# CLEO MCP Server

Orchestrates AI coding agents with hierarchical task tracking, long-term memory, and session continuity across editor restarts.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 159
- Author: kryptobaseddev
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/kryptobaseddev/cleo
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/cleo-mcp-server

## What it does

CLEO provides coding assistants with a structured project spine and cross-session persistence. Its monorepo exposes six interconnected subsystems: TASKS for hierarchical backlogs and dependencies, the LOOM delivery lifecycle, BRAIN for observations and semantic memory, NEXUS for codebase symbol graphs, CANT for team agent roles, and CONDUIT for cross-agent communication. Data flows through standardized LAFS payload envelopes.

The server runs via `npx -y @cleocode/cleo` using stdio transport. Through the Model Context Protocol, connected assistants can create issues, inspect task readiness, and log findings without losing project state during context resets.

Running this tooling requires Node.js 24.0.0 or higher. For editor configurations like Cursor or Codex, you must set the `CLEO_PROJECT_DIR` environment variable to point directly at your target repository.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `CLEO_PROJECT_DIR` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add --env CLEO_PROJECT_DIR=<CLEO_PROJECT_DIR> --transport stdio cleo-mcp-server -- npx -y @cleocode/cleo
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add cleo-mcp-server --env CLEO_PROJECT_DIR=<CLEO_PROJECT_DIR> -- npx -y @cleocode/cleo
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "cleo-mcp-server": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@cleocode/cleo"
            ],
            "env": {
                "CLEO_PROJECT_DIR": "<CLEO_PROJECT_DIR>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "cleo-mcp-server": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@cleocode/cleo"
            ],
            "env": {
                "CLEO_PROJECT_DIR": "<CLEO_PROJECT_DIR>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e CLEO_PROJECT_DIR=<CLEO_PROJECT_DIR> cleo-mcp-server npx -y @cleocode/cleo
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- track hierarchical task trees with dependencies across agent runs
- preserve architectural notes and session memory between restarts
- filter pending tasks based on agent execution readiness
- coordinate multi-agent workflows through structured communication

## Example prompts
- Add a high-priority task named 'Implement user authentication' in CLEO
- Search for pending auth tasks in CLEO and show readiness details
- Start a new CLEO session called 'Auth Feature' and display current context

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