Vibe Coder MCP Server

Vibe Coder is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server designed to supercharge your AI assistant (like Cursor, Cline AI, or Claude Desktop) with powerful tools for software development. It helps with research, planning, generating requirements, creating starter projects, and more!

Overview & Features

Vibe Coder MCP integrates with MCP-compatible clients to provide the following capabilities:

• Semantic Request Routing: Intelligently routes requests using embedding-based semantic matching with sequential thinking fallbacks.
• Tool Registry Architecture: Centralized tool management with self-registering tools.
• Direct LLM Calls: Generator tools now use direct LLM calls for improved reliability and structured output control.
• Workflow Execution: Runs predefined sequences of tool calls defined in workflows.json.
• Code Generation: Creates code stubs and boilerplate (generate-code-stub).
• Code Refactoring: Improves and modifies existing code snippets (refactor-code).
• Dependency Analysis: Lists dependencies from manifest files (analyze-dependencies).
• Git Integration: Summarizes current Git changes (git-summary).
• Research & Planning: Performs deep research (research-manager) and generates planning documents like PRDs (generate-prd), user stories (generate-user-stories), task lists (generate-task-list), and development rules (generate-rules).
• Project Scaffolding: Generates full-stack starter kits (generate-fullstack-starter-kit).
• Asynchronous Execution: Many long-running tools (generators, research, workflows) now run asynchronously. They return a Job ID immediately, and the final result is retrieved using the get-job-result tool.
• Session State Management: Maintains basic state across requests within a session (in-memory).
• Standardized Error Handling: Consistent error patterns across all tools.

(See "Detailed Tool Documentation" and "Feature Details" sections below for more)

Setup Guide

Follow these micro-steps to get the Vibe Coder MCP server running and connected to your AI assistant.

Step 1: Prerequisites

1. Check Node.js Version:
   • Open a terminal or command prompt.
   • Run node -v
   • Ensure the output shows v18.0.0 or higher (required).
   • If not installed or outdated: Download from nodejs.org.
2. Check Git Installation:
   • Open a terminal or command prompt.
   • Run git --version
   • If not installed: Download from git-scm.com.
3. Get OpenRouter API Key:
   • Visit openrouter.ai
   • Create an account if you don't have one.
   • Navigate to API Keys section.
   • Create a new API key and copy it.
   • Keep this key handy for Step 4.

Step 2: Get the Code

1. Create a Project Directory (optional):
   • Open a terminal or command prompt.
   • Navigate to where you want to store the project:
     cd ~/Documents # Example: Change to your preferred location
2. Clone the Repository:
   • Run:
     git clone https://github.com/freshtechbro/vibe-coder-mcp.git
     (Or use your fork's URL if applicable)
3. Navigate to Project Directory:
   • Run:
     cd vibe-coder-mcp

Step 3: Run the Setup Script

Choose the appropriate script for your operating system:

For Windows:

1. In your terminal (still in the vibe-coder-mcp directory), run:
   setup.bat
2. Wait for the script to complete (it will install dependencies, build the project, and create necessary directories).
3. If you see any error messages, refer to the Troubleshooting section below.

For macOS or Linux:

1. Make the script executable:
   chmod +x setup.sh
2. Run the script:
   ./setup.sh
3. Wait for the script to complete.
4. If you see any error messages, refer to the Troubleshooting section below.

The script performs these actions:

• Checks Node.js version (v18+)
• Installs all dependencies via npm
• Creates necessary workflow-agent-files directories
• Builds the TypeScript project
• Creates a default .env file if one doesn't exist (you will populate this next).
• Sets executable permissions (on Unix systems)

Step 4: Configure Environment Variables (.env)

1. Locate the .env File:
   • Find the .env file created by the setup script in the main vibe-coder-mcp directory.
   • Open it with any text editor.
2. Add Your OpenRouter API Key:
   • Find the line: OPENROUTER_API_KEY=your_openrouter_api_key_here
   • Replace your_openrouter_api_key_here with your actual OpenRouter API key.
   • Do not add quotes around the key.
3. Configure Output Directory (Optional):
   • To change where generated files are saved (default is workflow-agent-files/ inside the project), add this line:
     VIBE_CODER_OUTPUT_DIR=/path/to/your/desired/output/directory
   • Replace the path with your preferred absolute path. Use forward slashes (/). If this variable is not set, the default directory will be used.
4. Review Other Settings (Optional):
   • Review model names (GEMINI_MODEL, PERPLEXITY_MODEL) to ensure they're available on your OpenRouter plan. The llm_config.json file provides more granular control per task if needed.
   • Check LOG_LEVEL (default: info) - options include: 'fatal', 'error', 'warn', 'info', 'debug', 'trace'.
5. Save the .env File.

