Notepad++ MCP Server

# 🎯 Serena - What To Do After Restart **You just restarted Cursor with Serena configured - here's what to do next!** --- ## ✅ **Step 1: Verify Serena is Available** ### **Check MCP Tools** In Cursor, look for Serena tools in the MCP tools list. **Common Serena tools**: - `serena_find_symbol` - Search for classes, functions - `serena_find_references` - Find where symbols are used - `serena_get_symbols_overview` - Get project structure - `serena_onboarding` - Initialize project - `serena_read_file` - Efficient file reading - And more (~15 tools total) **Can't see them?** - Check `.cursor/mcp.json` exists - Verify JSON syntax (no trailing commas) - Check Cursor logs: `%APPDATA%\Cursor\logs\` --- ## 🚀 **Step 2: Run Onboarding** **In Cursor Composer (`Ctrl+I`), type:** ``` @Composer Run Serena onboarding for this project ``` or just: ``` Run onboarding ``` **What happens** (30 seconds - 2 minutes): 1. ✅ Serena scans notepadpp-mcp project 2. ✅ Creates `.serena/` folder 3. ✅ Generates memory files about the project 4. ✅ Starts Python language server 5. ✅ Opens dashboard: http://localhost:24282 6. ✅ Indexes all symbols (functions, classes, etc.) **Watch the dashboard!** It shows the indexing in real-time! 🎨 --- ## 📊 **Step 3: Open the Dashboard** ### **URL**: http://localhost:24282/dashboard/index.html **Should auto-open during onboarding**, but if not: ```powershell Start-Process "http://localhost:24282/dashboard/index.html" ``` ### **What You'll See** **Dashboard Tabs**: 1. **Overview** - Project name: notepadpp-mcp - Files indexed: ~50 Python files - Symbols found: ~500+ (functions, classes) - Language servers: Python LSP (running) 2. **Tool Usage** - Real-time log of AI tool calls - Token savings estimates - Most-used tools 3. **Memories** - `.serena/memories/architecture.md` - `.serena/memories/main-components.md` - Auto-generated project understanding 4. **Language Servers** - Python LSP: ✅ Running - Status: Active/Idle - Performance metrics --- ## 🧪 **Step 4: Test Serena** ### **Test 1: Find a Symbol** **In Composer:** ``` @Composer Use Serena to find the get_status function ``` **Expected**: - Serena uses `find_symbol` tool - Returns: `server.py:123` (exact location) - **WAY faster than reading entire file!** --- ### **Test 2: Find References** **In Composer:** ``` @Composer Use Serena to find all places where open_file is called ``` **Expected**: - Serena uses `find_references` tool - Shows all call sites - Across multiple files if needed --- ### **Test 3: Get Overview** **In Composer:** ``` @Composer Use Serena to give me an overview of the notepadpp-mcp project structure ``` **Expected**: - Serena analyzes project - Returns high-level architecture - Lists main components - Identifies key classes/functions --- ### **Test 4: Navigate Large File** **In Composer:** ``` @Composer Use Serena to show me all the tools defined in server.py ``` **Expected**: - Serena lists all `@app.tool()` decorated functions - **Without reading the entire 2,424 line file!** - Token savings: Massive! 🎉 --- ## 📁 **Step 5: Check What Was Created** **Look for `.serena/` folder in your project:** ```powershell Get-ChildItem .serena -Recurse # Expected structure: # .serena/ # project.yml ← Config # memories/ ← Project understanding # architecture.md # main-components.md # index/ ← Symbol cache ``` **These files help Serena understand your project!** --- ## 💡 **Step 6: Use Serena Naturally** **Now just work normally!** Serena is available via `@Composer`. ### **Good Prompts for Serena** **Code Navigation:** ``` "Find all functions that handle file operations" "Show me where NotePadPPController is defined" "List all classes in the project" ``` **Code Analysis:** ``` "Analyze the relationship between the tools and controller" "What does the error handling flow look like?" "Find potential issues in the window management code" ``` **Code Editing:** ``` "Refactor the get_status function to use better error handling" "Add docstrings to all tools in server.py" "Extract the Windows API calls into a separate module" ``` --- ## 🎨 **Dashboard Exploration** ### **Cool Things to Watch** **While using Serena, keep dashboard open!** **Real-time view of**: - Which tools AI is calling - Token savings per query - Language server activity - Memory file updates **Try this**: Ask a complex question and watch the dashboard light up! 🌟 --- ## 📊 **Token Savings Example** ### **Without Serena** **Prompt**: "Find all functions that use pywin32" **What happens**: - Cursor reads server.py (2,424 lines) - Reads controller.py - Reads utils files - Sends ~50,000 tokens to AI - **Cost**: ~$0.50 (at typical rates) ### **With Serena** **Same prompt**: "Find all functions that use pywin32" **What happens**: - Serena uses `find_symbol` to search imports - Serena uses LSP to find "win32" references - Returns only 8 relevant functions - Sends ~5,000 tokens to AI - **Cost**: ~$0.05 - **Savings**: 90%! 🎉 **Over 100 queries**: Save $45! --- ## 🛠️ **Customization** ### **Disable Dashboard Auto-Open** If dashboard annoys you: Edit `.serena/project.yml`: ```yaml dashboard: auto_open: false ``` ### **Ignore Folders** Speed up scanning: ```yaml ignored_dirs: - node_modules - .venv - dist - build - __pycache__ - .git ``` ### **Read-Only Mode** Only want analysis (no editing): ```yaml read_only: true ``` --- ## ⚠️ **Important Notes** **Per-Project Installation**: - ✅ Serena is configured ONLY for notepadpp-mcp folder - ✅ Other repos won't have it (unless you copy config) - ✅ Each repo needs its own `.cursor/mcp.json` **To add to other repos**: - Copy `.cursor/mcp.json` to new repo - Update the `--project` path - Restart Cursor in that folder --- ## 🎯 **Success Checklist** **Serena is working if**: - [ ] Dashboard opens at localhost:24282 - [ ] `.serena/` folder created - [ ] Can find symbols via Composer - [ ] Dashboard shows tool calls - [ ] Language servers running **If any fail**, check: - `.cursor/mcp.json` syntax - Cursor logs for errors - `uv --version` works - Fully restarted Cursor --- ## 🎓 **Learning Resources** **Watch the dashboard** while asking questions - you'll see: - How AI uses semantic tools - Which queries save tokens - How LSP resolves symbols - Real-time MCP tool usage **It's educational AND useful!** 🎓 --- ## 📝 **Quick Commands Reference** ``` # Onboarding @Composer Run onboarding # Find symbol @Composer Find the NotePadPPController class # Get references @Composer Find all calls to open_file # Overview @Composer Give me a project structure overview # Edit code @Composer Refactor the get_status function # Create memory @Composer Create a memory about the tool architecture ``` --- **Now go test it! Ask Cursor to find a function and watch the magic happen!** ✨ **Dashboard**: http://localhost:24282 🎨