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greptile-mcp

MIT License
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🚀 Greptile MCP Server - TypeScript Edition

A modern, TypeScript-powered MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides AI-powered code search and querying capabilities through the Greptile API. Built with the official MCP SDK and designed for seamless integration with AI tools like Claude Desktop, Continue, and other MCP-compatible clients.

✨ Features

🔥 Zero-Installation Experience

# Start immediately with npx - no setup required! npx greptile-mcp-server --api-key=xxx --github-token=yyy

🧠 AI-Powered Code Understanding

  • Natural Language Queries: Ask questions about codebases in plain English
  • Deep Code Analysis: Understand architecture, patterns, and implementation details
  • Cross-Repository Insights: Compare patterns and approaches across multiple codebases
  • Session Continuity: Build understanding progressively through conversation

Modern Architecture

  • Official MCP SDK: Built with TypeScript MCP SDK for full protocol compliance
  • Streaming Support: Real-time responses with Server-Sent Events
  • Type Safety: Full TypeScript integration with comprehensive type definitions
  • Plugin Architecture: Extensible design for custom tools and integrations

🛠️ Developer Experience

  • NPX Ready: Install and run with a single command
  • Auto-Configuration: Intelligent configuration detection and validation
  • Interactive Setup: Guided setup wizard for first-time users
  • Comprehensive Help: Built-in documentation and usage examples

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

Instant Start

# Start immediately (will prompt for credentials if not set) npx greptile-mcp-server # With inline credentials npx greptile-mcp-server --api-key=your_key --github-token=your_token # Interactive setup wizard npx greptile-mcp-server init # Test connectivity npx greptile-mcp-server test

Environment Setup

Create a .env file in your project root:

GREPTILE_API_KEY=your_greptile_api_key_here GITHUB_TOKEN=your_github_personal_access_token_here GREPTILE_BASE_URL=https://api.greptile.com/v2 # Optional
Option 2: System Environment Variables

Linux/macOS (Bash/Zsh):

# Current session export GREPTILE_API_KEY="your_api_key_here" export GITHUB_TOKEN="your_github_token_here" # Permanent (add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc) echo 'export GREPTILE_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"' >> ~/.bashrc echo 'export GITHUB_TOKEN="your_github_token_here"' >> ~/.bashrc source ~/.bashrc

Windows PowerShell:

# Current session $env:GREPTILE_API_KEY="your_api_key_here" $env:GITHUB_TOKEN="your_github_token_here" # Permanent setx GREPTILE_API_KEY "your_api_key_here" setx GITHUB_TOKEN "your_github_token_here" # Note: Restart terminal after using setx

Windows Command Prompt:

# Current session set GREPTILE_API_KEY=your_api_key_here set GITHUB_TOKEN=your_github_token_here # Permanent setx GREPTILE_API_KEY "your_api_key_here" setx GITHUB_TOKEN "your_github_token_here"
API Key and Token Setup

Greptile API Key:

  1. Visit Greptile Settings
  2. Generate a new API key
  3. Copy the key to your environment

GitHub Token:

  1. Visit GitHub Settings > Personal Access Tokens
  2. Create a "Fine-grained personal access token" for better security
  3. Grant repo permissions for repositories you want to index
  4. Copy the token to your environment

🔧 MCP Client Integration

Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{ "mcpServers": { "greptile": { "command": "npx", "args": ["greptile-mcp-server"], "env": { "GREPTILE_API_KEY": "your_api_key", "GITHUB_TOKEN": "your_github_token" } } } }

Continue IDE Extension

Add to your Continue configuration:

{ "contextProviders": [ { "name": "greptile-mcp", "type": "mcp", "serverName": "greptile", "command": ["npx", "greptile-mcp-server"] } ] }

Other MCP Clients

The server uses standard MCP protocol and works with any MCP-compatible client:

# Generic MCP client connection your-mcp-client connect --command "npx greptile-mcp-server"

🛠️ Available Tools

1. greptile_help

Get comprehensive documentation and usage examples.

{ "name": "greptile_help" }

2. index_repository

Index a repository to make it searchable.

{ "name": "index_repository", "arguments": { "remote": "github", "repository": "microsoft/vscode", "branch": "main", "reload": true } }

3. query_repository

Query repositories with natural language.

{ "name": "query_repository", "arguments": { "query": "How is authentication implemented in this codebase?", "repositories": [ { "remote": "github", "repository": "microsoft/vscode", "branch": "main" } ], "stream": false, "session_id": "optional-session-id" } }

4. get_repository_info

Get information about indexed repositories.