Step 5: Integrate with Your AI Assistant

This crucial step connects Vibe Coder to your AI assistant. Each environment requires slightly different configuration.

5.1: Find Your Project's Absolute Path

You need the full, absolute path to the build/index.js file:

For Windows:

1. In your terminal, navigate to the build directory:
   cd build
2. Get the absolute path:
   echo %cd%\index.js
3. Copy the output (e.g., C:\Users\YourName\Projects\vibe-coder-mcp\build\index.js)

For macOS/Linux:

1. In your terminal, navigate to the build directory:
   cd build
2. Get the absolute path:
   pwd
3. Append /index.js to the output and copy the result (e.g., /Users/YourName/Projects/vibe-coder-mcp/build/index.js)

5.2: Prepare the Configuration Block

Create a configuration block by:

1. Copy this JSON template:
   "vibe-coder-mcp": { "command": "node", "args": ["PATH_PLACEHOLDER"], "env": { "NODE_ENV": "production" // API Keys and other sensitive config are now loaded via the .env file // You can optionally set VIBE_CODER_OUTPUT_DIR here if you prefer it over .env // "VIBE_CODER_OUTPUT_DIR": "/absolute/path/to/output" }, "disabled": false, "autoApprove": [ "research", "generate-rules", "generate-prd", "generate-user-stories", "generate-task-list", "generate-fullstack-starter-kit", "generate-code-stub", "refactor-code", "analyze-dependencies", "git-summary", "run-workflow" ] }
2. Replace PATH_PLACEHOLDER with the absolute path you obtained in Step 5.1.
   • Important: Use forward slashes / even on Windows (e.g., C:/Users/...)
3. Important: Do NOT put your OPENROUTER_API_KEY directly in this configuration block anymore. It should only be in your .env file.

5.3: Configure Your Specific AI Assistant

A. Cursor AI / Windsurf (VS Code-based)

1. Open Cursor or Windsurf application.
2. Open Command Palette:
   • Windows/Linux: Press Ctrl+Shift+P
   • macOS: Press Cmd+Shift+P
3. Type and select: Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)
4. In the JSON file, find or add the mcpServers object:
   • If it doesn't exist, add it: "mcpServers": {}
   • If it exists, locate the closing brace of this object
5. Add your configuration block inside the mcpServers object:
   • If other servers are listed, add a comma after the last one
   • Paste your configuration block from step 5.2
6. Save the file (Ctrl+S or Cmd+S)
7. Completely close and restart Cursor/Windsurf

Example of a complete settings.json section:

B. Cline AI (VS Code Extension)

1. Locate the Cline settings file:
   • Windows: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Cursor\User\globalStorage\saoudrizwan.claude-dev\settings\cline_mcp_settings.json
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Cursor/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json
   • Linux: ~/.config/Cursor/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json
2. Open this file with a text editor.
3. Find or add the mcpServers object:
   • If the file is empty, add: {"mcpServers": {}}
   • If it exists but has no mcpServers, add it at the root level
4. Add your configuration block inside the mcpServers object:
   • If other servers are listed, add a comma after the last one
   • Paste your configuration block from step 5.2
5. Save the file.
6. Restart VS Code completely.

C. RooCode (VS Code Fork)

1. Open RooCode.
2. Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P or Cmd+Shift+P).
3. Search for and select Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON).
4. Follow the same steps as for Cursor AI (section A above).
5. Save and restart RooCode.

