# Cursor Cloud specific instructions
## Overview
Nx Console is an Nx monorepo producing a VS Code extension (`apps/vscode`), a JetBrains IntelliJ plugin (`apps/intellij`), an MCP server (`apps/nx-mcp`), and a shared Nx Language Server (`apps/nxls`). No databases or external services are required.
## Prerequisites
- **Node.js v18** (LTS Hydrogen) — pinned in `.nvmrc`
- **Yarn 3.2.3** — pinned via `.yarnrc.yml` `yarnPath`; uses `node-modules` linker
- **Java 21 + Gradle** — only for the IntelliJ plugin (`apps/intellij`); not needed for TS-only work
## Key commands
All commands documented in `CONTRIBUTING.md`. Quick reference:
- **Lint:** `yarn nx run-many --target=lint`
- **Test:** `yarn nx run-many --target=test` (Jest for TS projects, Gradle `check` for IntelliJ)
- **Build:** `yarn nx build vscode` / `yarn nx build nxls` / `yarn nx build nx-mcp`
- **Format check:** `node ./tools/scripts/check-formatting.js` (also the pre-commit hook)
- **Format fix:** `yarn nx format:write`
## Environment file
The `.env` file at the workspace root sets `NX_ISOLATE_PLUGINS=true` and `NX_NATIVE_COMMAND_RUNNER=false`. Do not remove it.
## Launching the Extension Development Host
VS Code is not pre-installed but can be installed on-the-fly:
```
sudo apt-get update -qq && sudo apt-get install -y code
```
Then launch the Extension Development Host against a test workspace:
```
npx nx run vscode:build:debug
code --extensionDevelopmentPath=/workspace/dist/apps/vscode /path/to/nx-workspace --no-sandbox
```
After VS Code opens, trust the workspace when prompted, then reload (Ctrl+R) to fully activate the extension. The Nx Console panel will appear in the sidebar.
## Testing the nx-mcp server with MCP Inspector CLI
After building (`nx build nx-mcp`), use the [MCP Inspector CLI](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/inspector) to test the server programmatically via stdio — no manual SSE wiring needed:
```bash
# List all available tools
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector --cli node dist/apps/nx-mcp/main.js /workspace --method tools/list
# Call a specific tool (target args go before --method)
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector --cli node dist/apps/nx-mcp/main.js /workspace --method tools/call --tool-name nx_workspace
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector --cli node dist/apps/nx-mcp/main.js /workspace --method tools/call --tool-name nx_docs --tool-arg userQuery=caching
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector --cli node dist/apps/nx-mcp/main.js /workspace --method tools/call --tool-name nx_project_details --tool-arg projectName=nxls
```
## Gotchas
- The `yarn watch` / `nx run vscode:watch:debug` command requires the Nx Daemon (`npx nx daemon --start`). In headless/containerized environments the daemon's file watcher may not initialize properly, causing watch to fail. Use one-off builds (`nx run vscode:build:debug`) instead.
- The nxls language server is designed for stdio communication with IDE clients. It can be verified to start with `node dist/apps/nxls/main.js --stdio` but will error on connection disposal when stdin closes — this is expected.