{ "name": "get_repository_info", "arguments": { "remote": "github", "repository": "microsoft/vscode", "branch": "main" } }

📖 Usage Examples

Basic Workflow

# 1. Start the server npx greptile-mcp-server # 2. In your MCP client, index a repository { "tool": "index_repository", "arguments": { "remote": "github", "repository": "microsoft/vscode", "branch": "main" } } # 3. Query the codebase { "tool": "query_repository", "arguments": { "query": "How does VS Code handle file watching?", "repositories": [{"remote": "github", "repository": "microsoft/vscode", "branch": "main"}] } }

Advanced Session-Based Exploration

// Start with architecture overview const session = "exploration-session-1"; // Query 1: High-level understanding { "tool": "query_repository", "arguments": { "query": "What is the overall architecture of this codebase?", "session_id": session, "repositories": [...] } } // Query 2: Deep dive (builds on previous context) { "tool": "query_repository", "arguments": { "query": "How do the main components we just discussed interact with each other?", "session_id": session // Same session for continuity } } // Query 3: Implementation details { "tool": "query_repository", "arguments": { "query": "Show me the specific implementation of the component interaction patterns", "session_id": session } }

🔀 Migration from Python Version

The TypeScript version maintains full compatibility with the Python implementation while adding significant improvements:

What's New

  • Official MCP SDK: Standards-compliant implementation
  • NPX Distribution: Zero-installation experience
  • Better Performance: V8 engine advantages for I/O operations
  • Type Safety: Full TypeScript integration
  • Modern Tooling: ESLint, Prettier, comprehensive testing
  • Enhanced CLI: Interactive setup and better UX

Migration Steps

# Old Python usage python -m src.main # New TypeScript usage npx greptile-mcp-server # Same MCP tools and API compatibility # No changes needed in MCP client configurations

🚨 Troubleshooting

Testing Your Setup

Always test your configuration after setup:

npx greptile-mcp-server test

Common Issues

❌ "Environment variables missing"

Problem: Server can't find your API keys Solutions:

  • Restart your terminal after setting permanent environment variables
  • Verify environment variables are set:
    # Linux/macOS echo $GREPTILE_API_KEY echo $GITHUB_TOKEN # Windows PowerShell echo $env:GREPTILE_API_KEY echo $env:GITHUB_TOKEN
  • Try using inline credentials:
    GREPTILE_API_KEY="your_key" GITHUB_TOKEN="your_token" npx greptile-mcp-server
❌ "GitHub token validation failed"

Problem: GitHub token is invalid or has insufficient permissions Solutions:

  • Ensure your token has repo permissions
  • Generate a new token at GitHub Settings
  • For better security, use "Fine-grained personal access tokens"
  • Check token hasn't expired
❌ "Greptile API authentication failed"

Problem: Greptile API key is invalid or expired Solutions:

  • Get a new API key from Greptile Settings
  • Verify the key is correctly copied (no extra spaces)
  • Check if your API key has expired
❌ "Cannot find module" or import errors

Problem: NPX cache issues or incomplete installation Solutions:

  • Clear NPX cache: npx clear-npx-cache
  • Force fresh install: npx greptile-mcp-server@latest
  • Check Node.js version (requires Node 18+)
❌ MCP client connection issues

Problem: Claude Desktop or other MCP client can't connect Solutions:

  • Verify MCP server configuration syntax
  • Check Claude Desktop logs for detailed error messages
  • Ensure environment variables are accessible to the MCP client
  • Try running the server manually first to verify it works

Getting Help

  • Run npx greptile-mcp-server init for interactive setup
  • Run npx greptile-mcp-server test for detailed diagnostics
  • Check the Greptile Documentation for API-specific issues
  • Visit MCP Documentation for client integration help

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to install anything locally to use this?

A: No! The server runs via NPX with zero installation required. Just run npx greptile-mcp-server and it will download and run automatically.

Q: Can I use this with any MCP-compatible client?

A: Yes! This server implements the standard Model Context Protocol and works with Claude Desktop, MCP CLI tools, and any other MCP-compatible client.

Q: How do I index private repositories?

A: Ensure your GitHub token has repo permissions for private repositories. The token needs access to read the repositories you want to index.

Q: What's the difference between .env files and environment variables?

A:

  • .env files are great for local development - they only work in the directory where the file exists
  • Environment variables are system-wide and work everywhere, making them better for global usage with npx

Q: How much does it cost to use Greptile?

A: Greptile pricing depends on your usage. Check Greptile's pricing page for current rates. This MCP server itself is free and open-source.

Q: Can I use this with multiple repositories?

A: Yes! You can index multiple repositories and query across all of them. Use the index_repository tool for each repository you want to add.

Q: How long does it take to index a repository?

A: Indexing time varies by repository size. Small repos (< 1000 files) typically take 1-2 minutes, while larger repos may take 10-15 minutes. You can check status with the get_repository_info tool.

Q: Is my code data secure?

A: Your code is processed by Greptile's API according to their security and privacy policies. Check Greptile's security documentation for details about data handling and retention.

Q: Can I run this on Windows?

A: Yes! The server works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Use the platform-specific environment variable setup instructions above.

Q: Why do I get "command not found" errors?

