MCP-Grep
Exposes the system grep binary functionality through MCP, allowing for searching patterns in files using regular expressions, with support for case-insensitive matching, context lines, maximum match count, fixed string matching, and recursive directory searching.
Mentioned as part of the development workflow, but not as a primary integration target for the MCP server.
Used for implementation and client access, but not as a primary integration target for the MCP server.
Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@MCP-Grepsearch for 'TODO' in all Python files recursively"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
MCP-Grep
A grep server implementation that exposes grep functionality through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
Installation
Installing via Smithery
To install Grep Server for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:
npx -y @smithery/cli install @erniebrodeur/mcp-grep --client claudeManual Installation
pip install mcp-grepRelated MCP server: Greply MCP Server
Usage
MCP-Grep runs as a server that can be used by MCP-compatible clients:
# Start the MCP-Grep server
mcp-grep-server
# Or use the MCP Inspector for interactive debugging and testing
mcp-grep-inspectorThe server exposes the following MCP functionality:
Resource:
grep://info- Returns information about the system grep binaryTool:
grep- Searches for patterns in files using the system grep binary
Features
Information about the system grep binary (path, version, supported features)
Search for patterns in files using regular expressions
Support for common grep options:
Case-insensitive matching
Context lines (before and after matches)
Maximum match count
Fixed string matching (non-regex)
Recursive directory searching
Natural language prompt understanding for easier use with LLMs
Interactive debugging and testing through MCP Inspector
Example API Usage
Using the MCP Python client:
from mcp.client import MCPClient
# Connect to the MCP-Grep server
client = MCPClient()
# Get information about the grep binary
grep_info = client.get_resource("grep://info")
print(grep_info)
# Search for a pattern in files
result = client.use_tool("grep", {
"pattern": "search_pattern",
"paths": ["file.txt", "directory/"],
"ignore_case": True,
"recursive": True
})
print(result)Natural Language Prompts
MCP-Grep understands natural language prompts, making it easier to use with LLMs. Examples:
# Basic search
Search for 'error' in log.txt
# Case-insensitive search
Find all instances of 'WARNING' regardless of case in system.log
# With context lines
Search for 'exception' in error.log and show 3 lines before and after each match
# Recursive search
Find all occurrences of 'deprecated' in the src directory and its subdirectories
# Fixed string search (non-regex)
Search for the exact string '.*' in config.js
# Limited results
Show me just the first 5 occurrences of 'TODO' in the project files
# Multiple options
Find 'password' case-insensitively in all .php files, show 2 lines of context, and limit to 10 resultsMCP Inspector Integration
MCP-Grep includes an MCP Inspector integration for interactive debugging and testing:
# Start the MCP Inspector with MCP-Grep
mcp-grep-inspectorThis opens a web-based UI where you can:
Explore available resources and tools
Test grep operations with different parameters
View formatted results
Debug issues with your grep queries
Development
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/erniebrodeur/mcp-grep.git
cd mcp-grep
# Install in development mode
pip install -e ".[dev]"
# Run tests
pytestLicense
MIT
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Maintenance
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