commit range (e.g., "HEAD~1..HEAD") - `staged`: Show staged changes (default: false) - `side_by_side`: Side-by-side view (default: true) - `cli_mode`: CLI-only output, no browser links (default: false) ### format_git_show_cli CLI-only version of format_git_show (no browser links). **Example prompts:** - "Show me HEAD in CLI mode" - "Use CLI mode to show the last commit" ### format_git_diff_cli CLI-only version of format_git_diff (no browser links). **Example prompts:** - "Show diff in CLI mode" - "Format the diff for server.py in CLI mode" ## Mode Selection **CLI Mode** (`cli_mode=True` or use `*_cli` tools): - Clean terminal output - No browser links - Perfect for Claude Code - Pure diff content only **Browser Mode** (default): - Terminal output with clickable browser links - Auto-opens HTML file in browser - Perfect for Cursor, Claude Desktop - Includes terminal hyperlinks ## Example Conversations ### Example 1: Quick Diff Check ``` You: Show me what changed in the last commit Claude: [Uses format_git_show with HEAD, shows formatted diff] ``` ### Example 2: CLI Mode for Claude Code ``` You: Show me the diff for server.py in CLI mode Claude: [Uses format_git_diff_cli or format_git_diff with cli_mode=True] ``` ### Example 3: Browser Mode with Links ``` You: Format the diff and open it in browser Claude: [Uses format_git_diff with open_in_browser=True, creates HTML and opens it] ``` ### Example 4: Side-by-Side View ``` You: Show me a side-by-side diff for HEAD~1 Claude: [Uses format_git_show with side_by_side=True] ``` ## Tips 1. **For Claude Code**: Always use `cli_mode=True` or the `*_cli` tools for clean output 2. **For Cursor/Claude Desktop**: Use default browser mode for clickable links 3. **Side-by-side is default**: All diffs show side-by-side by default (left/right split) 4. **Natural language works**: Just describe what you want, Claude will choose the right tool ## Troubleshooting If Claude doesn't use the tools: - Make sure the MCP server is properly configured - Restart your client after configuration changes - Try being more explicit: "Use the delta MCP tool to format this diff" If you see errors: - Check that delta is installed: `delta --version` - Verify your git config has delta configured - Check the client logs for MCP errors