D. Claude Desktop

1. Locate the Claude Desktop settings file:
   • Windows: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
   • Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
2. Open this file with a text editor.
3. Find or add the mcpServers object at the root level:
   • If file has other content, find where to add mcpServers
   • If it already has mcpServers, locate it
4. Add your configuration block inside the mcpServers object:
   • If other servers exist, add a comma after the last one
   • Paste your configuration block from step 5.2
5. Save the file.
6. Close and reopen Claude Desktop.

Example of a complete claude_desktop_config.json:

Step 6: Test Your Configuration

1. Start Your AI Assistant:
   • Completely restart your AI assistant application.
2. Test a Simple Command:
   • Type a test command like: Research modern JavaScript frameworks
3. Check for Proper Response:
   • If working correctly, you should receive a research response.
   • If not, check the Troubleshooting section below.

Project Architecture

The Vibe Coder MCP server follows a modular architecture centered around a tool registry pattern:

Directory Structure

Semantic Routing System

Vibe Coder uses a sophisticated routing approach to select the right tool for each request:

Tool Registry Pattern

The Tool Registry is a central component for managing tool definitions and execution:

Sequential Thinking Process

The Sequential Thinking mechanism provides LLM-based fallback routing:

Session State Management

Workflow Execution Engine

The Workflow system enables multi-step sequences:

Workflow Configuration

Workflows are defined in the workflows.json file located in the root directory of the project. This file contains predefined sequences of tool calls that can be executed with a single command.

File Location and Structure

• The workflows.json file must be placed in the project root directory (same level as package.json)
• The file follows this structure:
  { "workflows": { "workflowName1": { "description": "Description of what this workflow does", "inputSchema": { "param1": "string", "param2": "string" }, "steps": [ { "id": "step1_id", "toolName": "tool-name", "params": { "param1": "{workflow.input.param1}" } }, { "id": "step2_id", "toolName": "another-tool", "params": { "paramA": "{workflow.input.param2}", "paramB": "{steps.step1_id.output.content[0].text}" } } ], "output": { "summary": "Workflow completed message", "details": ["Output line 1", "Output line 2"] } } } }

Parameter Templates

Workflow step parameters support template strings that can reference:

• Workflow inputs: {workflow.input.paramName}
• Previous step outputs: {steps.stepId.output.content[0].text}

Triggering Workflows

Use the run-workflow tool with:

Detailed Tool Documentation

Each tool in the src/tools/ directory includes comprehensive documentation in its own README.md file. These files cover:

• Tool overview and purpose
• Input/output specifications
• Workflow diagrams (Mermaid)
• Usage examples
• System prompts used
• Error handling details

Refer to these individual READMEs for in-depth information:

• src/tools/code-refactor-generator/README.md
• src/tools/code-stub-generator/README.md
• src/tools/dependency-analyzer/README.md
• src/tools/fullstack-starter-kit-generator/README.md
• src/tools/git-summary-generator/README.md
• src/tools/prd-generator/README.md
• src/tools/research-manager/README.md
• src/tools/rules-generator/README.md
• src/tools/task-list-generator/README.md
• src/tools/user-stories-generator/README.md
• src/tools/workflow-runner/README.md

Tool Categories

Code Generation & Refactoring Tools

• Code Stub Generator (generate-code-stub): Creates boilerplate code (functions, classes, etc.) based on a description and target language. Useful for quickly scaffolding new components.
• Code Refactor Generator (refactor-code): Takes an existing code snippet and refactoring instructions (e.g., "convert to async/await", "improve readability", "add error handling") and returns the modified code.

Analysis & Information Tools

• Dependency Analyzer (analyze-dependencies): Parses manifest files like package.json or requirements.txt to list project dependencies.
• Git Summary Generator (git-summary): Provides a summary of the current Git status, showing staged or unstaged changes (diff). Useful for quick checks before committing.
• Research Manager (research-manager): Performs deep research on technical topics using Perplexity Sonar, providing summaries and sources.

Planning & Documentation Tools

• Rules Generator (generate-rules): Creates project-specific development rules and guidelines.
• PRD Generator (generate-prd): Generates comprehensive product requirements documents.
• User Stories Generator (generate-user-stories): Creates detailed user stories with acceptance criteria.
• Task List Generator (generate-task-list): Builds structured development task lists with dependencies.