A: This usually means:

  • NPX is not installed (install Node.js which includes NPX)
  • Your PATH doesn't include Node.js binaries
  • There's a typo in the command (it's npx greptile-mcp-server not npx @greptile/mcp-server)

🏗️ Development

Local Development

# Clone and setup git clone https://github.com/greptile/mcp-server.git cd mcp-server npm install # Development with hot reload npm run dev # Build for production npm run build # Run tests npm test # Type checking npm run typecheck # Linting and formatting npm run lint npm run format

Project Structure

src/ ├── cli.ts # NPX CLI interface ├── server.ts # Core MCP server implementation ├── index.ts # Module exports ├── clients/ │ └── greptile.ts # Greptile API client ├── types/ │ └── index.ts # TypeScript type definitions └── utils/ └── index.ts # Utility functions tests/ ├── unit/ # Unit tests └── integration/ # Integration tests

Build Configuration

  • TypeScript: ES2022 target with strict mode
  • Build Tool: tsup for dual ESM/CJS output
  • Testing: Mocha + Chai with TypeScript support
  • Code Quality: ESLint + Prettier with TypeScript rules

🔧 Configuration Options

CLI Arguments

npx greptile-mcp-server \ --api-key="your_key" \ --github-token="your_token" \ --base-url="https://api.greptile.com/v2" \ --repositories='[{"remote":"github","repository":"owner/repo","branch":"main"}]' \ --stream=true \ --timeout=60000 \ --verbose

Environment Variables

VariableDescriptionDefault
GREPTILE_API_KEYGreptile API keyRequired
GITHUB_TOKENGitHub personal access tokenRequired
GREPTILE_BASE_URLAPI base URLhttps://api.greptile.com/v2

Configuration File (Optional)

Create greptile.config.js:

export default { apiKey: process.env.GREPTILE_API_KEY, githubToken: process.env.GITHUB_TOKEN, repositories: [ { remote: 'github', repository: 'owner/repo', branch: 'main' } ], features: { streaming: true, orchestration: true, flowEnhancement: true } };

🚀 Deployment

Smithery Cloud Deployment

Deploy instantly to Smithery with zero configuration:

# Install Smithery CLI npm install -g smithery # Deploy from repository smithery deploy # Or deploy with custom configuration smithery deploy --config smithery.yaml # Monitor deployment smithery status smithery logs

Docker Deployment

# Build Docker image docker build -t greptile-mcp . # Run with environment variables docker run -e GREPTILE_API_KEY=your_key \ -e GITHUB_TOKEN=your_token \ -p 8080:8080 \ greptile-mcp # Or build Smithery-optimized image npm run smithery:build

Environment Variables for Deployment

# Required GREPTILE_API_KEY=your_greptile_api_key GITHUB_TOKEN=your_github_token # Optional GREPTILE_BASE_URL=https://api.greptile.com/v2 TRANSPORT=stdio HOST=0.0.0.0 PORT=8080

Cloud Platforms

  • Smithery: One-click deployment with smithery deploy
  • Railway: Connect GitHub repo, set environment variables
  • Render: Use npm start as start command
  • Heroku: Standard Node.js deployment
  • DigitalOcean App Platform: Docker or buildpack deployment

🚦 Performance & Benchmarks

Startup Performance

  • Cold Start: < 2 seconds
  • Memory Usage: ~50MB base footprint
  • Concurrent Requests: Handles 100+ concurrent MCP tool calls

API Performance

  • Query Response: Typically 1-3 seconds
  • Streaming: Real-time chunk delivery
  • Repository Indexing: Varies by repository size (usually 30s-5min)

Compared to Python Version

  • 40% Faster Startup - V8 vs Python runtime
  • 60% Smaller Container - Node.js vs Python base images
  • 30% Better Memory Efficiency - V8 garbage collection
  • Native Streaming - Better SSE performance

🛡️ Security & Best Practices

Token Security

  • Environment Variables: Store tokens in environment, not code
  • Minimal Permissions: Use GitHub tokens with only required repo permissions
  • Token Rotation: Regularly rotate API keys and tokens
  • Local Storage: Never commit tokens to version control

Network Security

  • HTTPS Only: All API communications use HTTPS
  • Request Validation: Input validation and sanitization
  • Rate Limiting: Built-in retry logic with exponential backoff
  • Error Handling: Comprehensive error handling without token exposure

🤝 Contributing

We welcome contributions! Please see our Contributing Guide for details.

Development Workflow

  1. Fork the repository
  2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
  3. Make your changes with tests
  4. Run the test suite (npm test)
  5. Ensure code quality (npm run lint)
  6. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
  7. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
  8. Open a Pull Request

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

  • Anthropic for the Model Context Protocol specification
  • Greptile for the powerful code analysis API
  • TypeScript Community for excellent tooling and ecosystem
  • MCP Community for protocol development and feedback

📞 Support


Built with ❤️ by the Greptile team • Powered by TypeScript and the Model Context Protocol

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