Project Scaffolding Tool

• Fullstack Starter Kit Generator (generate-fullstack-starter-kit): Creates customized project starter kits with specified frontend/backend technologies, including basic setup scripts and configuration.

Workflow & Orchestration

• Workflow Runner (run-workflow): Executes predefined sequences of tool calls for common development tasks.

Generated File Storage

By default, outputs from the generator tools are stored for historical reference in the VibeCoderOutput/ directory within the project. This location can be overridden by setting the VIBE_CODER_OUTPUT_DIR environment variable in your .env file or AI assistant configuration.

Example structure (default location):

Usage Examples

Interact with the tools via your connected AI assistant:

• Research: Research modern JavaScript frameworks
• Generate Rules: Create development rules for a mobile banking application
• Generate PRD: Generate a PRD for a task management application
• Generate User Stories: Generate user stories for an e-commerce website
• Generate Task List: Create a task list for a weather app based on [user stories]
• Sequential Thinking: Think through the architecture for a microservices-based e-commerce platform
• Fullstack Starter Kit: Create a starter kit for a React/Node.js blog application with user authentication
• Generate Code Stub: Generate a python function stub named 'calculate_discount' that takes price and percentage
• Refactor Code: Refactor this code to use async/await: [paste code snippet]
• Analyze Dependencies: Analyze dependencies in package.json
• Git Summary: Show unstaged git changes
• Run Workflow: Run workflow newProjectSetup with input { "projectName": "my-new-app", "description": "A simple task manager" }

Running Locally (Optional)

While the primary use is integration with an AI assistant (using stdio), you can run the server directly for testing:

Running Modes

• Production Mode (Stdio):
  npm start
  • Logs go to stderr (mimics AI assistant launch)
  • Use NODE_ENV=production
• Development Mode (Stdio, Pretty Logs):
  npm run dev
  • Logs go to stdout with pretty formatting
  • Requires nodemon and pino-pretty
  • Use NODE_ENV=development
• SSE Mode (HTTP Interface):
  # Production mode over HTTP npm run start:sse # Development mode over HTTP npm run dev:sse
  • Uses HTTP instead of stdio
  • Configured via PORT in .env (default: 3000)
  • Access at http://localhost:3000

Detailed Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

MCP Server Not Detected in AI Assistant

1. Check Configuration Path:
   • Verify the absolute path in the args array is correct
   • Ensure all slashes are forward slashes / even on Windows
   • Run node <path-to-build/index.js> directly to test if Node can find it
2. Check Configuration Format:
   • Make sure JSON is valid without syntax errors
   • Check that commas between properties are correct
   • Verify that the mcpServers object contains your server
3. Restart the Assistant:
   • Completely close (not just minimize) the application
   • Reopen and try again

Server Starts But Tools Don't Work

1. Check Disabled Flag:
   • Ensure "disabled": false is set
   • Remove any // comments as JSON doesn't support them
2. Verify autoApprove Array:
   • Check that tool names in the autoApprove array match exactly
   • Try adding "process-request" to the array if using hybrid routing

API Key Issues

1. OpenRouter Key Problems:
   • Double-check that the key is correctly copied
   • Verify the key is active in your OpenRouter dashboard
   • Check if you have sufficient credits
2. Environment Variable Issues:
   • Verify the key is correct in both:
     • The .env file (for local runs)
     • Your AI assistant's configuration env block

Path & Permission Issues

1. Build Directory Not Found:
   • Run npm run build to ensure the build directory exists
   • Check if build output is going to a different directory (check tsconfig.json)
2. File Permission Errors:
   • Ensure your user has write access to the workflow-agent-files directory
   • On Unix systems, check if build/index.js has execute permission

Log Debugging

1. For Local Runs:
   • Check the console output for error messages
   • Try running with LOG_LEVEL=debug in your .env file
2. For AI Assistant Runs:
   • Set "NODE_ENV": "production" in the env configuration
   • Check if the assistant has a logging console or output window

Tool-Specific Issues

1. Semantic Routing Not Working:
   • First run may download embedding model - check for download messages
   • Try a more explicit request that mentions the tool name
2. **Git Summary Tool